The start of the npower 2010/11 campaign is now just over a month away. The teams are back in pre-season training and the excitement is starting to build as the first game looms ever closer. Thanks to the webmaster at Macclesfield Town we get the chance to look at our rivals.
Twenty three teams will once again compete with the Shrimps for League Two honours and over the next few weeks we cast an eye over each one of them.
First up Accrington Stanley
A tale of what might have been
Stanley, under the canny leadership of the long serving John Coleman looked on course to surprise a lot of people last season as they entered the month of March as serious contenders for a play-off place.
However a run of just one point from nine games, saw them slip off the pace to eventually finish in 15th place on 61 points.
The league goals of Michael Symes (14) and Bobby Grant (13) played a big part in Stanley's early season success. And the former was also on target against Fulham in the FA Cup 4th Round after John Miles had scored the winner goal against Gillingham in the previous round.
Struggle to hand onto stars
The manager's warning that Stanley would struggle to keep onto their young stars has be borne out with first Symes (Bournemouth) and then Grant (Scunthorpe) departing the club, the latter in a deal that is rumoured to be worth upwards of £250k dependent on appearances.
Further blows came with the news that regulars Darran Kempson (Grimsby) and Miles will also not be returning to the Crown Ground. Miles was due to report back on the first day of pre-season training but let the club know by text that he had decided to drop down to the Conference with new boys Fleetwood Town.
With former loan signee and target Billy Kee opting to join Torquay and Tom Lees, who was on a season long loan from Leeds United last year, keeping his options open, Stanley's woes were also compounded when the Football League placed a temporary transfer embargo on the club for the late filing of their accounts.
Veteran defender Leam Richardson, who missed most of last season with injury, is also in discussion over a new deal but assistant manager Jimmy Bell did not sound too hopeful when speaking to the local press last week.
New Boys
Former Shrimps loanee striker Craig Lindfield and Blackburn reserve team player Michael Hall have arrived on one year deals, together with keeper Alex Cisak on a free transfer from Leicester City.
Fans' Eye View
"We get used to all the coming and goings if I am honest. We knew it was always going to be a struggle to keep hold of the likes of Symes and Grant. It's a fact of life but hopes weren't that high this time last year and Coleman proved the doubters wrong again. I suppose the big worry is where the goals are going to come from. Lindfield did ok for us first time around but I don't see him banging in 20 goals. But anything has got to be better than what we've just witness in the World Cup."
John, Accrington
Latest odds at Corals
To win league - 50/1
To get promoted - 14/1
First Three League Games
Aug 7 - Aldershot Town (h)
Aug 14 - Northampton Town (a)
Aug 21 - Silkmen (h)
Carling Cup Opponents
Doncaster Rovers (a)
