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General Information:
Ground: Sincil Bank (10,147)
Manager: Keith Alexander
Last Season: 22nd (Division Three)
Odds for Division Three title: 66/1
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Head-to-Head: Southend 15, Lincoln 8, Draws 11
Last Season: Home - 1-1 (Match Report), Away - 1-0 (Match Report)
This Seasons Fixtures: Home - 8th March, Away - 21st September
Transfers:
In:
Dean Cropper (Sheffield Wednesday) Free
Ben Futcher (Doncaster Rovers) Free
Simon Yeo (Hyde United) Free
Simon Weaver (Nuneaton Borough) Free
Out:
Dave Cameron (Chester City) Free
Daniel Bent (Doncaster Rovers) Free
Preview:
The Red Imps, like so many other Third Division clubs, have found that resources are low, and manager Keith Alexander has plundered the non-League world for Simon Yeo, who was prolific last season for Hyde. If he can transfer that sort of form to the Nationwide, then Lincoln could progress up the table, but problems may occur if goals ar not forthcoming, and relegation is a distinct threat. Rank outsiders for the title, City will be lucky to survive another year.
Macclesfield Town
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General Information:
Ground: Moss Rose (6,028)
Manager: David Moss
Last Season: 13th (Division Three)
Odds for Division Three title: 40/1
Southend United vs. Macclesfield Town:
Head-to-Head: Southend 4, Macclesfield 1, Draws 1
Last Season: Home - 3-0 (Match Report), Away - 0-0 (Match Report)
This Seasons Fixtures: Home - 14th September, Away - 1st March
Transfers:
In:
Lee Hardy (Oldham Athletic) Free
Out:
Richard Lambert (Stockport County) £300,000
Damien Whitehead (Leigh RMI) Free
Preview:
Macclesfield, since promotion to the Football League, have done really well just to survive, and this year sees the departure of last years' hero Richie Lambert to Stockport, but they still have a side capable of causing problems for the top sides, former Nottingham Forest winger Lee Glover being the main danger. Kyle Lightbourne up front should find the net on a regular basis, and if so, survival should be guaranteed. However, don't expect the Solkmen to be challenging for a play-off place.
Oxford United
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General Information:
Ground: The Kassam Stadium (9,650)
Manager: Ian Atkins
Last Season: 21st (Division Three)
Odds for Division Three title: 20/1
Southend United vs. Oxford United:
Head-to-Head: Southend 6, Oxford 12, Draws 4
Last Season: Home - 2-2 (Match Report), Away - 0-2 (Match Report)
This Seasons Fixtures: Home - 1st January, Away - 24th August
Transfers:
In:
Scott McNiven (Oldham Athletic) Free
Matt Robinson (Reading) Free
David Oldfield
Scott Basham
Bobby Ford (Sheffield United)
Out:
Martin Thomas (Exeter City) Free
Scott Guyett (Chester City) Free
Preview:
Oxford plumetted towards the bottom of Division Three in the same way as they had the previous season in Division Two last time around, and under the stewardship of Ian Atkins, things should be different this year. He has brought back crowd favourite Bobby Ford to marshall the midfield, and numerous other signings suggest that a new side will be pushing for promotion. Last year, Blues should have beaten United at home. This year, the reaction to a draw come New Years Day may well be different.
Rochdale
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General Information:
Ground: Spotland (10,249)
Manager: Paul Simpson
Last Season: 5th (Division Three)
Odds for Division Three title: 14/1
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Head-to-Head: Southend 16, Rochdale 9, Draws 9
Last Season: Home - 0-0 (Match Report), Away 1-0 (Match Report)
This Seasons Fixtures: Home - 18th January, Away - 31st August
Transfers:
In:
Lee Hodges (Free)
Chris Beech (Free)
Out: none
Preview:
After failing at the play-off stage last season, Rochdale will be looking to go one better, and with the addition of Lee Hodges to provide the goals for the prolific Neil Townson, there is little to suggest on the field that they are not capable of pushing the big guns hard again. However, off the field, and having lost the promise of Steve Parkin and the experience of John Hollins during the last campaign, Paul Simpson will have a big job to oversee this year. The pedigree of the team is not in doubt - it is simply whether Simpson can make a success of his first managerial assignment
Rushden & Diamonds
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General Information:
Ground: Nene Park (6,553)
Manager: Brian Talbot
Last Season: 6th (Division Three)
Odds for Division Three title: 6/1
Southend United vs. Rushden & Diamonds:
Head-to-Head: Southend 2, Rushden 0, Draws 0
Last Season: Home - 4-2 (Match Report), Away - 1-0 (Match Report)
This Seasons Fixtures: Home - 22nd February, Away - 7th September
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Transfers:
In:
Stuart Wardley (Queens Park Rangers) Free
Out:
Gary Butterworth (Farnborough) Free
Brett Angell (Port Vale) Free
Preview:
Diamonds were unfortunate not to gain successive promotions when Cheltenham defeated them in last seasons Play-Off Final at the Millenium Stadium having hauled themselves into 6th position following a horrific start to the year, compounded by the Shrimpers 1-0 success at Nene Park in September. They have largely the same side again, made up of promising youngsters, experienced non-league battlers and the flair of Paul Hall, a former international. This season, with a good start, Rushden could well be sitting in a n automatic promotion spot come the beginning of May.
Scunthorpe United
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General Information:
Ground: Glandford Park (9,183)
Manager: Brian Laws
Last Season: 8th (Division Three)
Odds for Division Three title: 14/1
Southend United vs. Scunthorpe United:
Head-to-Head: Southend 10, Scunthorpe 15, Draws 11
Last Season: Home - 2-0 (Match Report), Away - 0-2 (Match Report)
This Seasons Fixtures: Home - 28th December, Away - 25th January
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In: none
Out:
Gareth Sheldon (Exeter City) Free
Lee Hodges (Released)
Preview:
Brian Laws can still boast a decent squad, but the departure of Lee Hodges having found that his wages were not sufficient when performing for the Iron could prove to be vital. Peter Beagrie and former Southend marksman Martin Carruthers will still supply a good number of goals to propel Scunny towards the top of the League, but fitness in both cases will be vital, and Steve Torpey could also have a large workload. Scunthorpe look destined to end this season as they did the last - agonisingly close to the play-offs, but not quite there.
Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com