This summer in the Blue Square Premier has been one of the most controversial and eventful periods the league has endured for some years.
What with the break-up of Setanta Sports, clubs on the market for £1, and managers leaving after over a week in charge, the season can’t start soon enough for some.
Others might need a bit long to gather in further transfer targets, find a new manager or just to be entered in the league altogether.
Here’s a brief, but insightful look into the 24 sides battling it out for the football league this season.
AFC Wimbledon:- Terry Brown is trying to write a new chapter in Wimbledon’s history by inserting them back in the football league. With all the controversies surrounding the rest of the league the club are quietly going about their business, but with Jon Main up top they might be making more of a noise than expected this season.
Altrincham:- One of the overachievers last season, but as part time side’s go they’ve put up a hell of a fight. Looked doomed the season before last, now look towards Colin Little, who’s scored over 100 goals for the club, for inspiration. Contributions from elsewhere need to come thick and fast if the Robins have any ambitions of the top half.
Barrow:- Tough times? No such thing at Barrow after lasts season FA Cup heroics. An increased budget has meant increased expectations. The signing of experienced defender Phil Bolland is somewhat of a coup, ahead of a season that is sure to bring slightly more achievement.
Cambridge United:- After the eventual departure of Gary Brabin, and then the attempt to re-sign him as manager, Martin Ling was installed as the new boss. Despite not being able to tempt Scott Rendell for another season, the future looked bright for Cambridge. Reports on Tuesday are suggesting Ling has stepped down after just eight days in charge, and even if things are resolved there are troubled times at the Abbey Stadium.
Chester City:- Details surrounding their owner Stephen Vaughan, and his previous misgivings has forced the FA not to grant the club an affiliation for this new season and therefore are far from guaranteed to play in the BSP. Add to that a 10-point penalty for wherever they land, the loss of Mark Wright as manager and investigations by the HM revenue. All this before the season has even begun. Dire times ahead.
Crawley Town:- All change in the playing staff for Crawley this season, and the host of high-profile signings are sure to boost their play-off ambition. Points deductions have halted them in the past, but if they are avoidable this season you can’t help but think they’ll be competing with the big boys. Jefferson Louis, one of the leagues hottest properties is around to add to their goal threat.
Eastbourne Borough:- Another club who punched above their weight last season, and who will struggle to meet the demands of a cash strapped summer. The break up of Setanta hit every club in the league, but with Eastbourne’s structure fitted tightly around the deal, plenty of work has been done to secure the clubs future. Four wins out of seven in pre-season has raised hopes again, the signing of Jamie Taylor might just keep them in this league for another year.
Ebbsfleet United:- We could go on for hours about the clubs absurd business model, but at the end of the day it could see the club in real trouble if more subscribers aren’t found. Michael Gash has gone to York while Liam Daish had to contend with trialists for the new season after the owners released minimal funds. The punt saw them slip down the league even further last season, and the manager become increasingly frustrated, the system is doomed to fail.
Forest Green Rovers:- Two cups runs almost saw the club relegated last season, but a late season surge the goals of Andy Mangan saw them survive. He will miss most of the season after a betting scandal, and while the Chairman has called for players to chip in from midfield, without the controversial striker things look a little bleak. Jim Harvey’s future looks just as hazy as well, with the manager set to take legal action over his club before the side’s first league game.
Gateshead:- Bringing some joy to the North-east with promotion lasts season, but after losing top scorer Lee Novak early in the summer it already looks a bit gloomy for Gateshead. Michael McKay has come in to try and replace the front man, along with former Geordie Martin Britain. Big names such as these are sure to tempt more fans to their 12,000 capacity stadium-but to help them stave off relegation? Well that’s another thing entirely.
Grays Athletic:- It’s been all change at Grays this summer, with the new manager at the end of last season, has now come a new chairman in John Moncur, new players after a budget cut, and a three year plan put in place that could see the club in the football league. Craig Edwards has his first full season ahead of him and has brought in Crystal Palace youngster Jerson Dos Santos, a man whose proven at non-league with Sutton United.
Hayes and Yeading:- After their thrilling play-off victory last season, much is expected of this entertaining Hayes side. Church Road has seen a fair few ins and outs, and the young backroom staff headed by manager Garry Haylock will have a tough job to keep things ship shape. Looking for a star man? Look no further than Staforde Palmer, bags of pace and an eye for goal, scored 15 goals last season and was the cornerstone of their success.
Histon:- Success was necessary if Histon were to keep hold of their best players, and predictably enough they’ve have had to wilt to their players ambition, and inevitably the pull of a greater wage packet. In spite of their cup run not much money is available for Steve Fallon, and in truth the departures haven’t been properly replaced, another victim of Setanta’s break-up on the face of it. Difficult season ahead, would be an even bigger shock than last season if they could finish in the play-offs.
