By John Lyons
UPBEAT boss Gary Brabin is confident Tranmere’s double swoop for Connor Jennings and Andy Cook will give them the fire-power to challenge for promotion back to the Football League in the coming campaign.
On their National League debut last term, Rovers had to settle for sixth place, missing out on the play-offs by two points.
One of the key factors in their inability to challenge for the title was their lack of goals. They netted just 61 in 46 games, while champions Cheltenham bagged 87.
Only one team in the top eight, Braintree Town with 56, scored fewer goals than the Prenton Park outfit.
Experience
That’s why one of Brabin’s big aims for the summer was to sign the forwards who could hit the goal trail on a regular basis in 2016-17.
Last term James Norwood hit 19 goals, but no one else got close to double figures. He’s gone for men with proven National League experience in Jennings and Cook.
Jennings, 24, netted 14 times for Wrexham last term while Cook, 25, notched 24 goals for Barrow.
“I’m delighted to have signed them,” said Brabin. “There was a lot of interest in them and it’s for football reasons they’ve come here.
“They could have got more money elsewhere, but they liked the set-up and wanted to be part of it.
“I don’t feel we scored enough last season. Connor and Andy are the type of players who will be looking to score 15 to 20 goals a season and they will certainly improve us.
“Hopefully they’ll help us achieve our goal of getting back into the Football League.”
After a testing opening season in Non-League, Brabin believes the Birkenhead outfit are in a much better position than they were 12 months ago.
“Last season was difficult – we had to rebuild the squad,” said Brabin. “We got stronger as the season went on and I don’t think too much needed changing after the turn of the year.
“We wanted to add more firepower, which we feel we’ve done, and that’s given us a lift. “If there’s more quality out there, I’m still looking for players.”
