Football Season Guide

Laval are looking to improve in the coming campaign after five bottom-half finishes in the last six seasons. They have continuity in the dug-out, with coach Denis Zanko having agreed a new two-year deal through to 2018 back in the spring. However, they have lost arguably their two standout performers from the last campaign, with Moroccan international full-back Fouad Chafik taking the step up to Ligue 1 with promoted Dijon and midfielder and captain Anthony Goncalves moving on to a new challenge with Strasbourg. Meanwhile, leading scorer Rachid Alioui has also departed after the end of his loan from top-flight side Guingamp. And as usual for a club of Laval's stature they have been scrambling to build a new squad. So far they have made some interesting recruits. Gabon defender Aaron Appindangoye and Ivorian forward Seydou Kone both know this level, while there are high hopes for diminutive forward Romain Bayard, who arrives from Dunkerque after netting nine times in the third tier last season. And playmaker Mathieu Coutadeur, who has widespread experience of the top flight from his days with Le Mans, Monaco and Lorient, is back in France after signing an initial two-year deal to join from AEL Limassol in Cyprus. Zanko will want to add further depth to the squad before the transfer window closes, however.