As the curtain fell upon another January transfer window, a new squad of City heroes in waiting emerge to banish the nightmares of a squad built by he who shall not be named.

As the curtain fell upon another January transfer window, a new squad of City heroes in waiting emerge to banish the nightmares of a squad built by he who shall not be named. Monday saw a few old faces leave, the improving Omozusi back to Fulham, sporadic David Bell to Coventry, and the petulant Arturo Lupoli to Sheffield United, where hoping he can finally find his mettle.

Lupoli on his way North may cross ways with his replacements, the final nail in the coffin of his meandering loan spell. Old firm strikers Alan Gow and Chris Killen are both young men with points to prove to their respective home clubs. Completing Bryan Gunn's squad in Australian international David Carney, defender Adrian Leijer and the non-league striker, worrying labelled as “prolific”, Cody McDonald.

The Antipodean make up of the new recruits was lost on no-one, and is proof that Ian Crook has been making friends and influencing people during his time in the land down under. Here is hoping Australian's Carney and Leijer, together with New Zealand's Killen will bring a sunny disposition to a team that can so easily let their heads drop.

The main problem for Bryan Gunn is, of course, how to strike the right balance with so many new faces. Gunn, to my mind needs a lynchpin to build a new team around, a leader on the pitch who can enact footballing clich�s at the drop of a boot: lead by example, let his football do the talking and wear green and yellow with pride. I'm talking of course of the much maligned role of captain.

Ever since injuries began to blight the career of Adam Drury, the captain's armband began to be passed around like a hot potato, eventually falling, more by bad luck than judgement onto the arm of poor Mark Fotheringham. Now Fozzy bashing will not be entertained here, especially since I think he has had some excellent games of late, but a change at the top is still needed.

Fozzy is tainted by his apparent proximity to a certain former manager, so Gunn needs to stamp his desires for the team on the position of captain just as much as he needed to bring in fresh players. My candidate would be the new Big Sam, Sammy Clingan. His calm and consistent brand of football is, in my mind perfectly suited to the charge of uniting a team.

Lets hope - aren't we good at hoping - that Clingan and Co can silence us whinging poms once and for all.

OLIVER CLIFFORD