Ground: Sixfields Stadium

Capacity: 7,653

Last season: 22nd in Div 2

Manager: Ian Atkins

Ins: Simon Sturridge striker from Stoke City, free; Steve McGavin midfielder from Southend,free; Keith Welch goalkeeper from Bristol City, free; Alex O'Reilly goalkeeper from West Ham on a three months loan.

Outs: Billy Turley goalkeeper to Rushden and Diamonds for £130,000; Steve Francis goalkeeper freed; Colin Hill defender retired; David Seal striker to Sydney Olympic, free; Dean Peer midfielder freed.

Chances: Hope springs eternal and so too will the legion of six-footers at the Sixfields outfit. Purveyors of a 'boom-bang-gang' game said to offer the best route out the basement, Northampton are ready again for the fray. Last season they reached Division Two only to fall right back out again ravaged by an injury curse that at one stage accounted for 20 senior players. If less of the treatment room is visited then few will bet against another upsurge by the Cobblers, who are bullish about their chances of once more escaping the whack and crack of life in the bottom reaches.

One to watch: Dave Savage. Finished last season with burst of good form, and goals to boot, from midfield.

Title odds: 9-1.