The summer is drawing to a close, the Aussies have once again got the Ashes series won, and at the time of writing, we're not doing too well in the World Athletics Championships.

And to top that lot, Greening's gone and signed for Middlesbrough!

The new footie season kicks off this Saturday with a nice little trip down to the garden of England via a friendly jaunt to Gillingham.

What more could we ask for on the opening day or a promising new season?

Life in Division One looks like being even more of a challenge this year.

Last time we were the unknown quantity, but most teams will have learnt from then and will have sussed out our strengths and weaknesses.

All the more reason for us to add to and improve the squad and missing out on Jonathan Greening could prove fatal.

We certainly do need that calibre of player if we are to take that next step up the ladder of English football.

Among the bookies favourites are Man City, of course, and Watford. Coventry, off the back of 30 years of top flight football should also be there or thereabouts.

With the likes of PNE, Birmingham, Forest, Bradford City and West Brom its going to be a real fight, with dark horses Wimbledon also worth an each way bet.

The Citizen is giving North End fans to give their views about the club. In the first of a regular series of articles by the independent supporters group PSG 2000.