Burton Albion head coach Gary Bowyer has expressed frustration over the limited transfer activity at the club, saying they need help to strengthen the squad ahead of the new season. The Brewers have signed just five players during the transfer window so far, with 19 players leaving the club after their relegation escape last season. With a squad of fewer than 20 players, Bowyer has had to work with only 12 or 13 fit players this week.

What happened? Bowyer has been trying to get more players in, but the club's sporting director, Richard Dorman, has been the main link between the head coach and the transfer department.

Why it matters for Burton Bowyer has pleaded for transfers through Dorman, but the club has instead gone back to a data-driven model of recruitment. This model was used when the Nordic Football Group took over the club and led to a British-record recruitment drive in 2024.

What comes next? Bowyer hopes to 'pull something out of the bag' before the weekend and has managed to sign midfielder Will Collar on a season-long loan from MK Dons. The 55-year-old head coach understands the format and structure of the game, but believes that the data-driven model is not the best way to recruit players. He thinks that character is important and that there is no data to measure it. The club has made a decision to go down a different process of recruiting, and Bowyer has no choice but to work with it.

Recent form Burton Albion are currently 17th in League One, 54 points, 13W-15D-18L from 46 games, recent form DDDWD. They have scored 50 goals and conceded 60, with a goal difference of -10. They are 49 points behind leaders Lincoln and have been unbeaten in their last 5 games, with a recent form of 0W-5D-0L (DDDDD). Their last result was a 2-2 draw against Leyton Orient on 2026-05-02.