Sometimes the winners of the January transfer window are the clubs who make the least, if not any, signings at all.
They don’t need to panic-buy anyone and everyone in order to save their season, as they are comfortable and confident in the squad they already have to achieve the season’s goals.
That seems to be the case for Bromley who made just the three signings with all of them coming in on loan- perhaps reflecting the smaller and tighter budget that the club has at their disposal.
Albeit, signing so few players also pays great testament to Bromley’s current squad and their remarkable season so far.
This has perched the Ravens 5 points clear at the top of the League Two table, where they are currently enjoying an 11-game unbeaten run.
But have Bromley done enough this January transfer window to give this fairytale season the ending it deserves? Or are there some weaknesses for promotion rivals to punish?
This question will most likely be answered in May and whether or not we will see one of Jude Arthurs, Michael Cheek or Byron Webster lifting a piece of silverware in front of a jubilant Hayes Lane.
With the likes of Cambridge United, Salford City and MK Dons all strengthening, Bromley couldn’t afford to be stagnant and incomings were inevitable.
Damola Ajayi, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, adds youth and creativity on the right wing to support 34-year-old Corey Whitely.
Meanwhile centre backs Zech Medley and Jesse Debrah, loaned in from Fleetwood Town and Port Vale respectively, have been brought in to fill the void of the departed Deji Elerewe who has headed to Lincoln City.
The outgoing of the 22-year-old defender, whose release clause was activated six months before the expiration of his contract, is a great blow to Bromley’s promotion hopes.
Yet replacing him with two players that understand manager Andy Woodman and are also local to the South London area, suggest that this defensive duo are sensible signings that should ultimately be enough to get Bromley over the line.
Across all of the incomings’ first interviews, where they spoke on Bromley’s YouTube channel, it’s clear that every new arrival has one thing in mind. Promotion.
Jesse Debrah stated: “I want to come here and get promoted with Bromley- Bromley’s my local team and it would be very special to me and the club.”
What helps this quest is the fact that Bromley won’t be distracted by any other competitions, after falling at the first hurdle in the Vertu Trophy and FA Cup.
Instead all eyes are on reaching the third tier, which Zech Medley describes as “the main thing- pushing for that promotion.”
Similarly to Jesse Debrah, Damola Ajayi also has a great prior knowledge of the club due to the winger featuring for the Ravens at U13 level in the Kent Youth League. In his arrival interview, the winger revealed he chose Bromley as “I’ve just always had that connection.”
Therefore, bringing in players who won’t take any time in getting to grips with the identity of the football club certainly help prevent Bromley from dropping off anytime soon- exemplified most recently in the Ravens’ 4-1 away win to Gillingham where Medley and Debrah both started.
If Deji Elerewe hadn’t have departed Hayes Lane, then it wouldn’t have been surprising to see a loan in the defensive midfielder or left back position.
Bromley now risk being short of numbers in these areas, with only Ashley Charles and Idris Odutayo occupying these respective roles.
Although, if an injury were to occur for either player, Andy Woodman now has the depth at centre back to revert to a back-three where new addition Medley could undergo a similar left-wing-back role in which he played last season at Fleetwood Town.
In Conclusion…
Bromley haven’t made the most signings out of any League Two club this January window, yet that doesn’t necessarily mean it hasn’t been a successful window.
By recruiting players who understand the ‘DNA’ of the football club and have previously played in League One, Bromley’s winter transfer activity seems to replicate the Ravens’ season so far by flying under the radar before everyone seems to take notice.
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