Kettering Town:- Fell away when it mattered last season after a prolonged stay in the play-offs, and with Mark Cooper, whose is sure to be subject of a second advance from Cambridge they are in good condition to challenge again. The signings of Ian Roper and Francis Green suggest they want some football league experience so to avoid a similar fade away as last season. Dark horses again this season.
Kidderminster Harriers:- After an excellent season the side have gone and offloaded several of their big names, including the spine of the side with Russ Penn and Mark Creighton also departing. It’s been crippling for Kidderminster and they’re set struggle this season, even with Lee Fowler joining from Forest Green. No one will envy Mark Yates’ job right now and to finish in the top half will be ambitious to say the least.
Luton Town:- Town can look upon this season will great gusto, after keeping the majority of their squad from last season, including starlet Tom Craddock, Mick Harford will set his sights on the football league once again. Harford’s experience at turning clubs around has proved uncanny in the past in a number of caretaker roles, and despite not having a promotion to his name this can be the perfect league to buck that trend. Darlington pair Liam Hatch and Alan White will add some steel to the hatters for this season and they look well placed to bounce straight back.
Mansfield Town:- After over a year of financial problems the stags can now look forward to a promotion push, and with one of the best young managers in non-league David Holdsworth, they’ve got the resources to mount a serious challenge. Pre-season has gone well with a win and a draw over Walsall and Leicester. Kyle Nix could prove to be a worthwhile signing, and the final piece of the Mansfield jigsaw. Expect them to be hovering around the playoffs come May.
Oxford United:- When you combine managerial quality, with financial infrastructure your sure to have a good chance, and for Chris Wilder at Oxford he’s got all the resources to finally end the U’s non-league nightmare. The former Halifax man seems like the right man for the job, and after a number of high profile signings the team looks odds on to hit the ground running this season. Missed out on the play-offs courtesy of their five-point deduction last term, expect not even a points deduction to deny them this time.
Rushdan and Diamonds:- Justin Edinburgh started to struggle at the back end of last season, with just four wins from the final 13 games and a restricting budget this summer may leave Diamonds in a bit of bother. Cliff Akurang and Max Porter have come in from Barnet-but any chances of a promotion push are far of the mark-expect the former Spurs man to battling for his job come the end of the season.
Salisbury City:- There are always problems when your club are on the market, but when it’s for just £1 you have to wonder. Amazingly Matt Tubs has stuck around for the fight, and he’s one of the finer players in this league-and as you can tell one of the more committed. They might have topped the league early on last season, but they lay in the relegation battle for most of the season, anticipate more of the same this season. That’s if they make it that far.
Stevenage Borough:- In a list of things to expect from any football season, Stevenage to attempt another promotion from the BSP is always up their, with expectation always sky-high. To be fair to the fans some of that has dipped after the sale of Steve Morrison, but Charlie Griffen his replacement from Salisbury is no mug, even if he is no direct replacement for the former striker. The basis of a good squad, and in Graeme Westley they do have a capable manager- it seems that the expectation is sometimes too much of a burden.
Tamworth:- Gary Mills has done a terrific job at Tamworth over the last two years, but keeping his side in the Conference after their promotion last season might be a step too far. He took them down from this league when he took over, some would say they were gone before he joined, but now he’s got a full season to keep the side up. They’ve lost their shining lights of last season Gareth Shedon and Martin Foster, something that makes the task a whole lot more challenging, but it’s one Mills is sure to relish.
Wrexham:- Yet another side who have made major cut backs this summer, and could suffer for it. Both Richards and Louis are gone, and with it possibly their promotion ambition. Were unfortunate with postponed fixtures last season and backlog proved too much for the squad to bare. Dean Saunders, who’s sure to be fast-tracked for the Wales position next summer might only have a single season to provide promotion. Seems unlikely it will be enough for the former Derby striker.
York City:- A cup final appearance in his first season was the dream start to Martin Foyle’s tenure at York, but now he needs to improve the teams league form as the perennial underachievers seek to use last season’s success as a catalyst for the new season. Michael Gash has been recruited from Ebbsfleet in a shrewd move, but Djoumin Sangare isn’t quiet what the fans might be after at Kitkit crescent. Promotion seems a long shot as well.
Champions: Oxford United
Play-offs: Crawley Town, Luton Town, Grays Athletic, AFC Wimbledon
Relegated: Salisbury City, Ebbsfleet United, Tamworth, Gateshead
Top Scorer: Tom Craddock
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