SOLUTION NEEDED FOR LOAN MADNESS

This Thursday evening will see the closure of the Football League loan transfer window, and with it we are highly likely to witness a number of panic signings, reminiscent to a Christmas Eve shopping dash.

Already we have seen a number of teams hurriedly add to their squad. Sheffield Wednesday added three players in as many days to take their overall loan tally to seven, whilst Doncaster Rovers continue to find a quick-fix to their problems by adding players almost everyday, with Habib Beye and Herold Goulon the latest duo to arrive in South Yorkshire.

As the August and January windows show, there are always teams who take a gamble, and it is no different with regards to the loan window. Managers will doubtless be panicking by tomorrow lunchtime, pondering whether their squad will cope until the New Year without a new addition or two.

But you have to question how good it is for the game for so many teams to be relying on essentially other teams’ players. A few seasons ago Yeovil Town at one stage had eight borrowed players on their roster. Considering there is a maximum of five allowed in a matchday squad, it beggars belief to be so over-reliant on such a system.

The recycling of players is now so commonplace that surely a scrapping of this particular window would solve the problem of so many rash signings. By allowing loans at anytime throughout the season, fewer clubs would make panic acquisitions allowing more time to get the right player in.

Of course loans can be highly helpful and beneficial to some teams, especially in the instance of an emergency signing such as a replacement goalkeeper. But it has to be said the majority of loan transfers are purely to plug a gap in a side when it may be more beneficial to blood an academy youngster, giving them invaluable experience.

Whatever business occurs tomorrow evening, you can be rest assured that the majority will have not been thought-through nor done with the club’s long-term interests at heart.

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TOON ARMY FEAST ON BONFIRE TOFFEES

Newcastle United 2-1 Everton

There were fireworks of the right kind at St James’ Park on Saturday, as Newcastle United maintained their place in the top three of the Premier League with a workmanlike victory against Everton.

An own-goal from Johnny Heitinga gave the home side the lead before Ryan Taylor’s sparkler put them 2-0 up. Jack Rodwell threatened to drag Everton back into the game on the stroke of half-time but it was Taylor’s effort which won the points for the Toon.

The Magpies are now unbeaten in 14 games going back to the tail-end of last season and are on the coattails of the two Manchester clubs.

Since taking up the reins Pardew has gone about stamping his own authority on the club in a quiet, but nevertheless impressive manner and one of the most startling statistics that United possess is their form at St James’ Park. Since Pardew’s arrival last December, the team has lost just twice in 17 Premier League games at SJP, highlighting how hard they are to beat on their own patch.

David Moyes’ men found this out the hard way and after Heitinga put through his own net early on, Ryan Taylor soon followed up with a scorcher to add to his repertoire of impressive goals.

United held on for the three points, despite Rodwell’s goal, but did so via some solid defending, especially in the second-half.

Despite the departure of a number of high-profile players in the summer, United have the look of a well-organised outfit, with a defence marshalled by the increasingly impressive Fabricio Collocini, once again at his best against the men from Merseyside.

Behind the backline sits young Tim Krul, who is finally starting to realise his potential now that he has wrestled the number one jersey from the ever-reliable Steve Harper.

Many questions were posed after the non-arrival of a big-money replacement for Andy Carroll in the last transfer window. However, the basement bargain duo of Demba Ba and Leon Best have more than made up for that particular shortfall, with a combined total of 11 goals so far.

All of this combined with the likes of Cheik Tiote and Yohan Cabaye in midfield, adds up to a healthy situation on Tyneside.

There is no doubting that there are tougher times to come for Pardew’s troops with two trips to Manchester on the immediate horizon.

However, they can take solace from the fact that they currently sit on 25 points after just 11 games: Last season it took them until the New Year to reach such a total, before eventually finishing on 46.

After such a start this time round, there are few who doubt they can surpass that total this season.

STEEL CITY PRIDE AT STAKE

OWLS AND BLADES RENEW HOSTILITIES IN THIRD TIER

As the media circus gathers momentum, we head into the 125^th Steel City derby with the formbook definitely pointing towards the team in blue and white.

Gary Megson’s men are in the middle of a four-match winning streak and have been unstoppable at fortress Hillsborough this season with an unblemished 100% record.

In stark contrast, the Blades, under the stewardship of ex-Owls player and manager Danny Wilson (a fact that those of a blue and white persuasion will be eager to point out more so this week, than any other), have wilted recently since their early season spurt.

They head into the clash on the back of a tight win against local rivals Rotherham, which followed defeats to Charlton, Wycombe and Huddersfield in recent weeks. Those setbacks combined with Wednesday’s fantastic form lately will tempt many to punt on an away win this coming Sunday.

However, as the old cliché goes “you can throw the formbook out the window in derbies”.

The game will be unpredictable, as most derbies are, but with the added spice of both teams being serious promotion contenders and Wilson’s personal history this promises to be one of the most explosive steel city derbies in recent years.

With a capacity crowd expected at Bramall Lane on Sunday, and around 10,000 flocking to S6 for a beam-back of the game, there is no shortage of interest in this match, which has all the ingredients to be an explosive encounter.

KEY BATTLES

Madine v Collins

Madine has been prolific this season with 10 goals under his belt so far, and will take some stopping by the experienced Collins.

Ironically, Collins made his Blades debut in this fixture during an initial loan spell five years ago, before making the switch permanent this season.

Marshall v Williams

It will be an intriguing battle between the two loan stars on Sunday. Speed merchant Marshall likes to expose full-backs but will come up against a tough challenge in Williams, who is no slouch.

Marshall has already bagged two goals this season but will have to get the better of the Reading loanee in order to make that three.

Quinn v Semedo

The Portuguese lynchpin will be given the unenviable task of marshalling the livewire Quinn.

Semedo has put in some impressive performances so far, with the ability to break up play and protect the defence, but on Sunday he will come up against arguably one of the best players in the division.

POSSIBLE LINE-UPS

Blades

Simonsen - Lowton, Maguire, Collins, Williams - Doyle or Flynn, Quinn, Montgomery, McDonald, Porter, Evans

Owls

Bywater, Bennet or R Johnson, Batth, R Jones, Buxton, Semedo, Lines, O'Connor, Marshall, Madine, McGoldrick or O'Grady

LAST MEETING

SHEFF WED 1-1 SHEFF UTD – April 2010

The two sides last met 18 months ago in a 1-1 draw at Hillsborough.

