Bowyer eyes reinforcements in Burton relegation battle

Newly-appointed Burton Albion head coach Gary Bowyer says he "will be straight" with his players as he attempts to reshape the Brewers squad during the winter transfer window.

The 53-year-old has taken over a Brewers side that are one place and one point off the bottom of the League One table.

He will spend the busy festive period assessing his side, which has already undergone huge change over the past six months after a British-record 23 players were signed in a single transfer window in the summer.

In total, there were 47 player movements in between seasons, as 24 also departed after they narrowly avoided relegation last term.

Mark Robinson, who lasted just over four months as head coach after being handpicked by the Nordic Football Group when they took ownership of Burton, did not play a part in recruitment but Bowyer says he "100%" will.

"I know some of the squad, not all of the squad, but I'm getting to know them as quickly as possibly and make decisions," he told BBC Radio Derby.

"And it's being honest with them as well - if I don't feel they will play a part for us, to then say to them 'look let's shake hands and you go play football somewhere else because that is what your job is'.

"It's just being straight with people and then look to bring in reinforcements."

The Brewers' Scandinavian owners put an emphasis on players with youth and potential when they overhauled the outfit.

With Burton in a battle to preserve their status in the third tier, ex-Blackburn, Blackpool, Bradford and Salford boss Bowyer says players with knowhow will be essential when looking for new recruits.

"There are some experienced lads in there," Bowyer said, of a squad that includes 27-year-old defender Ryan Sweeney, who was part of the Dundee side he guided to promotion to the Scottish Premiership as Championship title winners in 2023.

"You don't have to be 30 or 34 to be experienced, it's the number of games you have played as well.

"It's for us to help the younger ones and make them more game savvy and to see what's out in the market and who we can actually bring in."

Bowyer's first game in charge will be at home against Exeter on Saturday, with the match coming almost two months since Robinson was sacked.

Tom Hounsell had worked as interim boss for the 55 days the club did not have a permanent head coach, but he has also now moved on since Bowyer's appointment.

John Brayford, who retired as a player at the end of last season to take up a coaching role, will remain part of Bowyer's backroom team, which is yet to be completed.

Bowyer said he will not put any work done by previous coaches "out the window" as he tries to guide them out of the relegation places.

"Look at the how the team has performed at Peterborough away [where they won], and Leyton Orient [a draw] as they picked up points," Bowyer said.

"We have to keep building on that, and adding bits hear and tweaking as we go."