Cheltenham Town are reportedly closing in on veteran striker Ryan Bowman on a free transfer after the player’s contract with Shrewsbury Town expired after three seasons at the League One side, where he scored 22 goals in all competitions from 135 appearances.
The former Exeter City star scored a FA Cup hat-trick in December in a 3-2 Second Round win over Notts County and featured regularly throughout the League One campaign, scoring the winner and captaining the side to a 1-0 win over Cheltenham Town on the opening day of last season.
Experienced Ryan Bowman May Add to Career Highlights at Cheltenham Town
The 32-year-old commenced his career as a prolific forward in the National League before Scottish Premiership side Motherwell snapped up the striker in August 2016. His impact was immediate as he provided three assists in a 4-3 win over Hamilton Academical in just his second league outing.
Bowman would continue to be an important player for Motherwell, scoring in a Scottish Cup semi-final against Aberdeen in 2018 and appearing in two cup final defeats to Celtic. However, Motherwell decided to move on the player in 2019 after scoring just 14 goals over a three-season spell to refresh their forward options at the time.
The former York City striker would become a star player for Exeter City, playing a key role in Matt Taylor’s side finishing fourth in League Two in 2019/20 and reaching the play-off final. Bowman scored the winner in extra-time in the semi-final win over Colchester United before moving to Shrewsbury in 2021.
After a career spanning over 370 senior appearances and over 110 goals, Bowman has secured his legacy as one of the great EFL strikers of his generation, but he may have more memories to make this coming season.
Former Newport County Manager Recruits New Squad Ahead of League Two Campaign
Michael Flynn has extensive managerial experience in the fourth tier with Newport County, Walsall and most recently at Swindon Town. He has a difficult job ahead, with Cheltenham Town having suffered relegation from the third tier and are set to compete in League Two for the first time since being crowned champions of the fourth tier in 2020/21.
According to Gloucestershire Live, Bowman is set to become the 12th addition to the squad this summer as Flynn looks to plug the squad after several departures, including Lewis Freestone who has joined Stevenage and experienced defender Curtis Davies, whose contract has expired at the club. Sean Long and Will Ferry have also departed on free transfers having been regulars in the starting lineup last season.
It is difficult to envisage Cheltenham Town competing at the top of the fourth tier as the squad still looks relatively light despite the large number of additions. Flynn will need time to gel the squad together and must aim to get more out of Irish striker Aidan Keena, who scored just one league goal last season.
The potential addition of Bowman will leave Flynn with three options up front as 34-year-old Matty Taylor joined on transfer deadline day in February and scored seven goals in 13 League One matches last season. The former Oxford United and Bristol Rovers star would appear to be first choice looking at his exploits in the second half of the 2023/24 campaign, with Keena and Bowman potentially battling for a place alongside Taylor.
There would be healthy competition in forward areas should the deal for Bowman materialise but in what is a very competitive fourth tier this coming season, a campaign of consolidation may be a reasonable aim for Cheltenham Town, with any promotion aspirations put on hold until Flynn can have a season of developing the squad in his image with the help of further transfer windows.
