OPINION: Fleetwood Town can challenge for League One honours next season with some wise summer signings

Fleetwood Town could be in for a successful season next time out

Town head coach Joey Barton had said previously that they weren’t eyeing up any particular league position, they wanted to be the best Fleetwood side yet and see where that took them.

It’s a respectable ambition and was certainly within reach.

The highest finish for the Cod Army was in the 2016-17 season under Uwe Rosler.

The club finished fourth in League One with 82 points but a lacklustre play-off campaign followed and they failed to reach Wembley.

This time around, Barton’s men finished on 60 points, but while they were 22 points behind Rosler’s side, they were in good form prior to lockdown and 22 points from a possible 27 was definitely not out of the question.

But where do they go from here? There will be outgoings, undeniably.

There were six loan players that ended the season on the Fylde coast who, if fit and available, would likely be selected for the matchday squad – with only five actually permitted.

Jordan Rossiter’s contract at Rangers is expiring, though Town went above and beyond in keeping him at Highbury while he recovered from a season-ending knee injury.

That effort and care could go a long way to securing his services on a permanent basis.

Harry Souttar’s recent time at Highbury has been littered with rumours of a return to Stoke City and this summer may just be the one where he stays.

He’s been a lynchpin of Barton’s back three but it may be time to plan for a future without him.

The Australian international will be keen to carry on with Fleetwood but that all remains to be seen.

The same can be said for the other players in the back three, Callum Connolly and Lewis Gibson. Both came from Everton and both will have decisions to make.

Barrie McKay will likely be wanted by a host of clubs again and Isak Thorvaldsson is another who needs thinking about.

Early signs are good for Town, I believe, in getting one or two of them back but they must strengthen in order to take that next step.

The title will certainly be the target for Barton, and with more shrewd signings like those who came in the January window, then who’s to say that’s not a possibility?