Football Season Guide

De Graafschap have seen a host of changes at the club over the summer and are set to have a new outlook for the upcoming season. Adrie Poldervaart is the new head coach after serving as assistant at FC Groningen last season. The club missed out on promotion to the Eredivisie last season, losing against Eindhoven in the play-offs. A poor run of form to end the regular season did not help in their hunt for promotion. Former captain Ted van de Pavert has left the club in what will be the biggest change at the back, whilst fellow centre-back Jasper van Heertum has also left the club. Julian Lelieveld has also left the club, a regular starter from last season, in what are the main defensive changes. Former Manchester United defender Alexander Buttner joins the side from RKC Waalwijk, whilst Jan Lammers, Rio Hillen, Robin Schouten and Xandro Schenk also join the club in a new-look defence. There have also been a lot of changes in the midfield, with former regular Danny Verbeek leaving the club, whilst a number of squad players in the midfield have also departed. The experienced Siem de Jong has joined the club from Heerenveen to offer some attacking support and Lion Kaak will provide some defensive stability in the midfield. De Graafschap have also promoted a number of youth players so expect them to feature throughout the campaign here. They will begin their hunt for promotion once more this season, with making the play-offs being a necessity.