Hughton already suffering from the Blues

Spare a thought for poor old Chris Hughton. No sooner has he got his feet under the table at Birmingham than his new club's president is up on money laundering charges. Add to this the fact that his best midfielder has been flogged to the Mackems, a host of experienced pros have already packed their bags and a whole load more are expected to depart before the season kicks off, and Hughton - who reportedly wants former Toon accomplice and current Hibs manager Colin Calderwood to help him out at St Andrews - will probably be fondly reminiscing about the summer of 2009 on Tyneside as a time of calm and stability...

Another old boy embarking upon a stern managerial challenge is wonky-nosed former German international midfielder Dietmar Hamann, newly installed as boss of Stockport County. Hamann's appointment, by the new consortium that's taken charge of the club, smacks of an attempt to excite fans dismayed and disillusioned by two successive relegations and chronic mismanagement. Deposed manager Ray Mathias has been harshly treated, and the move may yet come back to haunt the Hatters.