Archived News from August 2007
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SEASON PREVIEWS
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BBC EAST MIDLANDS TODAY, 08Aug2007
click here WHEN SATURDAY COMES, SEPT 2007 
If you spot any other previews, please contact me at the address on the main Latest News page. ---------------- BBC.co.uk: League Two form guide ACCRINGTON Latest club news Nickname: The Reds, Stanley Ground: Fraser Eagle Stadium Capacity: 5,057 Last season: 20th Manager: John Coleman (May, 1999) In: Paul Carden, Roscoe D'Sane (AFC Wimbledon), Kenny Arthur (Partick), John Miles (Macclesfield), Graham Branch (Burnley), Mark Roberts (Northwich), Lee McEvilly (Wrexham) Out: Andy Todd (Rotherham), Danny Ventre, Tony Grant, Andrew Mangan (Bury), Michael Welch, Mauro Almeida, Sean Doherty BBC Sport verdict: Another season battling against the drop. Key man: Paul Mullin BARNET Latest club news Nickname: The Bees Ground: Underhill Capacity: 5,500 Last season: 14th Manager: Paul Fairclough (March 2004) In: Neil Bishop (York), Max Porter (Bishop's Stortford), Anthony Thomas (Hemel Hempstead), Ashley Carew (Fisher Athletic), James Cole, Michael Leary (Luton), Sagi Burton (Shrewsbury), Stephane Seanla (Watford) Out: Barry Cogan (Gillingham), Magno Vieira (Crawley), Richard Graham ( Dagenham & Redbridge), Simon King (Gillingham), Ross Flitney (Grays), Adam Gross (Grays), Oliver Allen (Stevenage), Nicky Nicolau, Anthony Charles (Barnet), Andy Hessenthaler (Dover), Paul Warhurst, Jason Norville, Ben Bowditch, Nicky Bailey (Southend) BBC Sport verdict: A talented young squad could be undone by lack of experience. Mid-table. Key man: Jason Puncheon BRADFORD CITY Latest club news Nickname: The Bantams Ground: Intersonic Stadium Capacity: 25,136 Last season: 22nd in League One (relegated) Manager: Stuart McCall (June 2007) In: Peter Thorne (Norwich), Barry Conlon (Mansfield), Paul Heckingbottom (Barnsley), Scott Phelan (Everton), Thomas Harban (Barnsley), Nathan Joynes (Barnsley), Kyle Nix, Darren Williams (Hartlepool) Out: Dean Windass (Hull), Marc Bridge-Wilkinson (Carlisle), Steven Schumacher (Crewe), Richard Edghill (Macclesfield), Xavier Barrau, Joe Brown, John Swift, Russell Howarth, Patrick McGuire, Ben Muirhead (Rochdale), Nick Smith (Farsley Celtic) BBC Sport verdict: McCall's return has raised expectations but a mid-table finish is likely. Key man: Peter Thorne BRENTFORD Latest club news Nickname: The Bees Ground: Griffin Park Capacity: 12,416 Last season: 24th in League One (relegated) Manager: Terry Butcher (April, 2007) In: Glenn Poole (Grays Athletic), John Mackie (Leyton Orient), Simon Brown (Hibernian), Lee Thorpe (Torquay), Alan Connell (Hereford), Craig Pead (Walsall), Grant Basey (Charlton), Sammy Moore (Ipswich) Out: Jo Kuffour (Bournemouth), Stuart Nelson (Leyton Orient), Thomas Pinault (Crawley), Adam Griffiths, Lloyd Owusu (Yeovil), Neil Shipperley, Joe Keith, Calum Willock, Nathan Abbey, Alex Rhodes, Andy Frampton (Millwall) BBC Sport verdict: Will need a season to consolidate before they can think of promotion. Key man: Lee Thorpe BURY Latest club news Nickname: Shakers Ground: Gigg Lane Capacity: 11,840 Last season: 21st Manager: Chris Casper (September 2005) In: Ashley Young (Burnley), Steve Haslam (Halifax), Ben Futcher (Peterborough), Paul Morgan (Lincoln), Andrew Mangan (Accrington), Ben Leonard (Dinnington Town), Jim Provett (Hartlepool) Out: Tom Kennedy (Rochdale), Marc Pugh (Shrewsbury), Andy Warrington (Rotherham), Alan Fettis, Matthew Tipton, Damien