The wealth of Milton Keynes Dons and Peterborough United might now be playing in a higher division - Cola Cola Div 1 - but Daggers boss John Still doesn't expect this season's Division 2 campaign to be any easier than last time.

"They were like the Manchester United and Chelsea of our division last season, but beneath them it was a very even standard. With them gone this time, the teams replacing them will make it a more even competition,'' he says.

And Daggers are better prepared three weeks before the big kick-off than they were for their inaugural stab at League football 12 months ago.

"We have just one major injury at the moment and that's Danny Foster. He is currently at Lilleshall having rehab, following a groin operation. He won't make the season's start, but won't be far behind. I expect him to be fit two or three weeks into the campaign,'' says the boss.

Other than that, the Daggers boss has a full squad to choose from ahead of Chester's visit to Barking & Dagenham Stadium on August 9.

"Shane Huke hasn't had to have an op and he is building up his strength, but apart from him and Danny, we have had a full squad at training and involved in the pre-season matches.''

The opening three of those games produced a win, a draw and a loss to Thurrock.
But says the boss," We are exactly where I want to us to be at the end of three week programme designed purely for fitness. We haven't done any team play, worked on our patterns of play or link-up work between players. We have deliberately left that for the final fortnight before the season kicks off''.

Still believes a good start is essential from the first six or eight games. "I'm not setting any points target, but after eight games I want to be in the top half, looking down, not the other way round,'' he says.

"We got off on the wrong foot last season and had a number of major close season injuries. This time we look in much better shape.''

He has made two captures to his squad. Immediately last season ended, the manager was quickly in action to secure Mark Arber's signature on a full-time basis, after the central defender's two loan spells with the club, firstly from Peterborough two seasons ago and then at the end of last season, while Arber was a Stevenage player.

"There is no risk element in signing Mark. I've known him since he was a little boy. I played with his father and he had three seasons with me at Barnet. He is a player I know I can depend on.''

New striker Mark Nwokeji is maybe more of a risk, but Still's record of unearthing striking talent is unsurpassed.

When at Barnet, he discovered Marlon King, who went on to star at Nottingham Forest and Watford and could now be Premier League Hull-bound. In his most recent spell with Daggers, Still has given chances to Tresor Kandol, now at Leeds, Craig Mackail-Smith, starring with Peterborough and the club's own leading scoring star Paul Benson. All three were picked up from non-league football, like Nwokeji, who was the Ryman League's Golden Boot winner last season, while at Staines Town.
"We as a club often having to gamble, particularly with forwards. We liked what we saw in Mark Nwokeji and our record in picking forwards hasn't been bad up to now,'' says the boss.

The sad demise of Luton Town, who will start with a 30 point deduction from the FA and Football League combined, for financial irregularities and going into administration, should ease the pressure on the other 23 clubs in the division, over relegation issues.

"I expected them to do quite well before this news broke and depending what sort of team they can keep before the season starts I would expect them to make up a significant amount of that deduction. But if they find it's not bringing them closer to the rest of the division they may become disheartened.''

"I suppose it helps the division's other clubs, but I take no joy from another club's major problems.''

At the other end, the manager feels that Shrewsbury, who have taken over the mantle of the division's moneybag club, Chesterfield who have recently signed the experienced midfielder Darren Currie to bolster a squad that finished one place out of the play-off places and relegated Gillingham, could be the major contenders.
He feels newly promoted Aldershot and Exeter will do enough to hold their own to stay out of any trouble, without being serious challengers.

"Last season Morecambe did pretty well after coming up and I'm sure had we had better luck with injuries, we could have done just as well as they did.''
"Now it's a new seasons and we have a second chance to prove just that.''