Football Season Guide

Great underachievers Lens are gearing up for a fifth consecutive season outside the top flight after falling short of promotion in the play-off final last time around. Les Sang et Or only scraped into the play-offs at the end of last season by finishing fifth, but they promptly edged out Paris FC and Troyes before losing out to Dijon for a spot in Ligue 1. Philippe Montanier's team must now build again for a renewed crack at a return to the elite, something they feel is their rightful place. After all, Lens are unique at this level for regularly being able to bring in more than 30,000 fans to their Stade Bollaert-Delelis. But misisng out on promotion means it is harder for them to keep their best players, especially the young talents coming through their renowned academy. Defender Modibo Sagnan has already joined Real Sociedad in Spain, while midfielder Jean-Ricner Bellegarde has stepped up to Ligue 1 with Strasbourg and Fabien Centonze has done likewise with Metz. Thierry Ambrose has returned to parent club Manchester City too. Meanwhile, the club have been busy adding players with experience of playing at this level, like midfielder Manuel Perez from Clermont and forward Florian Sotoca from Grenoble. "We are playing for a big club and we need to be consistent," said Sotoca. "Last year we had an excellent defensive foundation. With the other signings we have made, our job is to strengthen the attack. I am convinced we can do that." Gaetan Robail, outstanding on loan at Valenciennes last season from Paris Saint-Germain, is a very promising signing in midfield, while the veteran Yannick Cahuzac adds bite as well as experience in that area of the park as he arrives from Toulouse.