Darren Potter volleyed the Owls in front before half-time but Lee Williamson’s free-kick levelled proceedings in a result which ultimately relegated the Owls.

The Blades followed suit 12 months later, joining their neighbours in the third tier.

DID YOU KNOW?

Of the Sheffield Wednesday 18-man squad which took part in that 1-1 draw back in April 2010, only four are still on the club’s books.

MILLER: “WE’RE THERE TO BE SHOT AT”

Tommy Miller insists that Huddersfield Town’s amazing unbeaten run has made them one of the big scalps in League One this year.

Town are currently on a sensational 34-game unbeaten league run (at the time of print), stretching all the way back to December 2010.

Midfielder Miller, who joined the Terriers from Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Wednesday in the summer, says that the further the run stretches, the more Lee Clark’s men become targets.

He said: “It’s remarkable (the unbeaten run). But we’re there to be shot at, and obviously a lot of clubs want to be the first ones to end the run.

“The lads did ever so well last season and should have been promoted really. The play-offs are a lottery and they failed them, but league-wise, it’s a run that they’ve continued this season and all credit to them and also the new lads who have come in and helped along the way.

“There’s great belief in the lads and the whole squad throughout, so we’ve just got to keep that going now.”

Whilst speaking at Town’s Galpharm Stadium, Miller also revealed that he shunned other teams, including one higher division club, in order to rubber-stamp a move to Town and he cites the team’s playing style as the catalyst:

“It’s a fantastic club and everything’s set up here. They play football the way that I like to play and the manager’s ideas all added up so it was all perfect and I was delighted to come.

“I also know a couple of the coaches: Steve Watson from Sheffield Wednesday and Paul Stephenson who I played with at Hartlepool back in the day.”

Miller also revealed that a new deal was initially promised at Wednesday, before a surprise change of heart paved the way for a move to West Yorkshire. The former Sunderland and Ipswich man concedes he was disappointed not to be kept on the books at Hillsborough, but believes the future is bright for both himself and Town.

He added: “I’m enjoying it here and hopefully we can be up there come the end of the season. It’s a big squad and I’ve got to bide my time but at the moment I feel fit, injury-free and hopefully this season I can kick on, stay in the team and get a few goals aswell maybe.

WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITIES

When it comes to the transfer window, opinion is very much split.

Some believe it should be scrapped as it promotes rushed deals with over-inflated fees for players, whilst others are fans of its ability to cease trading for a fixed period.

However, one thing that most football followers will agree on, and that the media thrives on, is that deadline Day is very much unique and undoubtedly entertaining.

The latest offering, last Wednesday, may not have included any stand-out deals such as the ones in previous years, but it did provide the base for a number of top-flight clubs to get rid of the deadwood within their squads.

The best example of this was Tottenham, who throughout the window brought in the experienced trio of Brad Friedel, Scott Parker and Emmanuel Adebayor whilst at the same time moving on the likes of Crouch, Hutton, Jenas, Bentley and Palacios.

Shrewd moves as ever by Harry Redknapp who recouped far more from those departures than was initially spent on the aforementioned trio.

Similar movement went on at Anfield, where Kenny Dalglish sprang a surprise by re-signing Craig Bellamy. As the temperamental Welshman swooped into Merseyside, Dalglish was busy moving on the likes of Poulsen, Kyrgiakos, N’Gog, Cole and Meireles.

Both Liverpool and Spurs now have the look of lean, quality-laden squads with potential for a top-four finish, thanks to their business in the window.

As far as other Premier League sides were concerned, the window, and Deadline day in particular, brought a mixed bag. QPR must be pleased with their business having acquired experienced players such as Young, Barton, Ferdinand and Wright-Philips, whilst Everton fans are understandably disgruntled after the departures of Arteta, Beckford and Yakubu and the arrival of just two loanees.

Elsewhere, Arsene Wenger frantically supplemented his squad with Arteta, Mertesacker and Benayoun to make up for a recent torrid time (on and off the pitch), City did their business relatively early, meaning a surprisingly quiet deadline day for them and Alex Ferguson was watching the madness unfold safe in the knowledge that his business had been done long before August 31, with his new recruits already settled.


WINDOW ASSESSMENT

GOOD WINDOW FOR …. LIVERPOOL: completely reshaped the squad, with Dalglish getting rid of deadwood and bringing in quality such as Adam, Enrique and Downing. A top four finish now looks more achievable with the revamped team.


BAD WINDOW FOR …. EVERTON: Another window, and again Everton fail to spend a penny. The sale of star man Mikel Arteta is worrying and others to have left Goodison include Beckford and Yakubu, who despite not being regulars, also chipped in with their fair share of goals. Their replacement by an unproven Argentine forward (on loan) has not gone down well with Toffee supporters and for the first time in his reign, Moyes’ future may come into question.

SIGNING OF THE WINDOW…. Take your pick from AGUERO, PARKER or CROUCH: Granted those three may all be very different players, but for their respective clubs they could prove priceless. AGUERO cost a fortune but already has shown the qualities needed to be a big hit at City, PARKER could prove to be an astute signing and the reigning player of the year will slot perfectly into the Spurs team, whilst CROUCH may come as a surprise to many to be in this category, but Stoke’s unique style should suit him perfectly and he may prosper from being a first-team regular again.

LEEDS HIT RIGHT TOON AGAINST SLOPPY NEWCASTLE

Leeds United put forward a case for their promotion credentials for the upcoming season, with a 3-2 victory against a strong Newcastle side on Sunday.

Goals from Patrick Kisnorbo, Lloyd Sam and Billy Paynter secured the win for Simon Grayson’s side, with Steven Taylor and Haris Vuckic netting for the visitors in a highly entertaining friendly match at Elland Road.

With both teams fielding strong line-ups, it was evident that this was not going to be any ordinary pre-season tussle, and that proved to be the case when after just 3 minutes Australian defender Kisnorbo tapped in a gift of a goal, after Toon keeper Fraser Forster fumbled an elementary free-kick.

Alan Pardew’s men looked shell-shocked and constant darting runs from the impressive wing duo of Snodgrass and Gradel threatened the Magpies backline on numerous occasions in the ensuing period.

After soaking up much Leeds pressure, Newcastle equalised from a corner, when Steven Taylor popped up at the back post to slot past debutant Andy Lonergan. It was just reward after impressive build-play previous to the goal, most notably from Joey Barton and the stand-out Yohan Cabaye.