Quigley, John Fitzgerald, Jake Speight, Chris Brass (Hyde United) BBC Sport verdict: The presence of assistant manager Keith Alexander should keep Bury above the relegation zone. Key man: Ben Futcher CHESTER Latest club news Nickname: The Blues Ground: Deva Stadium Capacity: 6,012 Last season: 18th Manager: Bobby Williamson (May 2007) In: Richie Partridge (Rotherham), Nathan Lowndes (Port Vale), Kevin Ellison (Tranmere), Gavin Ward (Tranmere), John Murphy (Macclesfield), Paul Butler Out: Drewe Broughton, Alex Meechan (York City), David Artell (Morecambe), Graham Allen (Chester), Lee Steele (Northwich) BBC Sport verdict: Fans' favourites Ellison and Murphy are back but the play-offs will remain a distant dream. Key man: Kevin Ellison CHESTERFIELD Latest club news Nickname: Spireites Ground: Recreation Ground Capacity: 8,509 Last season: 21st in League One (Relegated) Manager: Lee Richardson (April 2007) In: Steve Fletcher (Bournemouth), Gregor Robertson (Rotherham), Kevin Gray (Carlisle), Jack Lester (Nottingham Forest), Out: Paul Hall (Walsall), Alex Bailey, Shane Nicholson, Reuben Hazell, Sebastien Grimaldi, Reuben Wiggins-Thomas, Kyle Critchell (Weymouth), Colin Larkin (Northampton), Mark Allott (Oldham) BBC Sport verdict: The best equipped of all last season's relegated teams. Will still find League Two tough though. Key man: Jack Lester DAGENHAM & REDBRIDGE Latest club news Nickname: The Daggers Ground: Victoria Road Capacity: 6,078 Last season: Champions in Conference (Promoted) Manager: John Still (April 2004) In: Ross Smith (Ebbsfleet), Richard Graham (Barnet), Shane Huke (Peterborough) Out: Tim Cole (Thurrock), Paolo Vernazza (Weymouth) BBC Sport verdict: Still's know-how means Dagenham should take the step up to the Football League in their stride. Key man: Paul Benson DARLINGTON Latest club news Nickname: The Quakers Ground: The Arena Capacity: 25,294 Last season: 11th Manager: Dave Penney (October 2006) In: Andy Oakes (Swansea), John Brackstone (Hartlepool), Kevin McBride (unattached), Scott Wiseman (Hull), Stephen Foster (Scunthorpe), Alan White (Notts County), Rob Purdie (Hereford), Neil Austin (Barnsley), Pawel Abbott (Swansea), Ian Harty (Airdrie), Ian Miller (Darlington), Andre Boucaud (Wycombe) Out: Sam Russell, Simon Johnson (Hereford) BBC Sport verdict: Fell short last season but will challenge strongly for promotion this time. Key man: Pawel Abbott GRIMSBY TOWN Latest club news Nickname: The Mariners Ground: Blundell Park Capacity: 10,033 Last season: 15th Manager: Alan Buckley (November 2006) In: James Hunt (Bristol Rovers), Jamie Clark (Boston), Gary Montgomery (Rotherham) Out: John McDermott (retired), Gary Croft (Lincoln), Matt Bloomer (Boston), Simon Grand (Morecambe) BBC Sport verdict: Buckley's League Two know-how could haul the Mariners into play-off contention. Key man: Peter Bore HEREFORD Latest club news Nickname: Bulls Ground: Edgar Street Capacity: 8, 8843 Last season: 16th Manager: Graham Turner (August, 1995) In: Steve Guinan (Cheltenham), Karl Broadhurst (Bournemouth), John McCombe (Huddersfield), Kris Taylor (Walsall), Clint Easton (Gillingham), Lionel Ainsworth (Derby), Trevor Benjamin (Peterborough), Simon Johnson (Darlington) Out: Phil Gulliver (Rushden & Diamonds), Andy Ferrell (Kidderminster), Danny Thomas (Macclesfield), Rob Purdie (Darlington), Alan Connell (Brentford), Stuart Fleetwood (Forest Green), Martyn Giles, Glyn Thompson (Newport County), Tamika Mkandawire (Leyton Orient), Tim Sills (Torquay), Andy Williams (Bristol Rovers), Alex