'In The Light Of Dawn', as they say

It was two months ago (take one day) and almost to the minute that I fell back in my Wembley seat, aghast at the exquisite finish delivered by Hull's Dean Windass, which all but ended City's promotion push at the final hurdle. 60 days on, the pain has been completely erased. Some refreshing summer signings, the ability to view our season perceptively, as a whole, and a fresh sense of optimism ahead of the new campaign does wonders for the mind.

It was this morning confirmed that City have had a bid accepted for Coventry's Michael Mifsud, a striker with immense pace and finishing, best known for his brace to send Manchester United from the Carling Cup at Old Trafford last season. A season tally of 17 goals may not seem breathtaking, but 14 of these came before strike partner Dele Adebola, coincidentally now at City, departed in January. A striker of his calibre and with quick feet is something we've lacked since the times of young Leroy Lita.

Then, of course, there is the Emad Meteb saga. Rumoured to be joining for weeks, the Egyptian press got their hands on a fax from City chief-executive Colin Sextone putting in a bid for the striker, and were assured he would be joining us from early July. Only late last week did he finally make his way over to England to pose for a photograph, before heading straight back to Al-Ahly's base to "say goodbye to the fans", during their derby game with Zamalek this past Sunday. Little did we know that Meteb was to start and complete the match, a 2-1 Ahly victory. The news filtered back to Johnson HQ, and now Egyptian media are considering the deal potentially over.

Still, there is solace in the signing of Gavin Williams, a central midfielder from Ipswich, who Michael McIndoe rated as "one of the best players he has accompianed" and a Yeovil supporting friend of a friend rates as better than Macca. Wow, he can't be bad then. Even Magilton was unahppy at losing him.

So there is much to be excited about for next season. We hit the ground running last time around and had it not been for a major blip in April we would be contemplating Premiership football for the first time in our history. Not at all bad for a team who barely 2 years ago languished in the relegation zone of League One.

Onwards and upwards, again.