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League Two facts and verdicts ..... Ian Coyne
BARNET

Manager: Paul Fairclough
Last season: 1st in the Conference
In: Ross Flitney (Fulham).
Out: Shane Gore (Stevenage).
Verdict: No new signingsbut the Conference champions should be able to finish around mid-table in their first season back in the league.

BOSTON UNITED

Manager: Steve Evans
Last season: 16th
In: Brad Maylett (Swansea), Gavin Johnson (Colchester), Ben Futcher (Lincoln), Noel Whelan (Aberdeen), Chris Wright (Arsenal), Lee Canoville (Torquay), Stewart Talbot (Brentford), Julian Joachim (Leeds), Ryan Doherty (Northampton), Ashley Edkins (A Villa).
Out: Stephen O’Donnell (Clyde), Jermaine Easter (Stockport).
Verdict:Julian Joachim is still a potent goal threat, and strike partner Noel Whelan also has experience at higher levels. If both still have the hunger automatic promotion is a possibility.

BRISTOL ROVERS

Manager: Ian Atkins
Last season: 12th
In:Scott Shearer (Coventry), Alex Jeannin (Exeter), Chris Carruthers (Northampton), Louie Soares (Reading).
Out: Dave Savage (Rushden), Alex Jeannin (Hereford), Ryan Clarke (Forest Green, loan).
Verdict: Drew 21 games last term, but have not been active enough in the transfer market to suggest they can win many more games this term. Play-off flirts, but no more.

BURY

Manager: Graham Barrow
Last season: 17th
In: Neil Edwards (Rochdale), Jake Sedgemore (Shrewsbury), Stuart Barlow & John Hardiker (Stockport), Craig Dootson (Stalybridge), Allen Smart (MK Dons).
Out: Chris Porter (Oldham), Colin Kazim-Richards (Brighton), Glynn Garner (L Orient).
Verdict: Ended with 14 points from their final eight last term, so may not be the rags many consider them. Will surprise more fancied teams at big odds.

CARLISLE UTD

Manager: Paul Simpson
Last season: 3rd in the Conference
In: Raphael Nade (Woking), Zigor Aranalde (Sheff Wed), Tony Williams (Grimsby).
Out: Matt Glennon (Falkirk).
Verdict: The Cumbrians are back up with a squad scarcely better than the one relegated two years ago. Destined to struggle to avoid going down.

CHELTENHAM TOWN

Manager: John Ward
Last season: 14th
In: Craig Armstrong (Bradford).
Out: Martin Devaney (Watford), Graham Ward (Tamworth), John Brough (Aldershot).
Verdict: The Robins squad hasn’t been refreshed and they may not match last season’s mid-table finish.

CHESTER CITY

Manager: Keith Curle
Last season: 20th
In: David Artell,Scott McNiven, Luke Dimech, Tommy Curtis (all Mansfield), Craig Dove (Rushden), Abdelhalim El Kholti, Justin Walker (both Cambridge), Marcus Richardson (Yeovil), Gregg Blundell (Doncaster).
Out: Paul Carden (Peterborough), Wayne Brown (Hereford, loan).
Verdict: Must start better – conceded the first goal of the game more than any side last term. Curle is a solid appointment and don’t forget Chester were convincing Conference champs the season before last. Big improvers.

DARLINGTON

Manager:David Hodgson
Last season: 8th
In: Akpo Sodje (Huddersfield), Simon Johnson (Leeds), Shelton Martis (FC Eindhoven) David Duke (Swindon), Anthony Peacock (Middlesbrough), Bertrand Bossu (Gillingham).
Out: Bobby Petta (Brentford), Ian Clark (Scarborough), Mark Convery (York), Chris Hughes (Scarborough), Craig Russell, Craig Liddle, Curtis Fleming, Alun Armstrong (released).
Verdict: Simon Johnson and Akpo Sodje could be useful additions, but Darlo have drastically cut their squad and promotion may be beyond them.

GRIMSBY

Manager: Russell Slade
Last season: 18th
In: Steve Mildenhall (Oldham), Paul Bolland (Notts C), Tom Newey (Cambridge), Jermaine Palmer (Stoke), Terry Barwick (Scunthorpe), John Lukic (Nottm F), Gary Cohen (Gretna, loan),Gary Jones (Tranmere), Jean-Paul Kamudimba (Nice), Ciaran Toner (Lincoln).
Out: Terry Fleming (Kidderminster), Tyrrell Forbes (Oldham), Jason Crowe (Northampton), Tony Williams (Carlisle).
Verdict: The Mariners stopped therot last term after successive relegations. But there’s little reason to think they can finish higher than halfway.

