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BARNET
Nickname: The Bees
Ground: Underhill
Capacity: 5,500
Last season: 1st in Conference
Manager: Paul Fairclough
In: Ross Flitney (Fulham)
Out: Shane Gore (Stevenage)
Observer verdict: Won Conference comfortably last year and
look set to cause a few upsets this season. Mid-table finish
Key man: Giuliano Grazioli
BOSTON UNITED
Nickname: The Pilgrims
Ground: York Street
Capacity: 6,543
Last season: 16th
Manager: Steve Evans
In: Ben Futcher (Lincoln), Noel Whelan (Aberdeen), Gavin
Johnson (Colchester, undisclosed), Ryan Doherty (Northampton,
undisclosed), Ashley Edkins (Aston Villa, undisclosed), Chris
Wright (Arsenal, undisclosed), Lee Canoville (Torquay), Stewart
Talbot (Brentford), Julian Joachim (Leeds)
Out: Jermaine Easter (Stockport)
Observer verdict: If big names signings don't get off to a
good start the pressure could prove too much for Steve Evans
Key man: Noel Whelan
BRISTOL ROVERS
Nickname: Pirates
Ground: Memorial Stadium
Capacity: 11,976
Last season: 12th
Manager: Ian Atkins
In: Alex Jeannin (Exeter), Louie Soares (Reading), Chris
Carruthers (Northampton), Scott Shearer (Coventry)
Out: Scott Sinclair (Chelsea)
Sonny Parker, Dave Savage
Observer verdict: Drew too many games last year, but look
likely play-off contenders
Key man: Junior Agogo
BURY
Nickname: Shakers
Ground: Gigg Lane
Capacity: 11,669
Last season: 17th
Manager: Graham Barrow
In: Craig Dootson (Stalybridge Celtic), Allan Smart (Milton
Keynes Dons), Neil Edwards (Rochdale), Stuart Barlow (Stockport),
John Fitzgerald (Blackburn), Jake Sedgemore (Shrewsbury), John
Hardiker (Stockport)
Out: Colin Kazim-Richards (Brighton - tribunal), Glynn Garner
(Leyton Orient), Chris Porter (Oldham - tribunal), Matt Barrass,
John Cartledge
Observer verdict: Once again avoiding relegation but
bottom-half finish
Key man: Neil Edwards
CARLISLE UNITED
Nickname: The Cumbrians/Blues
Ground: Brunton Park
Capacity: 16,651
Last season: 3rd in Conference (promoted via play-offs)
Manager: Paul Simpson
In: Zigor Aranalde (Walsall), Raphael Nade (Woking,
undisclosed)
Out: Craig Farrell, Brian Shelley, Kevin Henderson, Chris
Beech, Carlos Roca, Tom Cowan
Observer verdict: Will do well to avoid going straight back
down
Key man: Zigor Aranalde
CHELTENHAM TOWN
Nickname: The Robins
Ground: Whaddon Road
Capacity: 7,407
Last season: 14th
Manager: John Ward
In: Craig Armstrong (Bradford)
Out: Martin Devaney (Watford), Graham Ward (Tamworth), Chris
Murphy (Redditch), John Brough (Aldershot)
Observer verdict: Have not strengthened squad enough to
suggest they can improve on last season's mid-table placing
Key man: Shane Duff
CHESTER
Nickname: The Blues
Ground: Deva Stadium
Capacity: 6,000
Last season: 20th
Manager: Keith Curle
In: Marcus Richardson (Yeovil), Craig Dove (Rushden), Justin
Walker (Cambridge Utd), David Artell (Mansfield, undisclosed), Luke
Dimech (Mansfield), Abdelhalim El Kholti (Cambridge Utd), Tom
Curtis (Mansfield), Gregg Blundell (Doncaster, £105,000)
Out: Paul Carden (Peterborough), Wayne Brown (Hereford)
Observer verdict: After the turmoil of last season Curle will
be looking to steady the ship - his squad-strengthening during the
summer should ensure a top-half finish
Key man: Michael Branch
DARLINGTON
