AFTER 83 days of frenzied wheeling and dealing, managers throughout the Pyramid are putting the finishing touches to their squads for the new season.

A summer of scavenging has seen 181 players sign on the dotted line for a new Blue Square Premier side – an average of 7.5 players per club.

Of those, Mick Woodward’s Grays have snapped up the most with an incredible 14 summer recruits. Next up are newly-promoted Lewes with 13, Stevenage with 12 and John Hollins’ Weymouth, who have bagged 11 pairs of fresh legs.

Bringing up the rear are Histon and Salisbury, with just two new faces each.

The dressing room must be looking bare at Salisbury’s Raymond McEnhill Stadium because Nick Holmes has also seen 11 players leave the club. Lewes top the ‘outs’ table with 17, swiftly followed by Stevenage (16) and relegated Mansfield with 15. Only Barrow have kept their squad intact as a total of 219 players have left their separate clubs in the summer – an average of nine per team.

As ever, there’ll be big hits and big misses, but every manager in the league will be hoping to emulate Forest Green boss Jim Harvey, who snapped up Stuart Fleetwood on a free transfer from Hereford last year and saw his gamble pay off in spectacular fashion as the young striker bagged 35 goals.

Gary Waddock also made the most of limited resources at Aldershot, bagging midfield dynamo Ben Harding and centre-back Anthony Charles for nothing.

The duo were named in the Blue Square Premier team of the year as the Shots romped to the title, while another Waddock freebie, Joel Grant, was sold on to Crewe for £130,000.

At Burton, Nigel Clough showed that the most obvious transfers can also be the best when he signed Daryl Clare in March 2006.

The two-time Conference Golden Boot winner hit 48 goals in 98 games for the Brewers – including a 25-goal haul last term – and Rushden boss Garry Hill will be hoping for more of the same from the former Chester hitman once he recovers from his broken jaw.

Hill has been one of the busiest men in preseason, with a total of ten new faces arriving at Nene Park.

Lee Phillips, who netted 12 for Torquay last year, will partner Clare up front while the acquisitions of former Cambridge United midfielder Rob Wolleaston and Lincoln City keeper Alan Marriott have seen Diamonds installed as one of the favourites for the title.

The same goes for Oxford United, whose defensive options have been complemented by the potentially deadly attacking trio of Jamie Guy, James Constable and Lewis Haldane, all on loan from Football League sides.

Right: Jamie Guy celebrates after scoring for Oxford during pre-season.

And at Stevenage, Graham Westley’s capture of pacy full-back Eddie Anaclet and Kidderminster’s powerful striker Iyesden Christie has made them the bookies’ tip.

CHRIS DUNLAVY’S TOP TEN

1. JAMIE GUY, Centre forward (Colchester United – Oxford United, loan)

POTENTIALLY the new Stuart Fleetwood, 21-year-old Guy is set to strike up a fearsome partnership with fellow-loanee James Constable.

Strong, quick and superb at playing on the shoulder of the last defender, Guy has hit seven goals in pre-season – but will miss the first three weeks with a hamstring injury.

2. MICHAEL POKE, Goalkeeper (Southampton – Torquay United, loan)

THE 23-year-old conceded just one goal in six games while on loan at Plainmoor last year and is viewed as one of Saints’ hottest prospects. The lack of a regular No1 arguably cost the Gulls promotion, but with solid pros like Chris Todd and Steve Woods in defence, Poke looks set to shine.

3. ROB WOLLEASTON, Midfield (Cambridge United – Rushden & Diamonds, undisclosed)

A STRONG, skilful midfielder with a great eye for a pass, Wolleaston was the engine room of Jimmy Quinn’s side last year.

The 28-year-old made over 50 starts for the U’s, playing in almost every minute of their league campaign and scoring seven times along the way.

Perhaps not the most eye-catching of Rushden’s summer signings, but certainly one of the shrewdest.

4. GREG PEARSON, Centre forward (Bishop’s Stortford – Burton Albion, undisclosed)

PEARSON’S tally of 25 goals last term saw him named Blue Square South player of the year and finish the season as joint-top scorer with Lewes’ Paul Booth.

With 42 goals in 64 games at Step 2, the 23-year-old’s pedigree is not in doubt and he should get close to Daryl Clare’s haul of 25 last year.

Rejected a deal with League Two Notts County to join the Brewers.

5. LEWIS HALDANE, Right/left midfield (Bristol Rovers – Oxford United, loan)

AT HOME up front or on the flanks, Haldane is a fleet-footed, direct and skilful winger who gets fans on their feet and ties full-backs in knots.

