WITH yet another pre-season seemingly dominated by off field troubles its well and truly time we take a look at who holds the trump cards and get down to business as the new Airtricity league season finally kicks off. Despite the well documented cloud of financial uncertainty hanging over many clubs recently there was still a considerable amount of activity in the much anticipated transfer window.
Former kingpins Bohemians will undoubtedly struggle this year as the grim ramifications of their financial implosion hit home. They were the busiest club during the window, but for all the wrong reasons, as their dwindling income resulted in a mass exodus of star players. Influential leader Paul Keegan and pacey full back Conner Powell skipped across the pond to Doncaster Rovers and Colchester United respectively. While crowd favourite Mark Quigley and prolific striker Jason Byrne bucked the emigration trend and instead opted for the short trip north to Dundalk, as they too depart the sinking ship.
