Barrow AFC manager Adam Murray says the transfer of striker Danny Rose to Exeter City helps the club move on from last season's relegation 'car crash'. The move was confirmed this week as Rose joined the League Two side on a permanent deal, ending his spell at Holker Street after joining from Grimsby in January 2026.
Murray told reporters that the relegation from League Two was not a normal footballing setback. He described it as an 18-month period of problems that has set the club back by about two years. "We're not only a normal relegated team," Murray said. "Teams get relegated and sometimes it happens and you look to bounce back but that wasn't the case here." The manager pointed to lingering issues from last term, when Barrow cycled through five permanent managers.
Adam Murray made clear that Rose's exit was about more than just football. The striker made 25 appearances for Barrow, scoring four goals, but the manager felt a philosophical divide. "I think Danny's a nice guy but we were just on different pages of what we've seen football to look like and the mentality of how it needs to move forward," Murray explained. He stated that certain people within the football club needed to go to help progress, and Rose's departure is part of that process. The negative mindset from the relegated squad, Murray added, is still present in some areas of the club and must be eradicated.
The manager confirmed the club is actively seeking a replacement for the departed striker. "We're 100 per cent looking to bring people in," Murray stated. He said the club is looking to add fresh blood and a new ingredient in the position Rose has vacated. While new signings are being pursued, Murray also challenged the players currently at the club to step up and fill the void. The search for reinforcements comes as Barrow sit 23rd in the National League with just two points from their opening five games. Their recent form reads DLDLL, with five goals scored and nine conceded.
Barrow's difficult start to the season sees them already 11 points behind league leaders Boreham Wood. The immediate focus turns to their next fixture, a home match against Sutton United on September 5th. Sutton currently sit second in the table, presenting a formidable challenge for Murray's side. The manager's task is to blend any new signings with the existing squad quickly to improve results. Fans can track the team's progress and upcoming matches on the club's fixtures and standings pages.
Adam Murray's rebuild at Barrow AFC involves clearing out the remnants of last season's disastrous campaign while bringing in players who align with his vision. The departure of Danny Rose is framed as a necessary step in that process. Murray did not rule out further new signings beyond a striker, indicating a broader refresh of the squad is underway. The club's current squad will need to adapt quickly as they face Sutton United this weekend, a game that offers a chance to start climbing the table. Barrow's next match is at home against Sutton United on September 5th, 2026.