Snapped up from Rovers, where he scored 15 times in 147 games, expect the 23-year-old to form a potent attacking quartet with Guy, Constable and Yemi Odubade.

Has already hit three goals in pre-season and gave a young Man Utd defence nightmares.

6. MARK ALBRIGHTON, Centre-back (Cambridge United – Stevenage Borough, nominal fee)

SOLID, strong and vastly experienced, Albrighton was the rock on which Cambridge’s play-off charge was built.

The 32-year-old made 45 appearances for a U’s defence which conceded just 41 goals last year – the lowest number in the entire league.

Signed by Graham Westley this summer, who immediately made him his captain.

7. CHRIS McPHEE, Right back, midfield, centre forward (Ebbsfleet – Weymouth, out of contract)

FLEET’S FA Trophy hero is that priceless commodity for a manager – a jack of all trades and master of most.

Expect to see the 25-year-old at right-back, across the midfield and even up top. A metronome of a player, McPhee never stops running and also has an eye for goal, finding the net five times for Fleet last year.

8. GARETH SEDDON, Centre forward (Hyde United – Kettering Town, undisclosed)

SEDDON came to the game late, quitting the RAF at the age of 21 to join Bury.

Now 28, he is probably reaching his peak. Troubled by arthritis early on, the striker is fully fit and has finished as top scorer in Blue Square North two years on the spin.

Fifty-eight goals in 80 games for Hyde made him Northwich boss Dino Maamria’s top summer target but their loss is Kettering’s gain.

9. MICHAEL GASH, Centre forward (Cambridge City – Ebbsfleet, £20,000)

DESCRIBED by former Grays manager Justin Edinburgh as the best striker outside the Blue Square Premier, 21-year-old Gash smashed 27 goals for City last term.

Quick, skilful and good at holding the ball, Gash should complement the brute force of his Ebbsfleet strike partner John Akinde perfectly.

10. KYLE CRITCHELL, Right back (Weymouth – Wrexham, nominal fee)

A FORMER Welsh Under-21 international, 21-year-old Critchell came through the youth ranks at Southampton before a ruptured cruciate ligament halted his career.

Struggled to recapture his form after moving to Weymouth last term but looked back to his best as the Terras went unbeaten in their last six to beat the drop.

STUART HAMMONDS' TOP TEN TRANSFERS

1. James Constable (Shrewsbury to Oxford, loan)
2. Alan Marriott (Lincoln to Rushden)
3. Andy Parkinson (Notts County to Cambridge)
4. Greg Pearson (Bishop’s Stortford to Burton)
5. Darren Wrack (Walsall to Kettering)
6. Michael Poke (Southampton to Torquay, loan)
7. Darran Kempson (Shrewsbury to Wrexham)
8. Chris McPhee (Ebbsfleet to Weymouth)
9. Anthony Thomas (Barnet to Stevenage)
10. Lewis Killeen (Halifax Town to Crawley)

JOHN LYONS' TOP TEN TRANSFERS

1. Michael Poke (Southampton to Torquay United, loan)
2. Lewis Haldane (Bristol Rovers to Oxford United, loan)
3. Danny Cullip (Gillingham to Lewes)
4. Sagi Burton (Barnet to Rushden & Diamonds)
5. Michael Gash (Cambridge City to Ebbsfleet United)
6. Jamie Guy (Colchester United to Oxford United, loan)
7. Rob Wolleaston (Cambridge United to Rushden & D)
8. Adam Bartlett (Blyth Spartans to Kidderminster Harriers)
9. Steve Fletcher (Chesterfield to Crawley Town)
10. Jamie Taylor (Dagenham & Redbridge to Grays Athletic)

CLUB BY CLUB TRANSFER ACTIVITY

ALTRINCHAM

In: Kevin Street (Stafford), Dale Johnson (Hyde), Anthony Danylyk (Leek Town), Chris Denham (Droylsden), Matt Doughty (Halifax), Alex Meechan (Stalybridge), Lee Elam (Exeter), Andy Ralph (Vauxhall Motors), Mark McGregor (Port Vale).

Out: Stephen Aspinall (Colwyn Bay), Carlos Roca (FC United), Darren Tinson (Nantwich), Jake Sedgemore (Solihull Moors), Pat McFadden (Vauxhall Motors), Gary Scott, Stephen Rose (Ashton Utd), Richard Acton.

BARROW
In: Lee Hunt (Rhyl), Ashley Winn (Stalybridge), Mike Pearson (Oldham), Aaron Taylor (Workington), Carlos Logan (unattached).

