League Two leaders Morecambe host Leyton Orient today at the Globe Arena.
Whilst Morecambe have signed Burnley striker Ntumba Massanka and Cheltenham Town defender James Jennings on loan until January, the real excitement lies around the proposed purchase of the Shrimps by Brazilian businessman Diego Lemos, subject to consent from the English Football League.
Current Chairman Peter McGuigan; who has owned the club for 16 years, said when he put the club up for sale in March, that he hoped a new owner would aim to take them into League One in three years. We’ll see!
The first visitors to test those ambitions, are the O’s. Winger Dean Cox has been released due to mutual consent, but the Eastenders have signed Chateauroux striker Ulrich N’Nomo on a one-year deal for an undisclosed fee and French defender Teddy Mezague on a free transfer, subject to international clearance.
Will an injection of French skill and passion mean some much needed ‘ooh la la’ for the club?
Second placed Luton Town have signed Huddersfield Town left-back Jack Senior on a two-year deal and Newcastle United midfielder Alex Gilliead on loan until January, they welcome Gareth Ainsworth’s Wycombe Wanderers who face an injury crisis that has left more than a third of the Chairboys’ squad unavailable.
They’ve made a small inroad into that situation by signing Scott Kashket (after his Leyton Orient contract was terminated) and Southampton midfielder Dominic Gape on loan.
Third-placed Doncaster Rovers travel to Crewe Alexandra. Rovers’ have lost right back Mitchell Lund with a kidney problem, but have brought in free agent Frazer Richardson as short-term cover. Crewe will want to do better than the 2-0 defeat last weekend which gifted Cheltenham their first win back in the Football League.
Fourth-placed Colchester United will welcome second-bottom Exeter City to the Colchester Community Stadium. The Grecians have lost defender Jordan Tills for the season after breaking his ankle, but they have brought in Reading midfielder Jack Stacey and Crystal Palace defender Luke Croll on loan until January.
Whilst fifth-placed Mansfield Town take on bottom placed Cambridge United. The Stags have signed defender Alex Iacovitti from Nottingham Forest, but manager Adam Murray is the one stealing the headlines after he told his players to “stay out of tackles” during Tuesday’s defeat by Doncaster in the Checkatrade Trophy, which he described as “not competitive football”.
Danny Hylton scored in Luton’s 3-0 victory over Cambridge United last time out – Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.
Kyle Howkins and Jamie McGuire picked up knocks in that match which makes them doubts for today’s game. Cambridge meanwhile welcome Brad Halliday, who has signed from Middlesbrough, as Keith Keane exited the Abbey Stadium in order to join Rochdale.
Carlisle United host Accrington Stanley having bought and sold no-one on transfer deadline day – a nice change which flies in the face of modern thinking. Accrington have added Bristol City defender Zak Vyner on loan until January, and Rory McKeown (also in defence) on non-contract terms.
Plymouth Argyle are at home to Cheltenham and have signed Bristol City striker Arnold Garita on loan until January 16. The 21-year-old forward becomes the 15th new player to join the Pilgrims since they were beaten in the League Two play-off final in May. No new signings for Cheltenham, who will want to build on last week’s first league victory.
Just outside the play-off places, eighth placed Portsmouth host ninth placed Crawley Town at Fratton Park. Scotland Under-21 defender Dominic Hyam has joined Pompey on loan from Championship Reading until January, whilst Crawley have signed Guinea-Bissau international midfielder Aliu Djalo on a two-year contract. Hyam played under Dermot Drummy in Chelsea’s youth setup, so the Red Devils’ gaffer will know him well.
Stevenage are ringing the changes before hosting Hartlepool United, signing Peterborough United’s Kgosi Ntlhe for an undisclosed fee, Nottingham Forest’s Tyler Walker and Aston Villa’s Harry McKirdy on loan. Hartlepool meanwhile have signed Middlesbrough’s Bradley Fewster and Newcastle forward Tom Heardman on half-season loans.
Yeovil Town welcome Blackpool to Huish Park. The Pilgrims have signed striker Izale McLeod on a free transfer and brought in AFC Bournemouth midfielder Ben Whitfield on loan until January. Blackpool have re-signed goalkeeper Dean Lyness on a free transfer – he spent last season on loan with the Tangerines – and will compete with Sam Slocombe for the number one shirt. Midfielder John Herron has, however, joined Dunfermline on loan.
Omar Bogle will be looking to build upon last weekend’s memorable hat-trick as his Grimsby Town team-mates visit Meadow Lane to take on Notts County on Saturday afternoon.
After thrashing Stevenage 5-2 in their last outing, the Mariners can climb above the Magpies with another set of three points, although Notts have won back-to-back League Two games against Hartlepool and Crawley respectively.
Grimsby forward Bogle is now League Two’s joint-top goalscorer (4) after last weekend’s treble – Photo: Lee Blease.
In the final match, Newport County and Barnet battle it out at Rodney Parade. County have added Newcastle United defender Kyle Cameron, Cardiff City forward Rhys Healey and Queens Park Rangers forward Reece Grego-Cox on loan – and they are still confident of adding former Plymouth Argyle striker Reuben Reid (free agent).
No new additions for Barnet, but one big loss for them has been losing striker Michael Gash for the rest of the season, after suffering cruciate ligament damage against Accrington Stanley last week. Gash scored 10 goals for the Bees last season and will be a major loss.
The league is taking shape, but each of these teams has work to do on the training ground to get these new signing to gel. It’s great to have new talent, but will it be a help or hindrance in the short term?