As the second half wore on, Grayson tinkered by making a flurry of changes, and one of those introduced, Lloyd Sam, was to restore the lead for the home side. Sam picked up the ball on the left flank and jinked his way into the area before squeezing a timid shot past Forster at the near post.

Once again though, Newcastle levelled proceedings this time through one of their substitutes. Vuckic, the Slovenian attacker, rifled a shot past Lonergan in front of the 5,000 following Geordies behind the goal.

With both teams looking completely different from the ones that started the match (Leeds alone made seven changes), a game that was looking to peter out into a draw ended in barnstorming fashion when Paynter nodded in at the back post just five minutes from time.

Newcastle went close in the dyeing embers of the game, most notably when Sammy Ameobi wasted two gilt-edged chances, but they were unable to restore parity for a third time giving the Yorkshiremen a morale-boosting win heading into the curtain-raiser at Southampton next Saturday.

Pardew’s men, missing the likes of Ben Arfa, Collocini and Tiote, host Italian side Fiorentina on the same day, in anticipation of their opener against Arsenal the following week.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Yohan CABAYE – ran the show for the Geordies and looks a quality bit of business by Pardew.

NPOWER LEAGUE ONE 2011-12 PREVIEW

An overview of all 24 teams in the division, featuring last season’s achievements, key players and predicted outcomes.


AFC BOURNEMOUTH

Last season: 6th – Play-off semi finalists

Bournemouth were the fairytale story of last season. Financial troubles and point deductions of recent years were cast aside by the Cherries as they reached the play-offs after coming straight up from League Two.

A turbulent but successful season saw manager Eddie Howe depart for Burnley halfway through the season but despite that huge blow, they still managed to reach the end of season lottery, where a thrilling semi-final against Huddersfield ended in an agonising shoot-out defeat on penalties.

One to watch: Danny INGS. In his first full season he chipped in with 8 goals: a respectable tally for a young forward with a seemingly bright future.

Prediction: they will struggle to match last season’s heroics. A lot will depend on being able to keep players such as Robinson, Feeney and Ings.



BRENTFORD

Last season: 11th

The highlight of the Bees season was reaching the final of the JP Trophy. Unfortunately they were beaten 1-0 by Carlisle in the Wembley showpiece, under the stewardship of Nicky Forster, who had taken over from ex-manager Andy Scott.

All in all, it was a decent season for the London side, who also had an extended run in the Carling Cup, only to be knocked out by eventual winners Birmingham in the last 16. Former Man City player Uwe Rosler is the new manager at Griffin Park.

One to watch: Clayton DONALDSON. The striker’s impressive goal ratio at both York and Crewe has earned him a move up the football pyramid, and he will be looking to continue that at League One level.

Prediction: mid-table obscurity is once again likely to be in store for the Bees



BURY
Last season: 2nd in League Two - Promoted

The Shakers crowned promotion to the third tier after a solid season at the top of League Two.

Manager Alan Knill departed towards the bookend of the campaign, and was replaced by Richie Barker, who won his first six games. Barker has since taken up the reins on a permanent basis as the Shakers embark on a third division campaign for the first time since 2002.

One to watch: Ryan LOWE. The striker was a key part to the Shakers success last season, scoring 28 goals. Recently subject of a bid by non-league Stockport, but will almost certainly stay in the third tier with Bury.

Prediction: survival is the word for Bury, and if Lowe can keep up his scoring form, they may just achieve it.


CARLISLE

Last Season: 12th

Despite mid-table obscurity, it was still a season to remember for the Cumbrians, as they prospered in the JP Trophy final.

A 1-0 win over Brentford at Wembley secured their second Football League Trophy.

One to watch: Jon-Paul McGOVERN. The Scottish winger joined up with fellow ex-owls Frank Simek and Graham Kavanagh in the North-west, and is more than familiar with this division having previously played for Swindon, MK Dons and the Owls.

Prediction: after JP success last season, there is no reason why Carlisle cannot push for a top-ten finish.


CHARLTON

Last Season: 13th

Similar to the Owls, Charlton also suffered huge underachievement last time out and certainly have ambitions to better a 13th placed finish this season.

Chris Powell has already brought in the likes of Michael Morrison, Danny Green and Mikel Alonso as the Addicks target promotion.

One to watch: Danny GREEN. Impressed with Dagenham in this division last year, scoring 11 goals, and now given a chance to do the same at Charlton. Linked with the Owls, Green is a typical flashy winger, with a keen eye for goal.

Prediction: given their transfer activity, they will certainly be challenging for promotion. Play-offs a minimum.



CHESTERFIELD

Last Season: 1st in League Two - Promoted

The Spireites cruised towards promotion last season, as John Sheridan’s side won the league on 86 points scoring 85 goals in the process.


One to watch: Tommy LEE. The ex-Manchester United goalkeeper has impressed during his stay in Derbyshire, and is expected to earn more plaudits once he makes the step-up to League One.

Prediction: although many say survival is the priority for newly-promoted sides, Chesterfield appear to have enough in their locker to target a mid-table to top-half finish.



COLCHESTER

Last Season: 10th

One of those sides that is hard to follow, unless you support them, Colchester finished a respectable tenth last season. Manager John Ward did a decent job leading the side to within a close shave of the play-offs.

One to watch: Ian HENDERSON. Got into double figures last season, and will look to reach a similar target this time round.

Prediction: mid-table is the best they can hope for, play-offs a distant dream at this stage.



EXETER CITY

Last Season: 8th

Along with Bournemouth, the Grecians massively overachieved last season, finishing only a point off the play-off places.

Manager Paul Tisdale assembled a small, tight-knit squad that more than punched above its weight, and will look for the same this season.

One to watch: Liam SERCOMBE. After losing the 28-goal partnership of Ryan Harley and Jamie Cureton, Exeter will look to highly-rated Sercombe to chip in with his fair share of goals.

Prediction: unlikely to replicate last season’s heroics – mid-table finish.


HARTLEPOOL

Last Season: 16th

It was a decent first season for Mick Wadsworth, who was handed the managerial reins on a permanent basis as the campaign progressed.

Pools were, at one stage, challenging for the top six, but predictably faltered, before finishing in the mid-regions of the division, but importantly, well clear of the bottom four.

One to watch: Nolberto SOLANO. Undoubtedly the marquee signing of the summer for Pools, the Peruvian veteran still has an eye for a goal, and with a mean free-kick in his locker, Solano could be set to enjoy his swansong in style.

Prediction: despite a number of promising players on the books, Pools will struggle to get out of the bottom half. Lower to mid-table finish.



