Season Preview - Part III

Last updated : 02 August 2005 By Smallsy
League One new boys Scunthorpe are the first visitors to Griffin Park next weekend and in the continuing run up to the season we got a preview from one my fellow League editors,

How did you fare last season? Best moment, worst moment etc.

Last season was absolutely fantastic for Scunthorpe. We got promoted and rode on the crest of a wave throughout, only dropping out of the top three for one week. We also had a great cup run and were extremely unlucky to lose out to Chelsea

How do you think you'll do this season? Hopes, final position.

Well, of course I hope we stay up. I think there are alot worse squads in League One and we should stay up easily. Alot depends on how we start though. Our manager is aiming for the play-offs, though the lack of transfer activity has worried some supporters. I hope for the playoffs, but my head says midtable.

What's your squad like, new signings, etc?

We have the right mixture of youth and experience, and at League Two level this proved excellent last year. We have signed a veteran in Tommy Johnson to replace Paul Hayes, and hopefully Tommy will put his injury worries behind him, because if he does there is no doubt we have a cracking player on our hands. We have also signed Jim Goodwin from Stockport and he sounds a like someone you wouldn't want to mess with. He's got a disciplinary record, lets put is that way! He should replace Richard Kell and add extra defensive stability to the side. The key feature of our squad though is our impregnable defence. We had the best record in League Two last year, and if we keep solid again there's no reason why we can't do well.

Which youngster will make the biggest impression in your team this
season?


Andy Butler - central defensive rock, linked with a £1 million move to Man City this summer, he is a real class act. And alongside an experienced head like Andy Crosby should keep developing well. Also has a knack of scoring vital goals. He got into double-figures last season.

What's your manager like and will he still be there at the end of the
season?

Interesting question - Disagreements at boardroom level saw Laws leave the club two seasons ago, he'd been here seven years before that and it seemed he had run out of ideas as we struggled for our league status, but a boardroom coup saw him reappointed three weeks later and after staving off relegation we haven't looked back. The new board backed him well, and he repaid them with a fantastic season last time around, we are hoping for more of the same this year. He has a firm friendship with the current board, so he should still be here at the end of the season.

Are you happy with your Chairman/Backroom staff?

Delighted, obviously with the promotion. The board could communicate with the supporters a bit better, and they have promised new developments such as new stands, etc...

We'll be hearing more from Chris later on this week as we interview him before the big game on Saturday at Griffin Park.