Poland raises the standard

Licensing system
The Polish Football Federation (PZPN) imposed a new licensing system on top-flight clubs this summer, to prepare them for the extension of UEFA's club licensing system into Poland next year. Consequently, the close season saw clubs struggling to get their often dilapidated stadiums up to scratch, reduce their debts and get into a position where they could guarantee their finances for the coming campaign.

Successful battle
Only three clubs managed to fulfil the licensing criteria without too much pain - Groclin Grodzisk Wielkopolski, Wisla Plock and KS Amica Wronki. All the rest - including giants Wisla Kraków and Legia Warszawa - were working up until the last minute. However, to the surprise of many, all the clubs managed to get their licence - even Widzew Lódz, despite declared debts of €7m.

Improved facilities
The main beneficiaries of all this work could be the supporters, with clubs being ordered to raise standards at their stadiums. Newly promoted Górnik Polkowice and GKS Górnik Leczna have promised to install floodlights within the next few weeks, while Legia Warzawa have agreed a deal to share their Wojska Polskiego ground with KP Polonia Warszawa and Swit Nowy Dwor Mazowiecki.

Swit scandal
That Swit are in the Ekstraklasa at all is a surprise. The club's relegation/promotion play-off against Garbarnia Szczakowianka Jaworzno, which Swit lost 3-1 on aggregate, was recently awarded to the second division team after the PZPN upheld claims that Garbarnia had tried to fix the match by bribing opponents. Despite an appeal, Garbarnia will start the season in the second tier with minus ten points.

Players transferred
If the summer has seen Polish football put its house in order to some extent, it has been at a cost, and the Ekstraklasa will miss some quality players. Legia's Cezary Kucharski has left for Greece's Iraklis FC, while champions Wisla have lost Marcin Kuzba to Olymiacos CFP and Kamil Kosowski to 1. FC Kaiserslautern.

Polish favourites
However, Polish fans will still get to see Wisla goal machine Maciej Zurawski in action as they aim to defend their title, although he may be competing with Pawel Kryszalowicz in the scoring charts after the Polish international returned from Germany to join Amica Wronki. With Wisla due to face RSC Anderlecht in the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round, supporters may also have the excitement of seeing the first Polish team in the competition's group stages since 1996.

On the up
There are many contenders for the domestic crown this season, but with its new licensing system in place, Poland can look forward in the hope that its clubs will soon be able to match their European neighbours on and off the park.