HUDDERSFIELD TOWNManager: Stan Ternant
Ground: Galpahrm Stadium
Capacity: 24,500
Last Season: Huddersfield were again below the expectant level of performance last season as their hungry fans were left dissatisfied once again with a mid-table finish. Luke Beckett hit twelve goals with veteran Andy Booth still finding the net with nine but more fire power is needed if the Terriers are to get anywhere near the playoffs.
Players In: Andy Butler (Scunthorpe) FREE, Chris Lucketti (Sheffield United) FREE, Gary Roberts (Ipswich) FREE, Keigan Parker(Blackpool) FREE, Jim Goodwin (Scunthorpe) FREE
Players Out: Frank Sinclair (Lincoln) FREE, Robert Page (Chestefield) FREE, Danny Schofield (Yeovil) FREE, Chris Brandon (Bradford) FREE
This season: Town will be hopeful that new signing Keigan Parker can fire them to the higher reaches of the table. An expectant band of fans will return to the Galpharm with ticket prices reduced in the club’s bid to bring more through the gate and they will be hoping that the ploy works as Stan Ternant looks to deliver the goods.
Key Man: Keigan Parker
The signing of Parker on a free from Blackpool could turn out to be the bargain of the summer in League One. The forward has a proven pedigree at this level and could be the difference between mid-table and the playoffs for his new side.
LEEDS UNITEDManager: Gary McAllister
Ground: Elland Road
Capacity: 40,204
Last Season: After the fifteen point deduction at the start of last season, Leeds still overturned the odds and managed to sneak into the playoffs. Denis Wise’s departure to Newcastle made them stutter a little mid-season but Gary McAllister steadied the ship eventually and took them to the playoff final where they were beaten by Doncaster Rovers.
Players In: Alan Sheehan (Leicester) FREE, Enoch Showumni (Bristol City) FREE, Robert Snodgrass (Livingston) FREE, Luciano Becchio (Merida) FREE
Players Out: Leon Constantine (Northampton) FREE, Tomi Ameobi (Doncaster) FREE, Anthony Elding (Crewe) FREE, Curtis Weston (Gillingham) FREE, Matt Heath (Colchester) FREE
This season: There’s simply no excuses this season for Leeds- they must win promotion and anything less will be seen as a failure. Most of the squad are still together and they are red hot favourites to be a Championship side this time next season. Without a deduction this time around, Leeds will surely be title contenders.
Key Man: Jermaine Beckford
Beckford took League One by storm last season and he will once again be the focal point of Leeds’ attack. If they can hold onto him through the two transfer windows, United will be spearheaded by arguably the most dangerous striker in the league.
LEICESTER CITYManager: Nigel Pearson
Ground: The Walker Stadium
Capacity: 32,500
Last Season: In a desperate season last time out, Ian Holloway couldn’t keep his troops in the Championship and they were relegated on a dramatic last day of the season. With Southampton’s game against Sheffield United going this way and that, Leicester were holding onto a 0-0 draw at Stoke. But the point wasn’t enough as Southampton grabbed the win they needed to jump above the Foxes and send them down. Holloway was duely shown the door and ironically ex-Saints boss Nigel Pearson was installed as boss.
Players In: Karrea Gilbert (Arsenal) Loan, David Martin (Liverpool) Loan, Nicky Adams (Bury) FREE, Lloyd Dyer (MK Dons) FREE, Michael Morrison (Cambridge) FREE, Aleksander Tunchey (CSKA Sofia) £375,000
Players Out: Alan Sheehan (Leeds) FREE, Rab Douglas (Dundee) FREE, Louis Dodds (Port Vale) FREE, Gareth McAuley (Ipswich) FREE, Richard Stearman (Wolves) FREE, Iain Hume (Barnsley) £1.2 million
This season: Nigel Pearson managed to steer Southampton out of trouble last season and Leicester could have the man in charge they need to take them back into the Championship. The Foxes will be big favourites with Leeds to win promotion at the first attempt and they should be challenging for the top two.
Key Man: Matt Oakley
The former Southampton and Derby midfielder has bags of experience in the top two divisions and that extra bit of quality in the middle of the park could be the difference this season.
LEYTON ORIENTManager: Martin Ling
Ground: Brisbane Road
Capacity: 13,842
Last Season: Orient had an incredible start to the 2007/08 season with the club belittling any pre-season predictions about them by storming to top spot early on. It took until mid September for the O’s to suffer their first defeat but it was a mid-season slide that really did the damage to any promotion hopes. Orient slipped to mid-table by the end of the season, sliding away from the playoffs in the final few months.
Players In: Simon Dawkins (Spurs) Loan, Andrew Cave-Brown (Norwich) FREE, Jamie Jones (Everton) FREE, Danny Granville (Colchester) FREE, Ryan Jarvis (Norwich) FREE
Players Out: Jabo Ibehre (Walsall) FREE, Clayton Fortune (Darlington) FREE
This season: Orient once again need a good start to put pay to any lingering hangover from last season’s end of term slump. Ryan Jarvis should add real quality to the midfield while Danny Granville’s experience will be vital. The O’s have managed to keep hold of the nucleus of their squad and have added well so another good season should be ahead for Martin Ling’s side.
Key Man: Sean Thornton
The classy midfielder can turn a game on his day and is a danger from set pieces. With bags of experience and a good right foot, Thornton has the quality to really cause problems at this level.
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