Wycombe v Gillingham

I'm off to Adams Park for the first time this season to see their opening home league fixture against Gillingham.

Like Wycombe, the Gills are fancied for promotion, although I think both teams will have their work cut out in the season ahead as Northampton, Oxford, Bristol Rovers, Torquay, Plymouth, Aldershot, Cheltenham and a handful of other sides will certainly be in the mix come May.

However, if I wasn't tight with my money, the Chairboys are certainly a side I'd risk a small bet on as they have the experience under boss Gary Waddock and have also retained the bulk of their League One squad while adding a few useful faces.

Gary Doherty has now signed a permanent deal after a loan stint in which he impressed last term and fellow defender Sam Wood was a key player in Brentford's promotion push a couple of seasons back.

Waddock has also signed more 'experience' in the form of striker Richard Logan and midfielder Matt Spring who has often played well when I have seen him playing for Orient.

Wycombe's season won't be determined on whether hot shot striker Stuart Beavon stays or goes, but I'm sure that Waddock would like the situation sorted out sooner rather than later so he can bring in a replacement if necessary.

The transfer window closes in ten days and reports have a price tag of somewhere between £350-500k being put on Beavon's head. If that is true, someone is going to get a bargain in my opinion and the clubs currently showing an interest are apparently Preston, Millwall and Brentford.

Beavon is a natural predator and also puts in a shift for the team. He'll leave some fairly big boots behind for someone to fill.

Gillingham are now managed by the shy, unassuming and softly spoken Martin Allen who has built a name for himself as a very good coach of lower league clubs and a bit of a firefighter - particularly at Barnet where he has had a hand in keeping the club in the league in the last two campaigns.

Allen has picked up a couple of players from former club Notts County in handy keeper Stuart Nelson and midfielder Charlie Allen and also a useful player in Deon Burton.

Former Derby, Pompey (and just about every other club you can name) striker Burton has just returned to these shores following a two year stint playing for Azerbaijan Premier League outfit Gabala under former England and Arsenal skipper Tony Adams.

Burton is 35 years old now, but has bags of experience and will be looking for some silverware before the curtain comes down on a career that has seen him pick up well over fifty caps for Jamaica.

Allen has also brought in striker Ben Strevens who was released by Wycombe in the summer and the Chairboys will be hoping he doesn't return to his former club with a point to prove!