COLCHESTER UNITED
Manager: Geriant Williams
Ground: Weston Homes Community Stadium
Capacity: 10,000
Last Season: After shocking everyone in their first seaon in the Championship, Colchester were found out in the “difficult second season” and they didn’t have enough to stay in the league, finshing bottom of the table and a massive fifteen points from safety.
Players In: Matt Heath (Leeds) FREE, Matt Lockwood (Nottingham Forest) FREE, Paul Reid (Barnsley) FREE, David Perkins (Rochdale) FREE, Steven Gillespie (Cheltenham) £400,000
Players Out: Jamie Guy (Oxford) Loan, Kevin McLeod (Brighton) FREE, Danny Granville (Leyton Orient) FREE, Karl Duguid (Plymouth) FREE, Aiden Davison (Released), Teddy Sheringham (Released)
This Season: The U’s have a brand new stadium welcoming them back into League One but it will be tough to adjust to their new surroundings while having the pressure of bouncing back straight away to the Championship. Geriant Williams has done well in the transfer window, snapping up striker Steven Gillespie for £400,000 and he could provide much needed fire power.
Key Man: Dean Hammond
Hammond will be looking to run the midfield for Colchester following the departure of Karl Duguid and Kevin McLeod and his presence in the middle of the park could be crucial to supply the impressive looking forward line of Kevin Lisbie and Steven Gillespie with ammunition.
CREWE ALEXANDRAManager: Steve Holland
Ground: Grest Road
Capacity: 10,046
Last Season: Crewe survived the moving upstairs of Dario Gradi and the long term injury to striker Nicky Maynard to just avoid relegation on the final day of the season. Bournemouth’s draw with Carlisle United sent the Cherries down instead despite Crewe being beat 4-1 at home to Oldham.
Players In: Adam Legzdins (Birmingham) FREE, Joel Grant (Aldershot) £130,000, Calvin Zola (Tranmere) £200,000, Steve Collis (Southend) FREE, Anthony Elding (Leeds) Undisclosed,
Players Out: Owain Fon Williams (Stockport) FREE, Nicky Maynard (Bristol City) £2.25 million, Ben Williams (Carlisle) FREE
This Season: Losing striker Nicky Maynard for over 2 million pounds is a massive blow for The Alex. The prolific front man scored fifteen times last season despite breaking his leg on the opening day of the season. In his place, the impressive Joel Grant has signed from Aldershot and he should provide ammunition for fellow new signings Anthony Elding and Calvin Zola. It’ll still be tough for the Railwaymen but they should have enough to stay up again.
Key Man: Anthony Elding
Signed from Leeds United in the summer after not getting a look in at Elland Road. Before he joined Leeds though, he scored goals in 38 games at Stockport County so he will be looking to fill some of the void left by Maynard’s exit.
HARTLEPOOL UNITEDManager: Danny Wilson
Ground: Victoria Park
Capacity: 7,629
Last Season: After promotion in 2007, Hartlepool, under Danny Wilson, made steady progress to achieve a mid-table finish. Richie Barker once again found the net on a regular basis, scoring sixteen times.
Players In: Ritchie Jones (Manchester United) FREE, Alan Power (Nottingham Forest)
Players Out: None
This Season: Having kept together most of their squad from last season and added the defensive nouse of Forest’s Alan Power, United should be a decent unit in League One once again. The signing of Ritchie Jones from Manchester United could prove to be a masterstroke. Wilson’s experience should put any relegation worries on the back burner.
Key Man: Richie Barker
Barker’s goals could well be the difference between a relegation battle and a shot at the top of the table for Danny Wilson’s men. Fellow striker James Brown has also been reportedly attracting the scouts from the Premier League.
HEREFORD UNITEDManager: Graham Turner
Ground: Edgar Street
Capacity: 8,843
Last Season: Hereford were promoted in third place last season in League Two, punching well above their expected weight. Graham Turner did a magnificent job in charge at Edgar Street, a job made even more impressive by the fact that he had just fourteen professionals on the books at this stage last summer!
Players In: Toumani Diagouraga (Watford) FREE, Craig Samson (Dundee) Undisclosed, Matt Done (Wrexham) FREE
Players Out: Michael ingham (York) FREE, John McCombe (Port Vale) FREE, Wayne Brown (Bury) FREE
This Season: The season looks nothing short of a struggle for Hereford and they will have to get off to a good start if they are to stand any chance of falling behind the rest. Home form will be vital at the univiting Edgar Street, somewhere that the likes of Leeds and Leicester certainly won’t feel comfortable!
Key Man: Matty Done
The former Wrexham midfielder, 19, signed for United this season and his pace and skill could be vital for his new side. Done came through the ranks at Wrexham but turned down a new contract at the Racecourse Ground to move into League One.
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