The most notable departures saw goalkeeper Kris Robertson, defender Gary Wilson, midfielder Zander Ryan and strikers Alan Waddell and Robert Downs move to arch-rivals Pollok.

DR Congolese midfielder Jean Paul Kamudimba Kalala, former left back and home grown talent Gary Croft and Steve Mildenhall but to name a few were signed in the summer of 2005.

After relegation to the First Division, Dunfermline lost two of their main players in goalkeeper Dorus de Vries who signed for Welsh side Swansea City and midfielder Gary Mason who opted to stay in the SPL with St. Mirren.

In June 2010, veteran midfielder Andy Heald was installed as player-coach, while July 2010 saw Gary Scott, another ex-Leigh player and former Altrincham team mate of Maddox's, appointed as assistant manager and Richard Ward as a coaching assistant.

His first action as manager was to replace captain Paul Butler and his vice-captain Gary Kelly with the feisty, hard-tackling midfielder Kevin Nicholls, along with Shaun Derry as his deputy.

The papers quoted Wolves midfielder Danny Hegan and former Leeds United goalkeeper Gary Sprake's claims that Revie's captain Billy Bremner had tried to arrange a bribe.

* Gary Silk ( footballer ), English right-back and defensive midfielder

With a squad featuring a pony-tailed goalkeeper ( based on David Seaman ); Kevin Tonkinson, an alcoholic Mackem ( based on Paul Gascoigne ); Rufus Smalls, a striker going through a very poor run of form ( based on Andy Cole ); Steve Harper, a playboy midfielder ( based on David Beckham ) and Gary Wackett, an extremely aggressive centre-back ( based on Stuart Pearce / Vinnie Jones ); he plays an old-fashioned 4-4-2 formation and attempts to bring football back to where it belongs.

In November 2008 he received high acclaim from the Bolton manager Gary Megson who stated that the midfielder was playing some of the best football of his career since moving to the Reebok Stadium.

In November 2007 he came out of retirement to become the new chief scout at Bolton Wanderers who were managed by former Everton midfielder Gary Megson at the time.

Gary James Holt ( born 9 March 1973 in Irvine, Ayrshire ) is a Scottish defensive midfielder and a former Scottish International player, who received 10 caps and scored 1 goal.

Albion players with Football League connections include Barry Holmes who went to Halifax Town, Gary Brook who joined Newport County in 1987, Steve Downes who joined Grimbsy Town, former Swansea City player Paul Raynor played for Albion at the end of his career, as did former Huddersfield Town defender Rob Edwards, ex-Cambridge United striker Micky Norbury and Fulham midfielder Robert Wilson.

After the appointment of ex-Rochdale midfielder Steve O ' Shaughnessy in the summer of 2001, the Ancients experienced their best results since the halcyon Welsh Cup days of the late 19th century and early 20th century.

Former midfielder Waynne Phillips took the job in a caretaker role and continued on a permanent player / manager basis in 2004 – 05, but results did not really improve over his two seasons in charge and he stepped down in June 2007, to be replaced by former and manager Steve O ' Shaughnessy.

Despite this, O ' Leary once again avoided any risk of relegation and signed AC Milan's international defender Martin Laursen, highly rated Chelsea prodigy Carlton Cole and acclaimed French midfielder Mathieu Berson, while still restricted by a tight budget imposed by chairman Doug Ellis.

Also, in what seemed like something of a recurring trend, Kovalenko was again involved in a Dallas Burn injury, when another late tackle broke Burn midfielder Ronnie O ' Brien's leg, causing him to miss most of the regular season.

O ' Neil started the 2009 – 10 season as Southgate's first choice central midfielder, with Julio Arca being dropped to the bench for the first matches of the season.

* Joey O ' Brien ( footballer ), West Ham United and Republic of Ireland midfielder.

( Gallagher admitting he ' cried like a baby ' when City won the Premier League title ) He is a friend of former City midfielder Joey Barton, as well as Celtic manager Neil Lennon and Italian striker Alessandro Del Piero, who described Gallagher as Italy's " lucky mascot " during the 2006 FIFA World Cup, and appears in the Oasis video " Lord Don't Slow Me Down ".

During his absence, United had been captained by fellow midfielder Neil Webb, but Robson regained the captain's armband on his return.

" Similar sentiments were expressed by Manchester City midfielder Neil Young, who recalled that " the only way to beat him with a shot in training was to mis-hit it ".