Nickname: The Quakers
Ground: The Arena
Capacity: 25,294
Last season: 8th
Manager: David Hodgson
In: Akpo Sodje (Huddersfield), Simon Johnson (Leeds), David
Duke (Swindon), Sam Russell (Middlesbrough)
Out: Chris Hughes (Scarborough), Ian Clark (Scarborough),
Bobby Petta (Bradford)
Observer verdict: New signings Simon Johnson and Akpo Sodje,
along with Alun Armstrong, should provide the fire-power to shoot
Darlington into the play-offs
Key man: Alun Armstrong
GRIMSBY TOWN
Nickname: The Mariners
Ground: Blundell Park
Capacity: 10,033
Last season: 18th
Manager: Russell Slade
In: Jermaine Palmer (Stoke), John Lukic (Nottingham Forest),
Gary Cohen (Gretna, loan), Terry Barwick (Scunthorpe), Paul Bolland
(Notts County), Steve Mildenhall (Oldham), Tom Newey (Cambridge),
Ciaran Toner (Lincoln), Jean-Paul Kamudimba Kalala (Nice), Gary
Jones (Tranmere)
Out: Terry Fleming (Kidderminster), Terrell Forbes (Oldham),
Jason Crowe (Northampton), Jermaine Palmer (Scarborough, loan)
Thomas Pinault
Observer verdict: A lot of chopping and changing at Blundell
Park but mid-table finish
Key man: Andy Parkinson
LEYTON ORIENT
Nickname: The O's
Ground: Brisbane Road
Capacity: 5,000
Last season: 11th
Manager: Martin Ling
In: Glynn Garner (Bury), Shane Tudor (Cambridge), Joey Keith
(Colchester), Joe Dolan (Millwall), Craig Easton (Livingston)
Out: Lee Harrison (Peterborough)
Mark Peters, Tom Youngs
Observer verdict: Will push for a play-off place but other
contenders appear stronger
Key man: Lee Steele
LINCOLN CITY
Nickname: The Red Imps
Ground: Sincil Bank
Capacity: 10,147
Last season: 6th
Manager: Keith Alexander
In: Paul Mayo (Watford), Omari Coleman (Watford), Steve
Robinson (Swindon), Dean Keates (Kidderminster), Colin Cryan
(Scarborough), Scott Kerr (Scarborough), Danny Bacon (Hucknall),
Gary Birch (Kidderminster), Luke Foster, Nat Brown (Huddersfield),
Marvin Robinson (Stockport), Maheta Molango (Brighton, season-long
loan)
Out: Richard Butcher (Oldham), Ben Futcher (Boston), Simon Yeo
(New Zealand Knights), Gary Taylor-Fletcher (Huddersfield), Peter
Gain (Peterborough), Kevin Sandwith (Macclesfield), Ciaran Toner
(Grimsby) Martin Carruthers, Ritchie Hanlon
Observer verdict: Too many changes to threaten this time,
mid-table
Key man: Gareth McAuley
MACCLESFIELD TOWN
Nickname: The Silkmen
Ground: Moss Rose
Capacity: 6,235
Last season: 5th
Manager: Brian Horton
In: Michael Symes (Bradford, loan), Kevin Sandwith (Lincoln),
David Beresford (Tranmere), Martin Bullock (Blackpool), Kevin
Townson (Rochdale), Allan Russell (St Mirren)
Out: Matt Tipton (Mansfield), Matt Carragher, Joey Jones,
Graham Potter, Tommy Rooney, Michael Welch, Steve Wilson, Steven
Brackenridge
Observer verdict: The Silkmen look a decent bet for automatic
promotion.
Key man: Jon Parkin
MANSFIELD TOWN
Nickname: The Stags
Ground: Field Mill
Capacity: 9,990
Last season: 13th
Manager: Carlton Palmer
In: Matt Tipton (Macclesfield), Jason Talbot (Bolton), Adam
Birchall (Arsenal), Gus Uhlenbeek (Wycombe), Gavin Peers
(Blackburn), Stephen Dawson (Leicester), Jon Olav Hjelde (Nott'm
Forest)
Out: Colin Larkin (Chesterfield), Kevin Pilkington (Notts
County), Luke Dimech (Chester), David Artell (Chester), Tom Curtis
(Chester)
Scott McNiven, Alex Neil
Observer verdict: Mid-table finish.
