Peterborough United

Odds: 16/1

Last Five Seasons

2005/06 - 9 (League Two), 2004/05 - 23 (League One, Relegated), 2003/04 - 18 (League One), 2002/03 - 11 (League One), 2001/02 - 17 (League One).

2005/06 Cup Progress

FA Cup First Round (replay) vs Burton Albion (a) - lost 1-0.

Carling Cup First Round vs Plymouth Argyle (a) - lost 2-1.

Football League Trophy Southern Section Quarter Final vs Swansea City (a) - lost 3-1 after extra time.

Top Goal Scorer 2005/06: Danny Crow (striker) - 17 goals.

Players In

Richard Butcher (Oldham Athletic - Free), Jude Stirling (Lincoln City - Free), Justin Richards (Woking - Free).

Players Out

Sean St Ledger (Preston North End - Undisclosed), Tim Ryan (Boston United - Free), David Farrell (Boston United - Free), Phil Bolland (Chester City - Free), Richard Logan (Weymouth - Free).

Peterborough United start the 2006/07 campaign with their third manager in little over 12 months. Former Lincoln City manager Keith Alexander, who guided the Imps to four play-off spots in the last four seasons, takes over at London Road. Last season, both Mark Wright (now at Chester City) and Steve Bleasdale couldn’t find the consistency required and the Posh ended the campaign just off the play-offs.

Alexander is using the old boys act to boost his squad in time for next season, signing both Richard Butcher and Jude Stirling. Midfielder Butcher previously played under Alexander at Lincoln City. The 25 year old left Lincoln to join Oldham Athletic last June but was loaned back to the Imps for a month during his 12 month stay at Boundary Park and signed for Posh on a free transfer.

Utility player Stirling was also at Lincoln City last season and signed on a free transfer. He began his career as a trainee at Luton Town before having spells at Stevenage Borough, St Albans, Dover Athletic, Tamworth and Oxford United.

Free scoring Woking striker Justin Richards, who netted 22 goals for the Conference outfit last season, has been brought in to ease the burden off 17 goal top goal scorer Danny Crow. However, Posh will have to fight off interest from OB Odense, managed by former Arsenal boss Bruce Rioch, for the striker after rejecting two bids from the Danish club.

One player Alexander has lost is highly rated defender Sean St Ledger to Preston North End, after the two clubs agreed an undisclosed fee, believed to be in the region of £225,000. St Ledger also had a spell training with Birmingham City during the summer and played 45 minutes of a behind closed doors friendly at Northampton Town.

Verdict

Posh have the right man in charge if they have ambitions of promotion but a small squad could see them slip out of the reckoning should injuries start to bite. Crow and Richards should be a good strike pairing and the play-offs are a realistic target.

David Walker runs Betfred free bet and football betting systems websites. A free email course: "Seven Days to Better Betting" is available at both of these websites.