Barrow: Three permanent bosses, two interims, one relegation for League Two club

A season of never-ending mistakes contributed to this result.

Let’s start with the recruitment policy, where a lot of risks were taken on signing players with a record of injuries – resulting in them spending more time off the pitch than on it.

Then persisting with tactics that were clearly not working, but because the club were only recruiting for one specific formation, they didn’t have the players in place to change things around.

They pulled the trigger on head coach Andy Whing, who at the time had averaged a point per game, with the team not fully in the relegation picture.

A panic dismissal maybe too early, perhaps, but the biggest problem was the lack of a plan for who would replace him. It looked more like they were hoping something would fall into place rather than actively seeking someone.

Paul Gallagher – who was originally brought in as a number two to interim coach Neil McDonald – was appointed at the start of the transfer window. Seven further signings (including young and inexperienced players) were made, with the club again only recruiting for one system, which hadn’t been working, before eventually dismissing Gallagher shortly after the window was shut.

Dino Maamria was the right appointment but he should have been brought in before Gallagher and given the window to bring in the required tools. Sadly, he was left with a squad of players with no fight in them to change results.

The decision to give Sam Foley the job after was the final mistake. A great player for the club but he was in no way ready to be thrust into a managerial position during a relegation battle – he tried but the damage had already been done.

What the future holds for the club remains to be seen. With a lot of players still under contract it means they either need to stick by them, release them at a cost to the club, or hope that someone will come in and take them away.

Then there is the fact that a new manager or head coach is required.

Speaking to BBC Radio Cumbria in February, chairman Paul Hornby indicated that there would be a review into the club’s football operations.

This is needed now more than ever, and some tough decisions are needed as the club makes a step very much into the unknown. A year which was supposed to be of celebration, as the club marks its 125th anniversary, will sadly be out of the EFL.