LEYTON ORIENT

Manager: Martin Ling
Last season: 11th
In: Joe Keith (Colchester), Joe Dolan (Millwall), Craig Easton (Livingston), Glynn Garner (Bury), Shane Tudor (Bury).
Out: Paul Jones (Exeter), Lee Harrison (Peterborough).
Verdict: If strikers Gary Alexander and Lee Steele had not got injured midway though the campaign they may have finished much higher. Poor at back last season. They kept only eight clean sheets, the joint worst in the division.

LINCOLN CITY

Manager: Keith Alexander
Last season: 6th
In: Danny Bacon (Hucknall), Scott Kerr, Colin Cryan (both Scarborough), Paul Mayo, Omari Coleman (Watford),Steve Robinson (Swindon), Dean Keates, Gary Birch (Kidderminster), Luke Foster (Sheff Wed), Maheta Molango (Brighton), Nat Brown (Huddersfield).
Out: Michael Blackwood (Kidderminster), Richard Butcher (Oldham), Ben Futcher (Boston), Gary Taylor-Fletcher(Huddersfield), Peter Gain (Peterborough).
Verdict: No team won more games in League Two after scoring first last season, but the heart has been ripped out of the Imps and may finish lower.

MACCLESFIELD TOWN

Manager: Brian Horton
Last season: 5th
In: Kevin Townson (Rochdale), Martin Bullock (Blackpool), Kevin Sandwith (Lincoln), David Beresford (Tranmere), Martin Bullock (Blackpool), Kevin Sandwith (Lincoln), Michael Symes (Bradford, loan).
Out: Matthew Tipton (Mansfield), Steve Wilson (Tranmere), Graham Potter (released).
Verdict: Outside of promoted teams Macc had the best record against teams who ended in top half. But whether Townson will prove a good replacement for Tipton is uncertain and wing-back Potter was a useful source of goals. A moderate season.

MANSFIELD

Manager: Carlton Palmer
Last season: 13th
In: Adam Birchall (Arsenal), Gus Uhlenbeek (Wycombe), Jason Talbot (Bolton), Gavin Peers (Blackburn), Stephen Dawson (Leicester), Chris Beardsley (Kidderminster), Kevin Pressman (Coventry), Jon-Olav Hjelde (N Forest), Matt Tipton (Macclesfield).
Out: Kevin Pilkington (Notts C), Colin Larkin (Chesterfield).
Verdict: Tipton is an intelligent striker and proven at this level, though not enough of a reason to think that the Stags will do better than mid-table.

NORTHAMPTON TOWN

Manager: Colin Calderwood
Last season: 7th
In: Brett Johnson (Aldershot), Eoin Jess, Chris Doig (Nottm Forest), Ian Taylor (Derby), Bradley Johnson (Cambridge), Jason Crowe (Grimsby).
Out: Lee Williamson (Rotherham), Tommy Jaszczun (Rochdale), Chris Wilmott (Oxford), Chris Carruthers (Wycombe).
Verdict: Just like last season the Cobblers top f the betting. Just like last year, they are likely to come up short despite their transfer activity.

NOTTS COUNTY

Manager: Gudjon Thordarson
Last season: 19th
In: Kevin Pilkington (Mansfield), Lewis McMahon (Sheff Wed), Dan Martin (Derby), Andy White (Crewe), Brian O’Callaghan (Keflavic).
Out: Paul Bolland (Grimsby), Shaun Harrad (Burton), Stefan Oakes (Wycombe).
Verdict: Gudjon Thordarson did solid jobs at previous clubs Stoke and Barnsley and a more respectable finish than last year is expected.

OXFORD UNITED

Manager: Brian Talbot
Last season: 15th
In: Chris Hargreaves (Brentford), Chris Wilmott (Northampton), Stuart Gray, Billy Turley (both Rushden), Lee Mansell (Luton).
Out: Paul Wanless (Forest Green), David Mackay (Livingston), Tommy Mooney (Wycombe).
Verdict: Interesting for relegation at 20-1. Losing Mooney, Oxford’s top-scorer last term, is a major blow, and the signings are not mind-blowing.

