League 1 preview: Notts County

League 1 preview: Notts County

Our latest preview looks at Notts

League 1 preview:

Notts County finished in twelfth place last season in a steady campaign that saw manager Keith Curle replaced by Chris Kiwomya in February. The season also culminated in two disappointing cup runs. 

Veteran Lee Hughes joined the Valiants from Notts County in January despite being amongst their leading scorers. Hughes left Notts County having scored six league goals, their top goalscorer Yoann Arquin finished on nine for the season.

Team: Notts County

For a club with huge prestige and history last season will not go down as a great season for the Magpies. Average crowds of 5,000 and a high of 7,600 is nothing to shout about in League 1.

Next season manager Kiwomya will be looking to convert a large number of County’s draws into wins, the Nottingham club drew more than any other side last season with the exception of Sheffield United.

Players:

There has been plenty of transfer movement at Meadow Lane, not all of it good for Notts County fans.

Heading out the club is 24-year-old Alan Judge who will be re-joining his former club Blackburn Rovers after rejecting a new contract at Notts.

Another Irishman to leave is 23-year-old Julian Kelly who has been released along with Algerian Hamza Bencherif, Liam Mitchell, Neal Bishop and 19-year-old left-back Jake Wholey.

28-year-old left midfielder has departed and will now link up with League 2 side Fleetwood.

So far four new players have arrived, Mustapha Dumbuya has joined from League 1 rivals Crawley Town, the 25-year-old can play right-back or centre-back.

Danny Haynes has joined from Championship side Charlton Athletic, 18-year-old Malcolm Melvin has joined from Aston Villa and winger Andy Haworth has made the step up to League 2, arriving from Rochdale.

Manager: Chris Kiwomya 

The 43-year-old former Ipswich Town forward has made his first step into management after replacing Keith Curle in February.

Kiwomya started his management journey by being appointed reserve team development coach at his former club Ipswich Town; he then left his position to join Notts County, originally as their development squad manager before being installed as first-team manager.

Kiwomya will be looking to improve on his five wins from 17 games next season and will have to do so without standout performer Alan Judge. 

Key man: Jamal Campbell-Ryce 

The well-travelled Jamaican international enjoyed an impressive debut season for Notts last season, racking up nine goals from 34 appearances in all competitions.

The 5ft 7in winger is highly regarded as a dangerous winger in the Football League and on his day can leave defenders chasing a clean pair of heels.

12 clubs in 12 years tells its own story, but can the Jamaican journeyman push Notts into promotion contention come May 2014? 

Promotion odds: 9/1