HUDDERSFIELD

Last Season: 3rd – Play-off Finalists

The Terriers amazing 27-match unbeaten run came to a crushing halt in the Play-off final, when they were edged out 3-0 by Peterborough. The run, which stretched from December to May, broke all sorts of records as Lee Clark’s men came within a whisker of promotion.

After a season of promise, it was a sour ending for the Yorkshire club, who are the bookmaker’s favourites to gain revenge and get promotion this time around.

One to watch: Danny WARD. The combative winger/striker signed on at the Galpharm permanently this summer after a loan stint last season: in seven games at the tail end of last season, he grabbed three goals.


Prediction: Bookies aren’t often wrong, and with a few tweaks to the squad, expect Clark’s men to be in the top two come May.



LEYTON ORIENT

Last Season: 7th

The O’s impressive season saw them miss out on the play-offs by just a single point. An extended FA Cup run also saw the club generate much-needed revenue, whilst manager Russell Slade steadied the ship towards the season’s climax, only for Bournemouth to pip them to Sixth Place.


One to watch: Jamie CURETON. Snapped up on a free from Exeter, the 35-year old could turn out to be one of the bargains of the season, especially if he can replicate his statistic of 17 goals in just 30 games for the Grecians.

Prediction: Could be in contention again this year, but a top-ten finish may be their best hope.


MK DONS

Last Season: 5th – Play-off semi-finalists

The Dons had a solid season, and were always in and around the upper echelons of the division, eventually finishing in fifth.

In the Play-offs, a thrilling first leg with Peterborough ensued, with the Dons prevailing 3-2. However, in the second leg the Posh ran out 2-0 winners to seal a Final date, before their eventual promotion. This time around, Karl Robinson will aim to get one better.

One to watch: Sam BALDOCK. The striker scored 12 last season, finishing as Dons top scorer. Ironically, Baldock was recently the subject of a £1million-plus bid from Peterborough, only for the player to pledge his future to Karl Robinson’s side.

Prediction: look a decent bet for a play-off place at least. Good set-up, good young manager, and a decent playing squad.


NOTTS COUNTY

Last Season: 19th

A farcical season off the field, County had a change of ownership as they came to terms with the aftermath of the “Sven and Sol” days. On the field, Craig Short, Paul Ince and Martin Allen all took the managerial hot seat throughout the season

A rollercoaster campaign eventually saw Allen secure County’s status as a League One club, before being offered an extended contract.

One to watch: Lee HUGHES. The controversial forward may divide opinion; however one thing that cannot be questioned is his goal scoring form for County. Recently offered a contract extension, Hughes has bagged double figures the last two seasons.

Prediction: Could have a survival scrap on their hands again, unless Allen can pick out some gems in the transfer Market: season of struggle ahead.


OLDHAM

Last Season: 17th

What started as a season of hope, soon turned into mid-table obscurity in Paul Dickov’s first managerial job. The Latics struggled for consistency, and the loss of young play-maker Dale Stephens, first on loan, and then permanently to Charlton, didn’t help.

Continued confusion around the stadium situation (Oldham hope to move away from the dilapidated Boundary Park) also hindered morale and form.

One to watch: Chris TAYLOR. The midfielder bagged 11 goals last season as Oldham slipped down the table after an impressive start. Linked with Championship clubs, it could be a big season for the 24-year old.

Prediction: a season of struggle ahead, with Dickov’s team likely to be scrapping to stay out of the trapdoor.



PRESTON

Last Season: 22nd in Championship – Relegated

A dismal campaign for North End saw them change manager halfway through the season. Phil Brown came in to replace Darren Ferguson, and despite an initial struggle, there were small signs that survival may be secured.

However, Brown’s men simply couldn’t keep their heads above water, and were relegated with three games to go. With the new season less than a month away, PNE have yet to make a summer signing, whilst Sean St Ledger and Paul Hayes are just two faces to have left the club.


One to watch: Iain HUME. The former Barnsley man grabbed 12 goals despite Preston’s relegation, and has the ability to deliver prolifically at this tier, having once scored 16 goals in a season for Tranmere.

Prediction: a wafer-thin squad needs bulking up if a promotion push is to be mounted. With Phil Brown in charge, fully expect Preston to be in and around the top-six.


ROCHDALE

Last Season: 9th

Dale were another of the overachievers last season, finishing a highly respectable 9th in their first season out of the fourth tier in 41 years.

Keith Hill, now at Barnsley, moulded the small Lancashire team into a formidable force, and laid the foundations for a solid season this time around.

One to watch: Gary JONES. The likeable Scouser was Dale’s top scorer last season, despite being a central midfielder. He is closing in on 300 appearances for the Spotland outfit, and will once again be the key man in the middle of the park.

Prediction: mid-table looks a safe bet, although the small squad may struggle to cope with injuries/suspensions.



SCUNTHORPE

Last Season: 24th in Championship – Relegated

An awful season for the Iron resulted in a drop to League One. However, it is hardly surprising, given that they went through three managers with Nigel Adkins starting the season, only to leave for Southampton in September 2010.

Adkins was replaced by former player Ian Baraclough, who failed to stop the rot before being axed in March this year. Ex-player Alan Knill agreed to pick up the buck but failed to save Scunny from demotion, after a forgettable campaign.

One to watch: Garry THOMPSON. The 30-year old winger is recently back from a long-term injury, but with an ability to pick out front men, and an eye for goal, Thompson will be integral to the Iron’s hopes of promotion.

Prediction: looking for a third recent promotion from this division, United look well-equipped. If Knill can raid the transfer market wisely, there’s no reason why they can’t achieve a top-six finish.


SHEFFIELD UNITED

Last Season: 23rd in Championship – Relegated

It was a season to forget for the Blades, but one to savour for Owls fans. The team in red and white went through no fewer than four managers in a turbulent campaign that delivered a paltry 11 victories.

Star players were sold, with an over-reliance on loan players ultimately proving their downfall. So far this summer only Mark Yeates and Darius Henderson have fled the sinking ship with the likes of Montgomery, Evans and Quinn likely to follow in due course.

One to watch: Jordan SLEW. The youngster showed promising signs last season and was recently the subject of a bid from Fulham. But, with the club showing a tendency to flog their best assets, Slew may not even be around come August 6, leaving a gaping hole in their attack.


Prediction: despite the expected promotion assault, the Blades may find themselves sifting through another selection of managers, especially if Wilson’s men go on a bad run. Top 10 finish, just missing out on play-offs.



SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY

Last Season: 15th

A season to put to bed for the Owls, as they sunk to mid-table obscurity despite initial high hopes at the start of last August.

Alan Irvine was replaced halfway through the season by Gary Megson, who helped to steady the ship as the Owls avoided a relegation scrap for the second season in a row.

There were however some positives from the year, such as Nicky Weaver, who established himself as the undisputed number 1, Neil Mellor reaching 20 goals in all competitions and the purchase of the club by Milan Mandaric, helping secure the club’s future.

One to watch: Julian BENNETT. Brought in to replace Tommy Spurr, Bennett’s last foray into this division was with Nottingham Forest, when he was part of the promotion-winning side. That season he also got into the League One team of the year, and could be a vital component as the Owls look to tighten the backline this season.

Prediction: Gary Megson has been thorough in his search for new blood, and has not been afraid to get rid of the “deadwood”. With 2/3 more signings the Owls can be confident of achieving a top six finish at the very least.


STEVENAGE

Last Season: 6th in League Two – Play-off Winners, Promoted

Stevenage achieved back-to-back promotions after a surprise season ended in them facing Torquay in the Wembley showpiece.

In the game, John Mousinho scored the winner to put Graham Westley’s men into the third tier for the first time in their history, and complete a memorable campaign, which also included the small matter of an FA Cup victory over Premier League giants Newcastle United.

One to watch: Jon ASHTON. The stocky defender was crowned player of the year last time out and looks to be the rock at the back for Boro. A former Leicester player, he has appeared at Premier League level early in his career.

Prediction: with a number of experienced heads in the camp, and a wily manager in Westley, do not rule out a top-10 finish for Boro.


TRANMERE

Last Season: 17th

An avoidance of a late-season relegation scrap was welcomed at Prenton Park, but they could be in for such a battle this year, having recently agreed to the sale of highly-rated youngster Dale Jennings to German giants Bayern Munich.

Jennings departure may swell the coffers, but the club is unlikely to be able to do anything other than face a battle for survival, given the threadbare facilities at the disposal of manager Les Parry.

One to watch: Owain Fon WILLIAMS. Snapped up on a free, Williams could be one of the signings of the season in this division. A few years ago, he was highly rated but has since lost his way. A rediscovery of his form may see Rovers picking up a decent fee for him in the future.

Prediction: Relegation looks to be unavoidable, especially considering the squad at the moment. It will take a monumental effort for Tranmere to survive.


WALSALL

Last Season: 20th

The Saddlers survived relegation by the skin of their teeth thanks to a miraculous recovery aided by ex-Owl Dean Smith, who took over managerial duties in January.

Smith delivered 7 wins from 25 games, resulting in Walsall surviving by a single point on the final day, and seeing Dagenham exit the league in their place. A similar battle looks likely this year, as the budget is cut and attendances drop.

One to watch: Kevan HURST. Always a decent performer, Hurst was snapped up on a free transfer, and along with fellow new recruits, Lee Beevers and Ryan Jarvis, looks a safe bet for this division.

Prediction: it is hard to predict anything other than a season of struggle for the Midlanders. They will do well to stay up again this year.


WYCOMBE

Last Season: 3rd in League Two – Promoted

In his first full season as manager, Gary Waddock delivered an immediate return to League One for the Chairboys, despite a frantic title fight at the top of League Two.

Wanderers scraped automatic promotion by a single point over closest rivals Shrewsbury, and this season they will aim to put an end to the recent switching of divisions, and consolidate themselves in the third tier of English football.

One to watch: Scott RENDELL. The journeyman striker, aged 24, scored 19 goals last season as Wycombe bagged promotion. That kind of strike-rate will go some way to keeping them in this league.

Prediction: Wanderers have a struggle on their hands, and could be saying hello again, to League Two come next May.


YEOVIL

Last Season: 14th

It was a respectable finish of 14th for the Glovers last season. Their top scorer was Dean Bowditch, who grabbed 15 goals as the Somerset outfit finished 12 points clear of relegation and 12 adrift of the top six.

During the close season, Yeovil lost Bowditch, who departed to MK Dons, along with a host of other players, leading manager Terry Skiverton to use the unique method of social networking site Twitter, to get suggestions from fans on who to sign.

One to watch: Bondz N’GALA. The former West Ham defender could be a key asset in the Yeovil backline, having joined on a free from Plymouth. He possesses great strength and played 26 times in this division for Argyle last season.

Prediction: a season of struggle is likely to ensue for Yeovil. They lack depth and quality, and are understandably one of the favourites to go down.

WHY WICKHAM MUST BUCK THE BIG-BUCKS TREND

The decision by Sunderland to splash out over £8 million (plus future add-ons) on Connor Wickham could be seen as a huge gamble.

The Black Cats’ willingness to enter a bidding war with clubs such as Liverpool could effectively prove to bite them back, if the youngster does not deliver the goods.

There is no doubting that Wickham has potential; he has featured in 65 Championship games, with a respectable tally of 13 goals. He has also worked his way up the international ladder, turning out for every England youth side and starring in the team that won the European u-17 championships in 2010.

But the question remains, is he really worth the astonishing transfer fee that Sunderland forked out?

A big money move to a Premier League team can sometimes be hugely detrimental to a player’s development. Just ask Fabian Delph and John Bostock.

Delph was aged 19 when he joined Vila for £8m from Leeds United in 2009. He was seen as a key part of the midfield, with Villa fending off Manchester United to secure his services. But since his move, he has made just 10 appearances for the club and his career has undoubtedly been halted.

Bostock was aged just sixteen when he joined Tottenham from Crystal Palace in 2008. His move was amid controversy due to the amount Spurs paid for him, and the player certainly has yet to make an impact, with just three European appearances to his name. He is now aged 19, but has played a measly 29 career games, showing that moves to higher up the food chain do not always deliver regular football.

Of course, there are deals which do pay off, most notably Theo Walcott, who has gone on to become an Arsenal and England regular, yet these kind of occurrences are few and far between.

Returning to the subject of Wickham, he will have to prove the sceptics wrong, and the only way he can go about that is by justifying his price tag. That means gaining regular first-team football, and given the cut-throat nature of the Premier League, a decent scoring record will also be required.

It is an incredible amount of pressure lodged on such young shoulders, but Steve Bruce and Niall Quinn certainly feel that the 18-year old can handle it.

It is now up to Wickham to buck the recent trend, and show he is worth the risk.