PETERBOROUGH

Manager: Mark Wright
Last season: 23rd in League One
In: Paul Carden (Chester), Dean Holden (Oldham), Danny Crow (Norwich), Trevor Benjamin (Coventry), Lee Harrison (L Orient), Peter Gain (Lincoln).
Out: Curtis Woodhouse (Hull), Steven Thomson, Craig Ireland (Falkirk), Danny Sonner (Port Vale).
Verdict: Mark Wright looks to have acted like the proverbial new broom after succeeding Barry Fry. The spine of the team looks respectable. Automatic promotion and even the title aren’t beyond Posh.

ROCHDALE

Manager: Steve Parkin
Last season: 9th
In: Tommy Jaszczun (Northampton), John Boardman (Woking), Lee Cartwright (Stockport).
Out: Daryl Burgess & Wayne Evans (Kidderminster), Kevin Townson (Macclesfield), Greg Heald (York), Neil Edwards (Bury).
Verdict: Don’t be surprised if Dale do better than expected. Kept 20 clean sheets – more than any other side last term, they just need others to weigh in to supplement Grant Holt.

RUSHDEN & DIAMONDS

Manager: Barry Hunter
Last season: 22nd
In: Daniel Chillingworth (Cambridge), Greg Pearson (West Ham), Neil
McCafferty (Charlton), Dave Savage (Bristol R), Jamie Young (Reading, loan), Andy Woodman (Stevenage).
Out: Stuart Gray, Billy Turley (Oxford), Craig Dove (Chester).
Verdict: Barry Hunter will have his work cut out to keep the relegation favourites up. The loss of chairman Max Griggs has left Diamonds short of cash and losing Craig Dove is a blow.

SHREWSBURY

Manager: Gary Peters
Last season: 21st
In: Neil Sorvel (Crewe), Mark Stallard (Barnsley), Colin McMenamin (Livingston), Glyn Thompson (Chesterfield), Jay Denny (Stoke), Ben Herd (Watford), Steven Hogg (Man Utd).
Out: Sam Aiston (Tranmere), Jake Sedgemore (Bury).
Verdict: Peters will do well to steer Shrewsbury to safety. Sam Aiston was a bright light for the Shrews with his running down the flanks last term and he will be missed.

STOCKPORT

Manager: Chris Turner
Last season: 24th in League One
In: Rob Clare (Blackpool), Jermaine Easter (Boston Utd), Mark Robinson (Hereford), Tes Bramble (Southend), Matt Hamshaw, Ross Greenwood (both Sheff Wed),Danny Boshel (Oldham), Michael Wolski (Kilmarnock).
Out: Mat Bailey (Crewe), Jim Goodwin (Scunthorpe), Lee Cartwright (Rochdale).
Verdict: Turner’s signings do little suggest the Hatters will return to League One at the first attempt.

TORQUAY

Manager: Leroy Rosenior
Last season: 21st in League One
In: Alan Connell (Bournemouth), Matt Villis (Plymouth), James Sharp (Falkirk), Darren Garner (Rotherham), Matt Hewlett (Swindon), James Bittner (Exeter), Liam Coleman (Colchester), Alex Lawless(Fulham), Morike Sako (Delemont), Mamadou Sow (unattached).
Out: Adebayo Akinfenwa (Swansea, Signed), Alex Russell (Bristol City), Lee Canoville (Boston Utd).
Verdict: Torquay went down fighting. Their 14 points from their last six was play-off form. However, Akinfenwa scored 16 and his departure could ultimately cost the Gulls a swift return.

WREXHAM

Manager: Denis Smith
Last season: 22nd in League One
In: Lee McEvilly (Accrington), Jonathan Walters (Hull City), Lee Roche (Burnley), Dave Bayliss (Luton).
Out: Carlos Edwards (Luton), Danny Williams & Chris Llewellyn (Hartlepool), Craig Morgan (MK Dons), Juan Ugarte (Crewe), Hector Sam (P Vale).
Verdict: The Dragons would have stayed up without a ten-point deduction for going into administration. But Ugarte, Llewellyn and Sam were three important sources of goals and it may be play-offs at best.

WYCOMBE

Manager: John Gorman
Last season: 10th
In: Charlie Griffin (Forest Green, Signed), Kevin Betsy (Oldham), Stefan Oakes (Notts C), Mike Williamson (Southampton), Tommy Mooney (Oxford), Will Antwi (Aldershot).
Out: Gus Uhlenbeek (Mansfield), Steve Claridge (Millwall).
Verdict: Promotion runners after improving last term after Gorman replaced Tony Adams. Kept only nine cleansheets last term, though, so they need to work on that

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