Football Season Guide

Notts County will be hoping to recover from the disappointment of losing to Coventry City in the play-off semi-finals last season. The Magpies spent most of the season in the automatic promotion places but a poor run of form saw them overtaken by Wycombe Wanderers and they had to settle for a place in the play-offs. They were then left feeling aggrieved following some questionable referring decisions which saw them beaten 5-2 by Coventry City in their two-legged play-off semi-final. Owner Alan Hardy and manager Kevin Nolan have been spent much of their time claiming that reaching the play-offs represented over-achievement having inherited a team which was heading for relegation but the sense of disappointment at their perceived failure to seal promotion has hung heavy over Meadow Lane. Hardy and Nolan have acted swiftly and decisively in the transfer market; spending big in the hope of making it all the way this time around. They have made a statement of intent on no less than three occasions with the signing of Chesterfield striker Kristian Dennis and Crawley Town winger Enzio Boldewijn, for undisclosed six-figure fees and the capture of experienced midfielder David Vaughan from Nottingham Forest. They have also made the not-inconsiderable additions of wing-back Andy Kellett, winger Nathan Thomas and Striker Kane Hemmings and can now boast one of the strongest and expensively-assembled squads in League Two. There have been some notable departures too of course, including player-of the-year Jorge Grant, who has returned to parent club Nottingham Forest following a season-long loan. Midfielder Michael O’Connor rejected the offer of a new deal to join Lincoln City whilst a trio of regulars in goalkeeper Adam Collin, midfielder Liam Noble and striker Shola Ameobi have all been allowed to leave the club. The pressure will certainly be on Nolan with Magpies will be one of the favourites in League Two this season.