Football Season Guide

Sochaux avoided relegation on a dramatic final day last season, but it remains to be seen if this will be a new beginning for the troubled club. The former Peugeot works side, two-time French champions in the interwar years, have since been given the green light to carry on in Ligue 2 by the league's financial watchdog after doubts had been raised. However, uncertainty continues to reign off the field at the Stade Bonal, which last hosted top-flight football in 2014. After the failed experiment which saw the club run by the Spanish group who are in charge of La Liga outfit Alaves, the Chinese group Nenking are now set to take control in eastern France. But can they give coach Omar Daf the playing resources he needs to make a successful fist of the season ahead? A long list of players have moved on, with Jeando Fuchs and Benin centre-back Olivier Verdon being snapped up by Alaves while the sale of hot midfield prospect Lucien Agoume to Italian giants Inter was necessary to keep the financial wolves at bay. However, Daf has been left with a meagre squad with time running out before the campaign begins. Pape Paye and Christophe Diedhiou add experience, but more faces are required as soon as possible. "Compared to last season, the area where we must improve is in attack, so clearly that is where reinforcements are a priority," said Daf, whose team face Caen at home on the opening weekend. "I lost 14 players in the close season, experienced players, so we have to try to replace them." It is a daunting prospect, and it is far too early to say where Sochaux could be sitting nine months from now.