Jeannin (Oxford Utd) BBC Sport verdict: The cash-strapped Bulls will have to battle to keep their heads above water. Key man: Steve Guinan LINCOLN CITY Latest club news Nickname: The Red Imps Ground: Sincil Bank Capacity: 10,127 Last season: Fifth Manager: John Schofield (June 2006) In: Steve Torpey (Scunthorpe), Gary Croft (Grimsby), Michael Roddy Out: Simon Rayner (Torquay), Martin Gritton (Macclesfield), Paul Mayo (Notts County), Paul Morgan (Bury), Jeff Hughes (Crystal Palace) BBC Sport verdict: Last season's beaten play-off semi-finalists will make no mistake this time. Champions. Key man: Lee Frecklington MACCLESFIELD TOWN Latest club news Nickname: The Silkmen Ground: Moss Rose Capacity: 6,335 Last season: 22nd Manager: Ian Brightwell (June 2007) In: Martin Gritton (Lincoln), Francis Green (Boston), Danny Thomas (Hereford), Richard Edghill (Bradford), Michael Husbands (Port Vale), Luke Dimech (Chester), Simon Wiles (Blackpool), Terry Dunfield Out: Matty McNeil (Stockport) Martin Bullock (Wycombe), Alan Navarro, Jon Brain, John Murphy (Chester) BBC Sport verdict: Brightwell faces an uphill struggle to keep the Silkmen in the Football League. Key man: Martin Gritton MANSFIELD TOWN Latest club news Nickname: The Stags Ground: Field Mill Capacity: 9,990 Last season: 17th Manager: Bill Dearden (December 2006) In: Dan Martin (Notts County), John McAliskey (Huddersfield), Martin McIntosh (Huddersfield), Lee Bell (Burton). Out: Chris Beardsley (York), Giles Coke (Northampton), Asa Charlton (Telford), Callum Lloyd (Kettering), Jon-Olav Hjelde, Barry Conlon (Bradford) BBC Sport verdict: Continuing off-field issues will overshadow any hopes of a promotion campaign. Key man: John McAliskey MILTON KEYNES DONS Latest club news Nickname: Dons Ground: stadium:mk Capacity: 30,000 Last season: Fourth Manager: Paul Ince (June 2007) In: Dominic Blizzard (Watford), Kevin Gallen (QPR), Mark Wright (Walsall), Mustapha Carayol (Swindon), Colin Cameron (Coventry) Out: Ben Chorley (Tranmere), Clive Platt (Colchester), Gary Smith (Brentford) BBC Sport verdict: Ince's golden touch will take the Dons into League One. Key man: Kevin Gallen MORECAMBE Latest club news Nickname: The Shrimps Ground: Christie Park Capacity: 6,400 Last season: Third in Conference (Promoted via play-offs) Manager: Sammy McIlroy (May 2006) In: Chris Neal (Preston), Matty Blinkhorn (Blackpool), Carl Baker (Southport), David Artell (Chester) Out: Danny Carlton (Carlisle), Chris Blackburn (Swindon), Jonathan Smith (Forest Green) BBC Sport verdict: McIlroy will have his work cut out if Morecambe are to stay up. Key man: Carl Baker NOTTS COUNTY Latest club news Nickname: The Magpies Ground: Meadow Lane Capacity: 20,300 Last season: 13th Manager: Steve Thompson (June 2006) In: Paul Mayo (Lincoln), Hector Sam (Walsall), Tim Sandercombe (Plymouth), Adam Tann (Leyton Orient), Neil MacKenzie (unattached), Spencer Weir-Daley (Nottingham Forest), Myles Weston (Charlton), Richard Butcher (Peterborough) Out: Alan White (Darlington), Dan Gleeson (Cambridge United), Dan Martin (Mansfield), David Pipe (Bristol Rovers) BBC Sport verdict: A play-off place is the least that Magpies fans should expect. Key man: Spencer Weir-Daley PETERBOROUGH UNITED Latest club news Nickname: Posh Ground: London Road Capacity: 15,152 Last season: 10th Manager: Darren Ferguson (January 2007) In: Charlie Lee (Tottenham), Chris Whelpdale (Billericay Town), Dean Keates (Walsall), Chris Westwood (Walsall), Rene Howe (Kettering), Kieran Charnock (Northwich) Out: Shane Huke (Dagenham & Redbridge), Justin Richards (Kidderminster), Ben Futcher (Bury), Richard Butcher (Notts County), Trevor Benjamin (Hereford) BBC Sport verdict: Ferguson's squad is full of talent and should challenge at the top. Capable of a top-three finish. Key man: Aaron McLean ROCHDALE Latest club news Nickname: Dale Ground: Spotland Capacity: 10,208 Last season: Ninth Manager: Keith Hill (January 2007) In: Tom Kennedy (Bury), Ben Muirhead (Bradford), James Spencer (Stockport), Kallum Higginbotham (Oldham), Nathan D'Laryea (Manchester City) Out: Mark Jackson (Farsley Celtic), Alan Goodall (Luton), Matt Gilks (Norwich) BBC Sport verdict: Unlikely to match last season's top-half finish. Key man: Glenn Murray ROTHERHAM Latest club news Nickname: The Millers Ground: Millmoor Capacity: 8,300 Last season: 23rd in League One (relegated) Manager: Mark Robins (March 2007) In: Danny Harrison (Tranmere), Dale Tonge (Barnsley), Tom Cahill (Matlock), Andy Todd (Accrington), Andy Warrington (Bury), Peter Holmes (Luton), Mark Hudson (Huddersfield), Marc Joseph (Blackpool), Graham Coughlan (Sheffield Wednesday), Steve Cann (Derby), Colin Murdock (Shrewsbury) Out: David Worrell (Dundee), Eugen Bopp (Crewe), Richie Partridge (Chester City), Delroy Facey (Gillingham), Matthew Woods (Doncaster), Gary Montgomery (Grimsby), Gregor Robertson (Chesterfield) BBC Sport verdict: Stopping the downward spiral will be enough for the Millers. Will be interesting to see how Robins fares. Key man: Andy Todd SHREWSBURY TOWN Latest club news Nickname: The Shrews Ground: New Meadow Capacity: 10,000 Last season: Seventh Manager: Gary Peters (November 2004) In: David Hibbert (Preston), Glynn Garner (Leyton Orient), Darran Kempson (Crewe), Marc Pugh (Bury), Darren Moss (Crewe), David Hunt (Northampton) Out: Richard Hope (Wrexham), Dave Edwards (Luton), Sagi Burton (Barnet) BBC Sport verdict: Peters has a tidy squad that is capable of marking the first season at the New Meadow by making the play-offs again. Key man: Michael Symes STOCKPORT COUNTY Latest club news Nickname: The Hatters Ground: Edgeley Park Capacity: 11,500 Last season: Eighth Manager: Jim Gannon (January 2006) In: Chris Adamson (Sheff Wed), Matty McNeil (Macclesfield), Gareth Owen (Oldham), Gary Dicker (UCD), Paul Tierney (Blackpool) Out: James Spencer (Rochdale), Ryan Crowther (Liverpool) BBC Sport verdict: Expect Gannon to build on last season and automatic promotion will not be beyond them. Key man: Anthony Elding WREXHAM Latest club news Nickname: Red Dragons Ground: Racecourse Ground Capacity: 15,500 Last season: 19th Manager: Brian Carey (May 2007) In: Michael Proctor (Hartlepool), Anthony Williams (Carlisle), Eifion Williams (Hartlepool), Richard Hope (Shrewsbury), Conall Murtagh (Southport) Out: Lee McEvilly (Accrington) BBC Sport verdict: Should steer clear of trouble but mid-table is as good as it will get. Key man: Eifion Williams WYCOMBE WANDERERS Latest club news Nickname: The Chairboys Ground: Adams Park Capacity: 10,000 Last season: 12th Manager: Paul Lambert (June 2006) In: David McCracken (Dundee Utd), Craig Woodman (Bristol City) Martin Bullock (Macclesfield), Scott Shearer (Bristol Rovers), Leon Johnson (Gillingham), Derek Duncan (Leyton Orient), John Sutton (St Mirren), Gary Holt (Nottingham Forest), Tom Williams (Swansea), Jack Obersteller (Millwall), Andre Boucaud (Kettering) Out: Tommy Mooney (Walsall), Chris Palmer (Darlington) BBC Sport verdict: Fell away last season but should last the course this time. Key man: John Sutton |
Latest | August 2007