Championship
COLCHESTER COULD SUFFER FROM SECOND SEASON SYNDROMEColchester United were one of the undoubted success stories of last season, with Geraint Williams leading his men to the brink of the play-offs in the Championship against all expectations.
The achievement was particularly noteworthy given the club's limited resources and small squad, but those factors could really begin to tell over the coming season. Last season's heroics owed much to the prolific strike-pairing of Jamie Cureton and Chris Iwelumo, however, both have now moved on to Norwich City and Charlton Athletic respectively, while they have also lost another key player in midfielder Richard Garcia, another who has moved sideways to a Championship rival (Hull City).
Coach Mick Harford has also moved on, while left-back Chris Barker also needs replacing after an impressive season on loan at Layer Road last term. There are also doubts over the future of midfielder Kemal Izzet, who has yet to sign a new contract.
With little coming in by way of transfer fees for the departing players and with Layer Road only holding 6,000, there isn't likely to be much money available for Williams to strengthen his depleted squad.
The 11-4 available with Premierbet on the U's to be relegated might prove to be a decent price.
Bet Advised: Tuesday 03rd July 2007
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