Man pity - hopes of "Oldest v Richest" game are dashed

Non-league minnows Sheffield FC have missed out on hosting the richest team in world football.

Manchester City, who were purchased by a super-rich Abu-Dhabi group in 2008 and have since spent hundreds of millions of pounds in a bid to fast-track their pursuit of global success, were due to visit the modest Dronfield ground as part of the upcoming pre-season.

However, after a clash of fixtures in their pre-season schedule, City have now pulled out of the game, which was originally set for July 30.

Like many lower-league clubs, Sheffield FC are struggling for revenue and plans to move to Olive Grove had to be re-assessed when potential World Cup funding disappeared.

In April, the club announced that they were to auction the original ‘Rules of Football’ which dated back from 1858 - something that has not gone down well with some of their supporters.

The Rules will be sold by Sothebys on July 14.

Parting with the original document was a ‘tough but ‘necessary’ step, according to the chairman of Sheffield FC, Richard Tims, who still aims to develop the club’s facilities and secure its future as the home of world football.

The Qatari Royal Family are said to be determined to secure the historical document.

While times are hard, Sheffield club secretary Stephen Hall believes that a future money-spinning meeting with City may still be on the cards.

“It’s disappointing that they’ve had to cancel,” he said.

“However they have said that they’ll try and send the development squad later on in the season if we can find a suitable date.”

Had the fixture gone ahead, it would have been a lucrative pay day for the world’s oldest club, with spectators hopeful of seeing a couple of Premier League aristocrats among a team of skilled, young hopefuls.

Sheffield open their pre-season with a clash against Sheffield United’s first team on Saturday, July 9, before hosting fellow Yorkshire clubs Huddersfield on July 14 and Sheffield Wednesday 10 days later.

The game against United will be Danny Wilson’s first in charge of the Blades and it is expected to draw a crowd of around 2,000.

Hall added: “Obviously it’s Danny’s first game in charge and we are expecting a healthy crowd. I can definitely see it being close to a full house.”

O’NEILL COULD BE THE ANSWER TO RUTHLESS ROMAN’S RIDDLE

The sacking of Carlo Ancelotti, immediately after Chelsea’s final day defeat to Everton, was a harsh and ruthless decision but one that we have come to expect in recent years from Roman Abramovich, the club’s owner.

With the sacking, the Italian became the fifth managerial casualty of Abramovich’s reign in West London since his purchase of the club eight years ago.

However, he may not have to look far for his latest replacement.

Whilst names such as Guus Hiidink and Marco van Basten have been branded about in the media, there is one name that has not been even been associated with the vacant post at Stamford Bridge.

Martin O’Neill’s acrimonious departure from Aston Villa has finally been settled after the tribunal involving the two parties came to an amicable conclusion, no less than nine months after it started. After the outcome, O’Neill said that he is looking forward to getting back into management, and the idea of him gaining the Chelsea job is not beyond the realms of possibility.

There are many reasons why O’Neill would be the ideal candidate: he is a free agent, would be relatively cheap compared to other high-profile candidates and his work at Villa, where he achieved three consecutive sixth-placed finishes in the league ensures he has a wealth of experience that is pivotal for anybody taking over in the white-hot cauldron at the Bridge.

O’Neill also found consistency at Villa on a relatively modest transfer budget, and bought players such as Richard Dunne, Stewart Downing and Ashley Young, all of whom now form the spine of Gerard Houllier’s team.

He led Villa into Europe on numerous occasions and also reached the Carling Cup final in 2010 in one of his final feats before his surprise resignation in August 2010. It is believed that he left due to a lack of “transfer funds at his disposal”. That is not something that he would encounter at Chelsea, with Abramovich still willing to back his managers in the market.

Whilst everybody expects a “high-profile” appointment to be made, O’Neill would represent a dose of reality at Chelsea. He would certainly bring a more level-headedness to a Chelsea dressing room that is well documented for its fair share of egos.

O’Neill would also want to right the wrongs of his departure from Villa, and continue to pick up where he left off; managing to bring consistency and success to a Premier League outfit.

HAMMER’S HOUSE OF HORROR ON VERGE OF COLLAPSE

No club is too good to go down, as the saying goes.

However, a quick glance down the squad list at West Ham United and it is hard to fathom that they will be playing second-tier football next season.

A side that has spent millions of pounds not only on transfer fees but also on its wage bill (reputedly the sixth highest in the division) and one that includes as many as four England internationals currently finds itself in an unenviable position: staring down the barrel of relegation.

However, you cannot say that they do not deserve to be where they are. The table never lies and a measly 7 wins from 36 (going into the game at Wigan) shows how poor Avram Grant’s side have been this season. Their top scorer is Frederic Piquionne with a miserly 6 league goals, whilst the award of Footballer of the Year to Scott Parker only strengthens the argument that they are overly reliant on the England man, who incidentally has been present during every Hammers win this season.

After next weekend’s game at home to Sunderland, West Ham will bow out of the top flight and Parker will almost certainly depart the club, but he will not be one of a few. Make no mistake, the Hammers will have to slash their wage bill considerably and the likes of Robert Green, Thomas Hitzlsperger and Matthew Upson are unlikely to want to stick around for a Championship slug, whilst panic loan signings such as Wayne Bridge and Robbie Keane will soon scoot it back to their parent clubs after the demotion is confirmed.

Instead of spending lavish money on big-money signings, the club must try to retain its youth contingent; the likes of Sears, Collison and Stanislas will probably form the main hub of the team next season, and whoever is in charge, whether it is Grant or someone else, they must try and follow the example of Newcastle, another club deemed “too good” to go down a couple of years ago.

The Magpies, who were saddled with a similarly heavy wage bill, managed to bounce straight back in emphatic style, running away with the title. Whether the Hammers are capable of that, it is unclear. The boardroom’s apparent inability to stay out of team affairs could burden whoever is in charge next season.

What is clear is that the club certainly has the level of support to get straight back, and with the Olympic Stadium set to be theirs in two seasons’ time, it is now just a case of getting matters on the pitch sorted.

An immediate return to the Premier League is not impossible, but given the summer of upheaval that is likely to come their way, it is hard for those of a claret and blue persuasion to be so positive about next season.

THE PLIGHT OF FOOTBALL IN THE STEEL CITY

The Steel City Derby, pitting Wednesday against United, has been contested over 140 times in its history.

At its peak, it has been played out in an FA cup semi-final at Wembley and in the early days of the Premier League, it was a regular occurrence at the top table of English football.