Out: None.

BURTON ALBION

In: Jody Banim (Droylsden), Matt Bailey (Wolves - loan), Greg Pearson (Bishop’s Stortford), Jake Buxton (Mansfield).

Out: Mark Greaves (York), Dave Farrell (Boston), Jake Edwards, Daryl Clare (Rushden), Oliver Hancock (Gresley), Tom Liversage (Gresley), Sam Hall (Hednesford), Matt Williams (Rhyl), Leon Ashman (Leek).

CAMBRIDGE UNITED

In: Lee McEvilly (Accrington), Paul Carden (Accrington - player asst.manager), Anthony Tonkin (Forest Green), Andy Parkinson (Notts County), Phil Bolland (Wrexham), Jon Challinor (Rushden), Chris Jones (Swansea), Felino Jardim.

Out: Stephen Smith, Sam Cutler (Weymouth), Daniel Chillingworth, Mark Peters (King’s Lynn), Leo Fortune-West (Alfreton), Michael Hyem (Bishop’s Stortford), Scott Rendell (Peterborough), Mark Albrighton (Stevenage), Rob Wolleaston (Rushden), Lee Boylan (Stevenage), Michael Morrison (Leicester), Stephen Reed (Weymouth).

CRAWLEY TOWN

In: Steve Fletcher (Chesterfield), Chris Giles (Forest Green), Sam Rents (Brighton), Lewis Killeen (Halifax), Simon Weatherstone (Weymouth), Danny Forrest (Halifax), Jake Wright (Halifax), Simon Rayner (Torquay), Nick Morgan (Braintree), Isaiah Rankin (Stevenage).

Out: Ashley Bayes (Stevenage), Paul Watson (Bognor Regis Town), James Krause, Lee Blackburn (Welling), Pierre Joseph-Dubois (Weymouth), Tyrone Thompson (Torquay), Magno Vieira (Wycombe).

EASTBOURNE BOROUGH

In: Simon Wormull (Lewes), Jean-Michel Sigere (Lewes), Mo Harkin (Havant), Chris Winterton (Brighton).

Out: Scott Ramsay (Hastings), Adam Wilde (Sutton), Robbie Kember (Hampton & R).

EBBSFLEET UNITED

In: Craig Stone (Gillingham), Darius Charles (Brentford - season long loan), Ricky Shakes (Brentford), Michael Gash (Cambridge City), Kezie Ibe (Chelmsford), Dean Pooley.

Out: Michael Bostwick (Stevenage), Raphael Nade, Chukki Eribenne (Sutton), Liam Coleman, Lee Maskell (Ramsgate), Ronnie Bull, Chris McPhee (Weymouth), Dan Stubbs (Margate), Grant Duff (Sittingbourne).

FOREST GREEN ROVERS

In: Andy Mangan (Bury), Conal Platt (Weymouth), Lee Fowler (Newport), Kaid Mohamed (Swindon), Lee Molyneaux (Cirencester Town), Michael Symons (Cleveden Town), Christopher Thomas (Carmarthen Town).

Out: Danny Carey-Bertram, Lee Dodgson, Chris Giles (Crawley), Anthony Tonkin (Cambridge U), Lorcan Sheehan, Michael Brough (Torquay), Stuart Fleetwood (Charlton).

GRAYS ATHLETIC

In: Stuart Elliott (York), Ishmael Welsh (Yeovil), Mark Haines (Northampton), Mark Molesley (Stevenage), Charlie Ide (Brentford), Rob Gier (Aldershot), Jamie Taylor (Dagenham), Steve Arnold (Norwich), Stefan Bailey (QPR), Sam Sloma (Dagenham), Barry Cogan (Gillingham), Kenny Davis (Harlow Town), Fabian Wilnis (Ipswich), Alex Campana (Watford).

Out: Ben Watson (Exeter), Jake Whincup, Michael Standing (Lewes), Danny Knowles (Weymouth), Cameron Mawer (Weymouth), Charley Hearn, Neil McCafferty (Finn Harps), Aaron O'Connor, Andy Sambrook (Fisher), Scott Taylor (Lewes).

HISTON

In: Damien Reeves (Farsley), Lanre Oyebanjo (Brentford).

Out: Neil Kennedy (reserve team manager), Matt Hanniver (Cambridge City), Roscoe Hipperson (Bury Town).

