Brackley Town were relegated from the National League during their debut campaign, after falling victim to a horrifying run of form, which ultimately sealed their fate.
Following Gavin Cowan’s switch to Shrewsbury Town, Brackley have suffered with their form – even undergoing a run of 14 matches without victory, seven of which were consecutive losses.
Despite showing plenty of early promise, the poor run of form ultimately sealed their fate – returning to the National League North less than 12 months after confirming promotion.
Unsurprisingly, relegation has resulted in a plethora of changes in which, Andy Whing has taken the tough approach of letting almost his entire first-team squad move on.
Brackley confirms major squad update
Despite beating Aldershot Town on their final home match of the season, Brackley will play sixth-tier football during the next campaign, with almost a brand new squad at their disposal.
Defender Kyle Morrison is the only first-team player who is contracted to Whing’s side for next season, with him having worked with the current manager at Solihull Moors.
However, their official retained/release list has confirmed the fate of the remainder of their team.
Five players (Matt Lowe, Scott Pollock, Zak Lilly, Morgan Roberts & Tyler Lyttle) have been offered new deals with the football club, whilst Cameron Gregory has been granted permission to train with the squad during pre-season.
Roberts in particular had a standout season for Brackley in midfield, contributing to seven league goals.
Elsewhere, ten players have been released by the National League side, as the rebuild begins.
Experienced duo Jack Price and Michael Nottingham will leave the club this summer once their current contracts expire, joined by former Coventry City defender Ryan Haynes.
The full list of released players is as follows;
- Jonny Maxted, Riccardo Calder, Jack Price, Zak Brown, Miracle Okafor, Michael Nottingham, Danny Waldron, Connor Hall, Shane Byrne & Ryan Haynes
Club icon Gareth Dean has already had his retirement confirmed before the end of the 2025/26 season.
Will Andy Whing bounce back?
Whilst manager Andy Whing has struggled for results since taking the managerial role, Brackley have continued to stand by him.
Given the fact he’s opted to release almost the entire first-team squad, it appears likely that he will be trusted to rebuild his side to try and target an immediate return to the National League.
Whing successfully managed to keep Banbury United in the National League North and has guided Solihull Moors to an FA Trophy and National League play-off final during his managerial career – proving he knows how to get results.
Whilst relegation was highly unlikely to have been part of his plan, it’s a lesson he’s likely to learn from, therefore suggesting potential motivation ready for the 2026/27 season.
Brackley’s management/recruitment team will have an almost-blank canvas to work with this summer, adding to the potential excitement of what could be next season.