Key man: Matthew Tipton
NORTHAMPTON TOWN
Nickname: The Cobblers
Ground: Sixfields Stadium
Capacity: 7,653
Last season: 7th
Manager: Colin Calderwood
In: Eoin Jess (Nottm Forest), Chris Doig (Nottm Forest), Ian
Taylor (Derby), Brett Johnson (Aldershot, undisclosed), Jason Crowe
(Grimsby), Sean Dyche (Watford)
Out: Chris Willmott (Oxford), Ryan Doherty (Boston,
undisclosed), Chris Carruthers (Bristol Rovers), Lee Williamson
(Rotherham), Tommy Jaszczun (Rochdale)
Luke Graham
Observer verdict: Just miss out on automatic promotion.
Key man: Andy Kirk
NOTTS COUNTY
Nickname: The Magpies
Ground: Meadow Lane
Capacity: 20,300
Last season: 19th
Manager: Gudjon Thordarson
In: Kevin Pilkington (Mansfield), Brian O'Callaghan (Worksop),
Lewis McMahon (Sheff Wed), Andy White (Crewe), Dan Martin
(Derby)
Out: Stefan Oakes (Wycombe), Paul Bolland (Grimsby), Shaun
Harrad (Burton)
Observer verdict: Not enough to threaten at the top end
Key man: Glynn Hurst
OXFORD UNITED
Nickname: The U's
Ground: The Kassam Stadium
Capacity: 12,450
Last season: 15th
Manager: Brian Talbot
In: Chris Willmott (Northampton), Stuart Gray (Rushden), Billy
Turley (Rushden), Lee Mansell (Luton), Chris Hargreaves
(Brentford)
Out: Tommy Mooney (Wycombe), Paul Wanless (Forest Green), Dave
Mackay (Livingston), David Woozley (Crawley), Danny Brown, Emiliano
Diaz, Mateo Corbo, Amine Karam, Lucas Cominelli, Simon Cox, Alan
Judge
Observer verdict: Season of consolidation. Bottom half
placement.
Key man: Steve Basham
PETERBOROUGH UTD
Nickname: Posh
Ground: London Road
Capacity: 15,300
Last season: 23rd League One (relegated)
Manager: Mark Wright
In: Lee Harrison (Leyton Orient), Peter Gain (Lincoln), Paul
Carden (Chester), Dean Holden (Oldham), Trevor Benjamin (Coventry),
Danny Crow (Norwich)
Out: Curtis Woodhouse (Hull, £25,000), Danny Sonner (Port
Vale), Craig Ireland (Falkirk)
Observer verdict: Could take some time to adapt to League Two,
mid-table finish
Key man: Danny Crow
ROCHDALE
Nickname: Dale
Ground: Spotland
Capacity: 10,208
Last season: 9th
Manager: Steve Parkin
In: Jon Boardman (Woking), Lee Cartwright (Stockport), Tommy
Jaszczun (Northampton), Rory McArdle (Sheffield Wednesday,
loan)
Out: Kevin Townson (Macclesfield), Leo Bertos, Wayne Evans
(Kidderminster), Daryl Burgess (Kidderminster), Leighton McGivern,
Neil Edwards (Bury)
Observer verdict: Boss Steve Parkin has kept the core of
players who went close last season and has added quality to the
squad - play-off position
Key man: Grant Holt
RUSHDEN & DIAMONDS
Nickname: Diamonds
Ground: Nene Park
Capacity: 6,441
Last season: 22nd
Manager: Barry Hunter
In: Jamie Young (Reading, loan), Dan Chillingworth
(Cambridge), Greg Pearson (West Ham), Neil McCafferty
(Charlton)
Andy Woodman
Out: Stuart Gray (Oxford), Billy Turley (Oxford), Craig Dove
(Chester), Andrew Sambrook, Robert Duffy, Sean Connelly, Adrian
Littlejohn, Alex Hay and Lee Worgan
Observer verdict: Look destined for the drop
Key man: Andy Burgess
SHREWSBURY TOWN
Nickname: The Shrews
Ground: Gay Meadow
Capacity: 8,000
Last season: 21st
Manager: Gary Peters
In: Jay Denny (Stoke), Ben Herd (Watford), Steven Hogg (Man
Utd), Neil Ashton (Tranmere), Kevin Sharp (Scunthorpe), Mark
Stallard (Barnsley), Neil Sorvel (Crewe), Glyn Thompson
(Chesterfield)
Out: Sam Aiston (Tranmere), Jake Sedgemore (Bury), Luke
Rodgers (Crewe), Martyn O'Connor, Liam Murray, Scott Howie, Kevin
Street, Ross Stephens, Mike Sheron and Trevor Challis
Observer verdict: Changes aplenty but should be comfortable
without challenging at top.
