Cheltenham Town were the great entertainers at times in their first season back in League Two in 2024/25 as Michael Flynn’s side settled for a 15th-place finish, but they have now suffered a potentially major blow to their chances in 2025/26.
The team seen an incredible 130 goals scored in their 46 matches, second only to Swindon Town, who witnessed 134 strikes in their outings.
There has been an update on the future of star defender Sam Stubbs, who played 41 times in League Two while on loan from Bradford City.
Sam Stubbs Makes Substantial Impact During Loan Spell
The 26-year-old central defender had been a regular feature at Bradford City between January 2023 and his temporary move to Cheltenham Town in August 2024.
He accumulated 55 appearances for the Bantams, including both legs of their League Two semi-final play-off defeat in 2023.
However, the former Wigan Athletic academy prospect elevated his game upon his arrival at the 2020/21 League Two champions.
Despite a poor defensive showing at Cheltenham Town for much of the campaign, Sam Stubbs was one of the standout stars at the club.
He ranked in the top ten of all players in the fourth tier for aerials won and led the club’s charts for clearances and blocks per game.
There is an argument to be made that the Robins may have been a candidate to fall out of the Football League had they not secured the services of Stubbs last summer.
However, reports are now indicating that the player will not return to the club for next season.
Cheltenham Town Suffer Transfer Blow
According to a post on X from Jon Palmer, it is now ‘looking increasingly unlikely’ that Stubbs will join the Robins on a permanent deal.
The player’s contract is set to expire this summer, and there should be a host of clubs interested in the defender.
Stubbs has been a top performer throughout his time playing in the fourth tier with Exeter City, then Bradford City and now Cheltenham Town.
He would likely walk into most teams at this level, but there should be clubs in League One that look at the player who has amassed 130 fourth-tier appearances.
This is a story to watch in the transfer window, and it will be interesting to see if Bradford City manager Graham Alexander deems the player capable of stepping up and aiding the Bantams in League One following their third-place finish and automatic promotion.
Bradford City secured promotion with a 1-0 win over Fleetwood Town on the final day of the League Two campaign, finishing a point above long-time table toppers Walsall.