However, next season it is looking increasingly likely that the fixture will take place in the less glamorous setting of npower League One.

It just goes to show the sorry state of Sheffield football.

Sheffield United (barring a miracle) will be relegated in the coming weeks, showing the huge fall from grace for a side that reached the play-off final as recent as 2009.

Constant changing of managers, star players departing and fluctuating results on the pitch has led to the downfall of the club in the past year.

The few star assets that manager Micky Adams has at his disposal, such as Stephen Quinn and Ched Evans, will almost certainly move on in the summer. The question is will Adams be given time to build his own squad?

The story bears many resemblances to that of their arch-rivals Wednesday, who experienced similar problems last season when they were also relegated to the third tier.

Despite the doom and gloom in the red half of the city, Wednesdayites have little to shout about themselves. Their club does at least have the financial muscles to flex, after years of off-the-field uncertainty.

However, their recent January splurge showed just how hard it is to identify suitable players for that level. Of the players purchased in the last transfer window (incidentally for a total of well over £1m) only Gary Madine appears to have made an initial impact at Hillsborough.

Gary Megson certainly has a sizeable task on his hands trying to build a squad in the summer that is worthy of promotion. The only saving grace is that Wednesday now have the funds behind them. The Blades finances, on the other hand, are questionable.

When glancing down the respective squad lists of each team, the drop in quality from a few years ago is startling.

The likes of Kyle Walker, James Beattie and Paddy Kenny have departed United whilst Wednesday have had to deal with the sales of Marcus Tudgay, Chris Brunt and Madjid Bougherra.

At present it would be hard to string together a side capable of competing effectively in League One, which highlights the calibre of player at both club’s disposal.

Both clubs will now be looking to next season as they aim to outdo each other on a less grand stage than previous seasons.

If next season is to be a promotion campaign for the two clubs, Megson and Adams will both need to recruit wisely both for the sake of their respective clubs and the city’s footballing reputation.

STEEL BY NAME, STEEL BY NATURE

Yorkshire icemen show grit after turbulent start to the season

There are not many people who would have tipped the Sheffield Steelers to become League champions at the start of the current campaign.

After a turbulent summer, the club were preparing for the upcoming season more in hope than expectation.

With the departure of the coaching staff, worries over finances and a lack of player arrivals, fans of the Steelers were hardly preparing for a season of title-chasing.

Shortly before the start of the season, the club had to contend with the departures of Dave Matsos (coach), Dave Simms (club founder) and Mike O’Connor (general manager). The trio’s exit in July 2010 stemmed from a declining relationship with previous owner Bob Phillips.

Phillips took over at the Steelers in July 2005, and under his regime, the club achieved play-off success in both 2008 and 2009. But a drop in the team’s performance co-incided with key stars leaving, and the relationship between the owners and the coaching staff eventually became more and more strained.

The collapse of the club’s management company at the time, Yorkshire Sports Ltd, meant that a new company had to be called in, fuelling rumours of financial troubles at the club. At the same time the club’s fans were growing restless and after the departures of Matsos, Simms and O’Connor many fans turned on the owner Phillips with boycotts and demonstrations being mentioned.

After a few uneasy and unamicable months, Philips ownership of the club ended in December 2010, when he sold up to Paul Ragan, who also owns Steelers’ rivals Cardiff Devils.

The change of ownership brought stability to the club and allowed them to mount a serious title challenge. As a result the club finished the current regular season at title winners, ironically finishing on the same points (87) as Cardiff, but with more regulation wins that ensured the title returned to the Motorpoint Arena after a two-year absence.

Andy Turner, operations manager at the Steelers, believes that the key reason to the success achieved this year is head coach Ben Simon, 33, who was appointed during the off-season. Turner said: “They’ve come through really well this year, and the majority of that is down to the coach (Simon).

“He’s managed to keep everything that happens off the ice a separate matter. He’s got the guys just worrying about the hockey and that’s all.”

Seth Bennett, a local journalist for BBC Radio Sheffield, shares Turner’s sentiment that Simon is at the heart of the positive season for the Steelers: He said: “It’s been a hard season. Behind the scenes they’ve had big problems and a change of ownership was what they needed.

“But that brought its own internal problems, with guys that have played under Bob Phillips and guys that hadn’t. So then Ben Simon had to try and unify the locker room, and he managed to do a decent job through the first half of the season.

“Once the ownership took place, and you look at how their season has gathered pace, they’ve maintained a good work ethic.”

As far as the second half of the season was concerned, the Steelers built on a solid base. Their road to title success was helped no end by huge home wins including an 18-1 trouncing of Edinburgh, a 9-0 hammering of Newcastle and the final day 7-2 victory over Braehead which eventually clinched the title.

As they enter the play-offs, Coach Simon will be hoping that one of the Steelers’ stars of the season will keep up his impressive form. Ervins Mustukovs has undoubtedly been a key component in the team’s fantastic campaign.

Upon Mustukovs’ arrival at the club, the previous coach Matsos called his signing a “big gamble”. However, the Latvian has certainly repaid the faith that was put in him. This season Mustukovs has had ten shut-outs and has played a pivotal role in the Steelers rise to the summit of the league.

Bennett believes the Eastern European has had a memorable debut campaign. He said: “He’s already got ten shut-outs, which is a phenomenal feat. He could well be the best goalie in the league. He could even be one of the best goalies, statistically, in British ice hockey history.”

After all the positivity around the club since the new owner’s arrival, there was an air of unrest that entered the locker room, when in mid-March Simon rejected a new contract offer. He said: “Nothing has been offered that I would accept. I want to get myself what I think I am worth without pricing myself out.”

After those comments, the Steelers have since gone on to claim the regular season title and it is hoped that the American will commit to the club as new owner Ragan aims to build a core foundation at the club for long-term success.

With the play-off series now in full swing, the Steelers can look forward to brighter times. A meeting with Cardiff in the final could lie in store, should both clubs progress past their respective semi-final opponents. That would put owner Ragan in an unenviable position should that meeting occur at the National Ice Centre on April 3, as it would put two clubs together, both of whom he has ownership of.

However, even if the Steelers do not achieve play-off success, they can still look back on what has been a hugely successful campaign.

For them to be disappointed at losing out in the play-offs would show just how far the club has come since the final days of the Phillips era.

CAPELLO U-TURN GOOD NEWS FOR JT, BUT NOT FOR MORALITY

One of the worst things you can ever do, in any walk of life, is to go back on your word.