Key man: Steven Hogg
STOCKPORT COUNTY
Nickname: The Hatters
Ground: Edgeley Park
Capacity: 11,500
Last season: 24th League One (relegated)
Manager: Chris Turner
In: Rob Clare (Blackpool), Jermaine Easter (Boston), Mark
Robinson (Hereford), Tes Bramble (Southend), Ross Greenwood
(Sheffield Wednesday), Ludovic Dje, Danny Boshell, Michel
Wolski
Out: Mat Bailey (Crewe), Jim Goodwin (Scunthorpe), Lee
Cartwright (Rochdale), Stuart Barlow (Bury), John Hardiker (Bury),
Danny Jackman (Gillingham), Marvin Robinson (Lincoln), Chris
Armstrong
Observer verdict: Tes Bramble turned down Rochdale for a move
to Edgeley Park - he may regret his decision as County just fall
short of the play-offs
Key man: Tes Bramble, right.
TORQUAY UTD
Nickname: The Gulls
Ground: Plainmoor
Capacity: 6,200
Last season: 21st League One (relegated)
Manager: Leroy Rosenior
In: Darren Garner (Rotherham), Matt Hewlett (Swindon), James
Bittner (Exeter), Matt Villis (Plymouth), Mamadou Sow
(Villenonble), James Sharp (Falkirk), Malike Sako (Delemont FC),
Alan Connell (Bournemouth, undisclosed)
Out: Alex Russell (Bristol City), Lee Canoville (Boston),
Adebayo Akinfenwa (Swansea, £110,000)
Paul Jarvie, Zema Abbey
Observer verdict: Just short of the play-offs.
Key man: Leon Constantine
WREXHAM
Nickname: Red Dragons
Ground: Racecourse Ground
Capacity: 15,500
Last season: 22nd League One (relegated)
Manager: Denis Smith
In: Jon Walters (Hull), David Bayliss (Luton), Lee Roche
(Burnley), Michael Ingham (Sunderland), Lee McEvilly
(Accrington)
Out: Juan Ugarte (Crewe) Carlos Edwards (Luton), Hector Sam
(Port Vale), Craig Morgan (MK Dons, tribunal), Chris Llewellyn
(Hartlepool, undisclosed), Ryan Harrison (Forest Green), Karl
Munroe (Altrincham)
Scott Green, Andy Dibble
Observer verdict: But for that 10-point administration Wrexham
would probably still be in League One. Champions
Key man: Lee Roche
WYCOMBE WANDERERS
Nickname: The Chairboys
Ground: Causeway Stadium
Capacity: 10,000
Last season: 10th
Manager: John Gorman
In: Mike Williamson (Southampton), Charlie Griffin (Forest
Green), Stefan Oakes (Notts County), Tommy Mooney (Oxford), Will
Antwi (Aldershot), Kevin Betsy (Oldham), Chris Carruthers
(Northampton)
Out: Gus Uhlenbeek (Mansfield), Adrian Caceres, Steve
Claridge
Observer verdict: Too reliant on old legs but can sneak
play-off place.
Observer's predicted final standings:
1 Wrexham
2 Macclesfield
3 Northampton
4 Darlington
5 Bristol Rovers
6 Rochdale
7 Wycombe
8 Boston
9 Stockport
10 Torquay
11 Leyton Orient
12 Chester
13 Lincoln
14 Peterborough
15 Grimsby
16 Notts County
17 Mansfield
18 Barnet
19 Cheltenham
20 Bury
21 Shrewsbury
22 Oxford
23 Carlisle
24 Rushden and Diamonds
* Dale to go up via the play-offs
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