KETTERING TOWN

In: Dwane Lee (Maidenhead), Nathan Smith (Stafford), Darren Wrack (Walsall), Gareth Seddon (Hyde), Exodus Geohaghan (Redditch - one month loan), Alfie Potter (Peterborough - loan to December).

Out: David Bridges (Stevenage), Gary Mills (Stevenage), Craig Westcarr (Stevenage), Anthony Robinson (Worcester City), Andy Hall (Hinckley), Nick Bussey (Halesowen), Sam Shilton, Ashley Lawrence (Stamford).

KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS

In: Darryl Knights (Yeovil), Luke Jones (Shewsbury), Adam Bartlett (Blyth Spartans), David McDermott (Walsall), Sam Foley (Cheltenham Town), Martin Brittain (Walsall), Martin Riley (Wolves).

Out: Jon Munday, Michael Blackwood (Mansfield), Johnny Harkness (Linfield), Gavin Hurren, Chris MacKenzie (Hinckley), Iyseden Christie (Stevenage).

LEWES

In: Chris Breach (Bognor), Seb Wallis-Taylor (Bognor), Chamal Fenelon (Havant), Tom Graves (Horsham), Rikki Banks (Worthing), Michael Standing (Grays), James Fraser (Bristol Rovers - loan), Scott Taylor (Grays), Ollie Burgess (Burgess Hill), Matt Geard (Horsham), Jamie Keenan (Worthing), Danny Cullip (Gillingham), Zac Beda (Brighton).

Out: Ian Simpemba (Havant), Dale Binns (Maidenhead), Andy Drury (Stevenage), Simon Wormull (Eastbourne), Paul Booth (Havant), Gary Holloway (Havant), Jamie Cade (Tonbridge), Matt Groves (Eastleigh), Leon Legge (Tonbridge), Jay Conroy (Havant), Tom Davis (AFC Wimbledon), Jean-Michel Sigere (Eastbourne), Paul Kennett (Worthing), Stuart Robinson, Steve Robinson (Chelmsford), Shawn Beveney (Cray), Lewis Hamilton (Tonbridge).

MANSFIELD TOWN

In: Mark Stallard (Lincoln), Michael Blackwood (Kidderminster), Adie Moses (Lincoln), Jason Lee (Notts County), Gary Silk (Notts County), Matt Somner (Notts County), Alex Jeannin (Oxford), Paddy Gamble (Nottingham Forest)

Out: Jefferson Louis (Wrexham), Lee Bell (Macclesfield), Martin McIntosh (Alfreton), Simon Brown (Wrexham), Matthew Hamshaw (Notts County), Ian Holmes (Eastwood Town), Dan Martin (Tamworth), Carl Muggleton, Danny Sleath, Jonny Mullins (Stockport), Alex John Baptiste (Blackpool), Gareth Jelleyman (Rushden), Michael Boulding (Bradford), Rory Boulding (Bradford), Jake Buxton (Burton).

NORTHWICH VICTORIA

In: Mark Roberts (Accrington), Richie Sutton (Stafford), Chris Flynn (Stafford), Paul Barratt (Southport), Matt Bailey (Crewe), Michael Jones (Wrexham).

Out: Keith Barker, Michael Bowler, Cane Handley, Jake Speight, Josh Wilson (Leigh RMI), Nat Kerr, Michael Byrne, Luke Horrocks, Michael Carr (Morecambe), Danny Meadowcroft, Ben Connett, Cortez Belle.

OXFORD UNITED

In: Joe Burnell (Northampton), Chris Carruthers (Bristol Rovers), Lewis Haldane (Bristol Rovers - season long loan), James Constable (Shrewsbury - season long loan), Jamie Guy (Colchester - season long loan), Jake Cole (QPR - 3 month loan), Ben Hinchcliffe (Derby), Michael Husbands, Levi Reid.

Out: Craig McAllister (Exeter), Carl Pettefer, Danny Rose (Newport), Rob Duffy (Newport), Eddie Anaclet (Stevenage), Ben Weedon (Oxford City), Aaron Posey (Oxford City), Joel Ledgister (Weymouth), Alex Fisher (Bognor Regis).

RUSHDEN & DIAMONDS

In: Daryl Clare (Burton), Lee Phillips (Torquay), Rob Wolleaston (Cambridge), Scott Mitchell (Peterborough), Curtis Osano (Reading), Dean McDonald (Inverness), Alan Marriott (Lincoln), Jamie McGuiness (Luton), Sagi Burton (Barnet), Gareth Jelleyman (Mansfield).

