Whether they really are simply biding their time until sorting out a move to Dublin or not, Wimbledon certainly seem to be in some sort of holding pattern with none of their new Norweigan owners' cash spent on players and little, other than their seemingly endless ability to defy expectations, to suggest that they can reproduce last year's strong mid-season form.

The loss of Oyvind Leonhardsen will certainly be a blow but the fact that Chris Perry (pictured) hasn't been lured away, Neil Sullivan's continued emergence as one of the best goalkeepers in England and the Robbie Earle propelled attack should be enough to at least keep them up.

Manager: Joe Kinnear.

In: Ceri Hughes (from Luton) £400,000.

Out: Oyvind Leonhardsen (to Liverpool) £3.25 million, Aidan Newhouse (to Fulham) £150,000, Scott Fitzgerald (to Millwall) £80,000, Iain Laidlaw, Grant Payne and Stuart Searle (all released).

Last Season: 8th. FA Cup: Semi-finals. Coca-Cola Cup: Semi-finals.

Betting: 100 to 1.