League One Preview 2008/09...Part Six...

SWINDON TOWN

Manager: Maurice Malpas
Ground: County Ground
Capacity: 15,728

Last Season: After promotion in 2007, it was a season of consolidation for the Robins. Maurice Malpas took them to mid-table, briefly flirting with the playoffs until the final third of the season.

Players In: Lilian Nalis (Plymouth) FREE, Michael Timlin (Fulham) FREE, Kevin Amankwaah (Swansea) FREE

Players Out: Miguel Commingues (Cardiff) FREE, Sofiane Zaaboub (Walsall) FREE, Chris Blackburn (Aldershot) FREE

This season: Swindon will be looking to push on this season but could struggle with no great activity in the transfer market. Maurice Malpas needs to keep the fans onside early on to avoid being a scapegoat but I can’t see them competing at the top end of the table.

Key Man: Simon Cox

Cox signed with Swindon again last January, turning down a move to the Cobblers. He hit six goals since the move and will be looking to get into the 20+ mark if Swindon are to make any ground on the top half.



TRANMERE ROVERS

Manager: Ronnie Moore
Ground: Prenton Park
Capacity: 16,789

Last Season: Tranmere missed the playoffs last season, finishing below the Cobblers after we beat them on the final day of the season. With high hopes for a top six finish, Rovers fans will want a better return this time out.

Players In: Bas Savage (Millwall) FREE, Gareth Edds (MK Dons) FREE

Players Out: Shane Sheriff (Shrewsbury) FREE, Calvin Zola (Crewe) FREE, Robbie Stockdale (Grimsby) FREE, Steve Davies (Derby) Undisclosed

This season: Rovers will be looking to fulfil their playoff ambition this time out but Ronnie Moore has a task on his hand to raise his squad’s game to the next level. They could just miss out on the top six once again.

Key Man: Chris Greenacre

Greenacre’s goals are key in getting Rovers into the top half at least and he will be feeding off the likes of Adnan Ahmed and Chris Shuker to provide the chances.


WALSALL

Manager: Jimmy Mullen
Ground: Bescot Stadium
Capacity: 9,000

Last Season: Richard Money departed the Bescot with Walsall in the top half of League One towards the end of last season. The Saddlers made an excellent start and were in the top six going into the final third of the season. But a big slump forced them out of the playoff recogning.

Players In: Chris Palmer (Wycombe) FREE, Marco Reich (Kickers Offenbach) FREE

Players Out: Martin Brittain, David McDermott (Kidderminster) FREE,

This season: Jimmy Mullin hasn’t had a top job since 1996 when he was with Burnley and will have to do a lot to win over the Bescot fans in terms of managment ability. Walsall could find it difficult in their second season back and may struggle.

Key Man: Tommy Mooney

Mooney is getting on a bit but his experience is crucial to the side staying out of trouble at the wrong end of the table.




YEOVIL TOWN

Manager: Russell Slade
Ground: Huish Park
Capacity: 9,665

Last Season: After a playoff semi final defeat the season before, Yeovil made a decent enough start but since the turn of the year suffered an almighty slump in form and ended up having to win their final couple of games to stave off a relegation battle.

Players In: Darren Way (Swansea) FREE, Danny Schofield (Huddersfield) FREE

Players Out: Andy Kirk (Dunfermline) FREE, Marcus Stewart (Exeter) FREE, Scott Guyett (Bournemouth) FREE, Steve Midenhall (Southend) FREE, Anthony Barry (Chester) FREE, Marvin Williams (Brentford) Undisclosed

This season: Town finished with a couple of good wins to save them from a relegation battle but starting again they must keep that form going or Russell Slade could face a backlash from expectant Huish Park fans.

Key Man: Danny Schofield

The new signing from Huddersfield will provide a much needed spark to the midfield, something that was very much missing in Town’s slump to the lower reaches of the table last season.