Whether it is a promise or a guarantee, it should be respected and upheld.

Fabio Capello has fallen foul of this scenario in his decision to seemingly hand the England captaincy back to John Terry.

Terry undoubtedly tarnished the tag of a professional footballer with his well-publicised misdemeanours last year. He is not alone though, and it would seem there are few members of the England party who can admit to being free from the shackles of such bad reputations.

Nevertheless, the original decision to relieve him of his leadership duties was the right one. He is not an example to set to younger players who look on in awe of the national captain. Capello got something right (for a change) when he insisted that Terry would not be made captain under the remainder of the Italian’s stewardship.

However, with Ferdinand’s recurring injuries and question marks over potential deputies, it seems Capello is inclined to return to Terry. If he does indeed give JT the armband back it would be sending out the completely wrong message.

It would be saying that, despite behaving inappropriately off the pitch, other players are more than welcome to reap the rewards after committing such offences.

Other more favourable candidates will be announced and considered but if Terry gets the nod, then we can all consign the Italian manager’s spell in charge of the England team as a complete non-starter. After the World Cup debacle, this would take the absolute biscuit.

And it would strengthen furthermore the belief that someone new is needed to revamp the national team – and soon.

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK KEEP ON ROCKING

Spurs maiden CL campaign continues to amaze

The sight of an ageing Milan side being brought to an aggregate defeat at White Hart Lane by a young team of hungry hopefuls was a joy to behold on Wednesday night.

Here was a club that had lifted the European Cup on no fewer than nine occasions, and is steeped in history and expectance.

However, it also perhaps was a changing of the guard in European football. The likes of Nesta, Jankulovski and Seedorf are not likely to have many Euro campaigns left, whilst Spurs go from strength to strength with their young, attacking score-one-more-than-you philosophy.

It is still hard to believe that Spurs are in their debut season in the modern-era of the Champions League. There is no doubting that they have been a breath of fresh air to the competition. Their progress to the final eight of Europe’s elite only highlights even more, the quite sensational turnaround that Harry Redknapp has masterminded since his arrival at the club three years ago.

When he turned up at the club, it is no secret that Spurs were in a state of disarray. The Carling Cup success that they had enjoyed under Juande Ramos had faded significantly and they were only going in one direction: down.

Fast forward to the present day and Tottenham are an outfit whose displays are breathtaking, most notably on Champions League nights.

25 goals in ten games in Europe this season shows just how attack-minded they are. But do not think that they are only capable of outscoring opponents.

The endeavour the team displayed to keep a clean sheet against Milan showed that they are also capable of frustrating opponents when necessary.

If you glanced at the bench in that last 16, second leg, then the players at Redknapp’s disposal is just another sign that Tottenham are no longer an also-ran outfit. Gareth Bale, Jermain Defoe and Ledley King (injury permitting) would have been dead-cert inclusions in any other Spurs starting line-up. The fact that Redknapp does not feel the need to include them from the start shows the trust that he places in the squad that he has spent the best part of thirty-six months building.

Whether Spurs European journey ends at the quarter-finals or not, Redknapp, his coaching staff and the entire Tottenham fans can all be proud of their achievement, and the quick-timing of it.

One thing for sure is that if their European form transfers into the Premier League, then many more nights like this will be taking place at “the lane” in the coming years.

WHO NEEDS TORRES?

The acrimonious departure of Fernando Torres to Chelsea may prove to be a blessing in disguise for Liverpool, as far-fetched as it sounds.

Although the Spaniard’s defection to Chelsea for the pricely sum of £50m may have been hard to digest at first, certainly for Kopites, it is certainly being met with more positivity – especially after his torrid debut on Sunday.

The former hero, now very much public enemy number one on Merseyside, was shackled out of the game by his former team-mates, most notably the trio of Daniel Agger, Martin Skrtel and Jamie Carragher.

This, however is not the only reason why many think his move may not work out so badly for the Reds. I think Torres will score goals for Chelsea, of that there is no doubt. I just believe his departure will have a much more positive impact on his former club than was first thought when he left on deadline day for the new British transfer record.

The money Liverpool received for him was overgenerous, even in today’s inflated market. They also managed to bring in two young, hungry players in Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll. The two could form a lethal partnership; however that must wait for the time being, whilst Carroll recovers from his thigh tear.

For the moment, Liverpool are bobbing along quite nicely, and have developed a siege mentality. The new owners have wisely installed Kenny Dalglish as caretaker manager, although it is almost a formality that his role will be made permanent in the summer. They have also paved the way for wantaway stars (such as Torres and Ryan Babel) to leave the club, leading to a supposedly-more happy Anfield.

That would certainly seem to be the case given their current four-match winning streak. They are currently six points off the top four and certainly seemed to have turned the corner after their ill-fated stewardship under Roy Hodgson earlier in the campaign.

The question now is whether they can maintain this form. Whether Carroll and Suarez will get the amount of goals Torres did, is another matter.

One thing for sure is that the camp is now a much happier place without senor Fernando. And who would have thought that at 11pm last Monday?

NEW ERA, NEW CHANGE

Alan Irvine’s departure will come as no surprise.

Recent defeats, not just defeats but hammerings, at Exeter, Leyton Orient and Peterborough have put paid to his indifferent spell in charge.

The Scotsman was praised by almost everyone for his hard work and determination, but those two qualities alone are not enough to succeed, especially at a club where results are judged on a bigger scale than most rivals.

Irvine was undoubtedly far too negative, opting for a cautious approach.

The facts do not lie and since his arrival in January 2010, the Owls scored more than two goals, in a league game, on only five occasions, with them all coming this season.

Those are statistics that do not do him any favours.

He was a likeable figure, but you always got the feeling he was never the right man for the club. Supporters grew tired of the cliché-ridden interviews, stating the upcoming game will be “tough” whatever level the opposition were.

It would seem he parted with the club on amicable terms, and obviously SWFC wishes him all the best for the future.

Let us not forget that he did enable us to take our relegation battle to the final day, something that seemed impossible had the previous regime been still in charge at that time.

Moving towards future developments, and whoever Milan Mandaric chooses as the man to take Wednesday forward, you would hope that they will have experience of getting out of this League and hopefully the one above it.

My personal choice would be Alan Curbishley, but there will be tireless amounts of rumours in the coming days and weeks.

However, this isn’t something that can be rushed.

It has to be well-thought out, as it is arguably the most important managerial decision that the club has made in the past decade.