LOSING EVATT’S IDENTITY HAS COST BARROW

IN EIGHT years of covering the National League, the best footballing side I’ve seen are Macclesfield Town, who won the title under John Askey in 2018.

But they had fewer resources and a far weaker squad than Tranmere Rovers, who came up through play-offs. In the end, that was reflected in their differing fortunes following promotion.

What happened was that Tranmere performed in line with expectations in the National League whilst Macclesfield overachieved.

For the Silkmen to win promotion lots of things had to happen. Good fortune with signings, injuries and suspensions. A group of players who performed out of their skins. A daring style that caught out opponents, and that everybody bought into.

Take any one of those elements away - like Askey leaving on the eve of the following pre-season - and there is a reversion to the mean.

Much the same thing has happened to Barrow, who won the National League on a tiny budget last season but were 22nd in League Two pre-weekend.

Such is the Bluebirds’ lack of resources that I always thought they would struggle. But the moment manager Ian Evatt left to join Bolton in July, it felt like game over. Ian was so persistent in the way he wanted to play. It was a case of living by the sword or dying by the sword.

I remember speaking to him and he was so passionate. People had told him that you can’t win the National League playing football. That you need a target man, to play off second balls. He was adamant that he’d prove them wrong. The players bought into what he wanted and it ended up working.

Now Ian is gone. John Rooney and Dior Angus both prolific last season - have gone. David Dunn came and went, now Michael Jolley is manager.

If you look at the style of Evatt a year ago, compared to what Michael is doing now, it’s night and day. So many of the ingredients that brought Barrow success are gone, and with teams around them picking up, it is going to be a big ask for them to survive.