ONE title, one promotion, three managerial changes, two changes of chairman, two supporter demonstrations and three players dropped for missing the bus - last season was just another nine months in the weird and wonderful world of North-East football.

Sunderland and Hartlepool celebrated, Middlesbrough and Darlington trod water, and supporters of Newcastle merely acknowledged that they'd seen it all before.

But after a summer of almost unprecedented activity, what will the new season hold in store for the region's five professional clubs? If nothing else, it might be wise to expect the unexpected.

Newcastle supporters have been doing that for long enough now but, with the Freddy Shepherd era finally consigned to the history books, the Geordie faithful are approaching tomorrow's kickoff with even more optimism than usual.

Sam Allardyce has arrived pledging to overhaul the entire ethos of a club that has lived from hand to mouth for far too long now and, on the evidence of his summer spending policy, a more pragmatic approach already appears to be taking root at St James' Park.

The Magpies might have spent £21m this summer but whereas in the past that sum might have been squandered on two unproven continental attackers, Allardyce can point to seven new faces as proof of his transfer-market nous.

Mark Viduka and Alan Smith have arrived with proven Premier League ability, while Joey Barton, once he recovers from a broken foot, and Geremi should bolster a midfield that has been shorn of Scott Parker.

Significantly, Allardyce has also addressed a defensive deficiency that has long been Newcastle's Achilles heel, signing Jose Enrique, David Rozehnal and Cacapa to provide some much-needed depth at the back.

The Michael Owen injury saga continues to provide a cloud on the horizon - things might look even bleaker if Obafemi Martins departs before the transfer window swings shut - and it remains to be seen whether Newcastle fans are prepared to tolerate Allardyce's preferred long-ball tactics.

Provided key players stay fit, though, the Magpies should be back in the European shake-up by the end of the campaign.

Middlesbrough are also attempting to rekindle former continental glories, but the mood on Teesside is far gloomier following a frustrating summer in the transfer market.

If last year was a transition season for rookie boss Gareth Southgate, this could well be the campaign that makes or breaks him.

Viduka's departure to Newcastle was an early summer blow and, while the arrival of Jeremie Aliadiere and Tuncay Sanli will ensure that Boro boast attacking pace, something they have lacked for quite a while now, goals could be at a premium if Ayegbeni Yakubu fails to find his form.

Retaining the African has proved quite a coup, but Southgate will need to handle him carefully if he is to get the best out of him this season.

Any defence containing Jonathan Woodgate is likely to impress and, despite their earlyseason injury problems, the arrival of full-back Luke Young should ensure that the Teessiders remain difficult to break down. They might have to be, and another season of consolidation looks to be the best that Boro can hope for.

Consolidation for Sunderland would mean Premier League survival but, while much of the optimism that accompanied last season's Championship triumph still remains, Roy Keane's failure to attract world-class names to the Stadium of Light has led to an attack of the jitters.

Are the likes of Michael Chopra, Greg Halford and Dickson Etuhu really that much better than the players Mick McCarthy brought in two summers ago?

Probably. But even if they aren't, Keane's motivational skills and the momentum that carried the Black Cats into the top-flight should still be enough to guarantee at least survival.

A strong start is imperative and, after impressing in the Championship last season, the likes of Nyron Nosworthy, Carlos Edwards and Daryl Murphy will have to prove that they have the ability to step up to Premier League level.

It isn't going to be the cakewalk that some were predicting, but Sunderland's squad should be more than strong enough to ensure that Keane's first season in the topflight is far more enjoyable than the Black Cats' last one.

Hartlepool will also kick off this campaign buoyed by last season's promotion success, and Danny Wilson has been busy bolstering the squad that almost claimed the League Two title three months ago.

Former Tranmere and Leeds striker Ian Moore is a proven performer at Championship level, while Liverpool loanee Godwin Antwi could prove one of the signings of the summer if he brings a touch of Premier League class to Victoria Park.

The loss of inspirational goalkeeper Dimi Konstantopoulos was undoubtedly a blow, but his replacement, Jan Budtz, is highly-rated and Pools should be more than strong enough to cement their position in the third tier.

Wilson underlined his managerial abilities by shaking off the effects of a slow start last season and, if Pools were to make the play-off picture, something that is hardly out of the equation, the club's toughest test next summer could be holding on to their boss.

Darlington will hope to have joined their rivals in League One by then and, after a succession of disappointments, this should be the season when they finally live up to their billing as one of League Two's promotion favourites.

Dave Penney has delivered his verdict on David Hodgson's squad-building programme by signing an entirely new team, and few of Darlington's rivals can match their new-found strength in depth.

The capture of Pawel Abbott is quite a coup given the Polish striker's scoring record during his time at Huddersfield, and defender Steve Foster has arrived from Scunthorpe with a proven track record at a higher level.

Darlington being Darlington, something will no doubt go wrong, but Penney's down-toearth approach should at least guarantee that the Quakers avoid the kind of explosive controversies that have dogged them in the past.