Football Season Guide

Orleans are looking for a season of mid-table security and consolidation in Ligue 2 after only avoiding the drop by beating Paris FC in a two-legged play-off at the end of the last campaign. At least that was better than the last sojourn in the second tier for the side from the Stade de la Source as they went straight back down in 2015. It was a difficult campaign, though, as they had to deal with a points deduction for not complying with financial regulations. The appointment of Didier Olle-Nicolle as coach halfway through the season was the catalyst for them to turn things around. He has overseen a huge squad overhaul in the summer, though, with 10 members of the first-team squad leaving, including key men like Mickael Barreto, Joel Sami and Romain Armand. A host of unknown quantities have arrived in their places, and the new team will need time to gel. Abraham Guie Guie, formerly of Tours and back in France after a number of years abroad, could be one to look out for up front, while Gaetan Perrin, on loan from Lyon, is a talented youngster to watch. "We have a lot of players aged under 21, but we want players who will work harder than elsewhere, because they are still developing," said Olle-Nicolle. "The price to pay will be a certain immaturity and inexperience, so we are expecting some difficult moments this season. But that is the gamble we have taken with the president. The objective is to build something, stay up and then see where it takes us."