Manager: Ian Atkins

Stadium: Brunton Park

Capacity: 16,651

Last season: 23rd

Comings and goings

Out: John Durnin, Stephen Halliday, Billy Barr, Graham Anthony (all released), Shaun Teale (Southport, free), David Brightwell (Hull City, free), Damon Searle (Southend, free), Peter Clark (Stockport, £150,000), Paul Reid (Glasgow Rangers, £700,000), Jeff Thorpe, Paul Heritage (both re-tired)

In: striker Carl Heggs (Rushden and Diamonds, free), midfielder Julian Darby (Preston, free - deal to be concluded), defender Jamie Squires (Dun-fermline, free)

One to watch: Workaholic striker Carl Heggs is a firm favourite of manger Ian Atkins, who signed him when manager of Northampton from Swansea City and had him on loan at Chester at the end of last season. The 29-year-old has never been a prolific goal scorer but makes an ideal partner for a poacher. Showed in his short loan spell at Chester last year just what he can do when he forged a useful partnership with Luke Beckett that almost saved Chester from the drop.

Odds: New boss Ian Atkins is well respected in lower league circles having almost pulled off mission impossible and saving Chester from relegation to the Conference last season. It was not to be but the feeling at Brunton is that if anyone can force an upturn in United's fortunes then Atkins is the man. However, he has been given no money to spend and only nine of the current squad have played in more than 10 league games.

Another stint at the wrong end of the table seems likely with Atkins admitting he needs to bring in at least eight new players.