Out: Dean Howell (Aldershot), Paul Nicholls (Sutton), Andy Gooding, Alex Bolt, Abdou El-Kholti (Woking), Tom Shaw, Lawrence Lambley, Ben Nunn.

SALISBURY CITY

In: Rob Sinclair (Luton), Djoumin Sangare (Stafford).

Out: Luke Prince, Craig Richards, Jon Beswetherick, Nick Eastham (Bashley), Joe Fisher (Bashley), Chris Weedon, Lewis Benson, Ollie Barnes (Worcester City), Danny Clay (Dorchester), Jamie Barron (Andover), Marvin Brown (Weston-super-Mare).

STEVENAGE BOROUGH

In: Ashley Bayes (Crawley), David Bridges (Kettering), Gary Mills (Kettering), Eddie Anaclet (Oxford), Craig Westcarr (Kettering), Andy Drury (Lewes), Anthony Thomas (Barnet), Michael Bostwick (Ebbsfleet), Mark Albrighton (Cambridge), Iyseden Christie (Kidderminster), Lee Boylan (Cambridge), Luke Cole (Exeter).

Out: Isaiah Rankin (Crawley), Tes Bramble, Jamie Eames, Junior Lewis (Wycombe first team coach), Alistair John, Ollie Allen, Alan Julian (Gillingham), Damien Batt, Tyrone Berry, Mark Molesley (Grays), Sammy Moore (Dover), Santos Gaia (Weymouth), Wayne O'Sullivan (Braintree), Mark Arber (Dagenham), Fred Murray, Ashley Westwood.

TORQUAY UNITED

In: Michael Brough (Forest Green), Tyrone Thompson (Crawley), Wayne Carlisle (Exeter), Nicky Wroe (York), Matt Green (Cardiff), Lee Hodges (Plymouth), Mustapha Carayol (MK Dons), Michael Poke (Southampton - season long loan).

Out: Tony Bedeau, Matt Hockley (Truro City), Darren Mullings, Paul Hinshelwood, Lee Phillips (Rushden), Kevin Hill (Dorchester), Simon Rayner (Crawley).

WEYMOUTH

In: Ryan Williams (Aldershot), Josh Webb (Reading), Sam Cutler (Cambridge), Santos Gaia (Stevenage), Pierre Joseph-Dubois (Crawley), Adam Bygrave (Reading), Danny Knowles (Grays), Cameron Mawer (Grays), Chris McPhee (Ebbsfleet), Kevin Sandwith (Chester), Stephen Reed (Cambridge).

Out: Franklin Anzite, Nick Crittenden (Dorchester), Stuart Douglas (Bath City), Simon Weatherstone (Crawley), Justyn Roberts, Trevor Challis (Eastleigh), David Roberts, Jon Stewart, Conal Platt (Forest Green), Paolo Vernazza (Woking), Michael Malcolm, Kyle Critchell (Wrexham), Sido Jombarti (Basingstoke).

WOKING

In: Manny Williams (Maidenhead), Abdou El-Kholti (Rushden), Joel Ledgister (Oxford), Paolo Vernazza (Weymouth), Adekunle Salau, Colin Miles.

Out: Marvin Morgan (Aldershot), Jay Gasson (Havant), Jason Norville, Adam Green, Matt Ruby, Jerome Maledon, Matt Gray.

WREXHAM

In: Jefferson Louis (Mansfield), Simon Brown (Mansfield), Shaun Whalley (Accrington), Tom Kearney (Halifax), Kyle Critchell (Weymouth), Nat Brown (Lincoln), Darran Kempson (Shrewsbury).

Out: Neil Roberts (Rhyl), Chris Llewellyn (Grimsby), Danny Williams, Mike Carvill, Alex Darlington (TNS), Jamie Reed (Rhyl), Michael Jones (Northwich), Mark Jones (Peterborough), Jeff Whitley, Phil Bolland (Cambridge), Matty Done (Hereford), Richard Hope (Grimsby), Lee Jones (NEWI Cefn Druids).

YORK CITY

In: Michael Ingham (Hereford), Mark Greaves (Burton), Steven Hogg (Gretna), Ben Wilkinson (Hull), Niall Henderson (Raith), Daniel McBreen (Scunthorpe), Artur Krysiak (Birmingham City - loan).

Out: Stuart Elliott (Grays), Tom Evans (Alfreton), Darren Craddock (Newcastle Blue Star), Manny Panther (Exeter), Anthony Lloyd (Guiseley), Ross Greenwood (Gainsborough Trinity), Alex Rhodes, Danny Stimpson, Nicky Wroe (Torquay).