Ince became a strong presence in the United midfield alongside long serving captain Bryan Robson and ( when he wasn't out of the team injured ) fellow new midfielder Neil Webb.

It had been 26 years since their last top division title, and manager Alex Ferguson signed Kanchelskis in a bid to find an attacking right sided midfielder to give him a younger and quicker option to the older right sided midfielders like Mike Phelan, Neil Webb and the skilful but lightweight Russell Beardsmore.

These include the former Surrey cricketer David Ward, Colin Pates the former Chelsea and Arsenal defender, Neil Kendrick, the former Surrey spin bowler, and Steve Kember, the former Palace and Chelsea midfielder and manager at Selhurst Park.

Neil Grayson ( striker ) and Kevin Street ( midfielder ) were placed in temporary charge of the county town club as joint care taker managers.

In the same year, Brisbane Lion ( and former Bear ) midfielder Jason Akermanis won the league's highest individual honour, the Brownlow Medal.

In Major League Soccer, Valderrama scored relatively few goals ( 16 ) for a midfielder, but is the league's second all-time leader in assists ( 114 ) after Steve Ralston ( 121 ), a former teammate.

Nicknamed " The General ", Hird played as a midfielder and half forward, but was often given free rein by former Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy to play wherever he thought necessary.

Osvaldo César Ardiles ( born 3 August 1952 in Bell Ville, Córdoba Province ), often referred to in Britain as Ossie Ardiles, is a football coach, pundit and former midfielder who won the 1978 World Cup as part of the Argentine national team.

* Sean Thornton, midfielder Leyton Orient in England and former Republic Of Ireland under 21 national team.

The Milwaukee Bucks starting small forward, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, was born in Yaoundé in September 1986 as well as Toronto FC midfielder Nane Joseph and former striker Ali Gerba.

He replaced former FC Barcelona midfielder Víctor Muñoz, and also managed Adrián, helping the club avoid relegation in the last matchday, and renewing his contract for two more years in the following week ; he was relieved of his duties at the end of 2010 – 11, with the team again managing to stay afloat after finishing 16th, just one point clear of the relegation zone.

* Paul Smith ( footballer born 22 January 1976 ) ( born 1976 ), former Burnley, Hartlepool United and Sheffield Wednesday midfielder, currently with Sheffield F. C.

* Paul Smith ( footballer born 25 January 1976 ), former Lincoln City midfielder, currently with Glapwell

On Wednesday, 19 November 2008, QPR named former Portugal midfielder Paulo Sousa as their new first team coach.

* Kevin Jackson ( born 1978 ), former U. S. soccer midfielder who spent five seasons in the USL First Division and two in the Premier Development League.

* Chris Bahr – former NFL football ( placekicker ) and NASL soccer ( midfielder ) player

* Jérôme Leroy, former captain of RC Lens and current FC Sochaux midfielder in France

From a high of a fourth place league finish in 1989 – 90, Macclesfield Town's final standing diminished each season, and following a struggle against relegation in 1992 – 93, manager Peter Wragg was sacked, and replaced with former Manchester United midfielder Sammy McIlroy.

The team's head coach is former long-time starting midfielder Ben Olsen, who has coached the team since 2010.

Stan Ternent became Blackpool's seventh manager in nine years, only to be replaced in February 1980 by Alan Ball, the popular former Blackpool midfielder who left the club for Everton fourteen years earlier.

Worthington resigned towards the end of the 1999 – 2000 season, and his seat was filled by the former Liverpool and England midfielder Steve McMahon.

More changes came in the summer transfer window with the trade of Justin Mapp to Philadelphia, the acquisition of Mexican international striker Nery Castillo, and the trade for former Swedish international midfielder Fredrik Ljungberg.

Ian Michael " Chico " Hamilton ( born 31 October 1950 in Streatham ) is an English former footballer who played as a midfielder.

* Paul Lambert: Former Scotland, Celtic, Borussia Dortmund and St. Mirren midfielder and former Livingston and Wycombe Wanderers manager.

Steve McMahon, the former Everton and Liverpool FC midfielder, was born in Halewood.

* Peter Reid, former England national football team midfielder who played for clubs including Everton and has since worked in management for clubs including Manchester City and Sunderland.

In November 2010, Houllier signed 37-year-old former Arsenal midfielder Robert Pirès on a free transfer in an attempt to aid the club during its injury crisis.