Forest Green Rovers host Barnet at The New Lawn on Saturday as one of the most-fancied sides in the Conference once more.

The Nailsworth outfit are often talked about as one of the division’s big spenders – something their recent recruitment bears testament to.

Having failed to guide the Green to promotion in four years at the helm, former Leeds United manager Dave Hockaday was removed from his post last November and succeeded by Ady Pennock, in just his second managerial role and his first for six years.

The 43-year-old former Gillingham defender is charged with succeeding where Hockaday failed: leading the Gloucestershire outfit into the Football League for the first time in their 125-year history.

And, after a start which saw Rovers win their first three Conference fixtures everything looked rosy. A run of five without a win quickly put paid to any ideas of an easy ride, though, and after collecting six points from their last seven, the Green sit in ninth place – two points outside of the play-offs.

There can be little doubt the former Welling United manager has the wherewithal to achieve the club’s ultimate aim; with high-profile signings such as Lee Hughes, Jon Parkin and Danny Coles bringing a wealth of Football League experience to The New Lawn.

Hughes (38) and Parkin (32) have both hit the ground running, netting four goals apiece. However, that has not stopped Pennock dipping into the loan market this week to secure the services of Newport County forward Christian Jolley on a month’s loan.

More surprising still is the fact that Barnet cult hero Clovis Kamdjo – a centre-half-cum-central midfielder during his time with the Bees – has been employed as a makeshift centre-forward in recent weeks.

The 23-year-old Cameroonian made 130 appearances in all competitions as a Bee, before leaving Underhill for Salisbury City at the end of the 2012/13 season. Snapped up by the Green following Salisbury’s demotion, the Cameroon Under-17 cap has scored twice in ten games for his new side.

Kamdjo’s impressive showings up front reduced Hughes to the role of substitute in the 2-1 win over Dartford last Saturday, despite the former West Bromwich Albion and Coventry City frontman returning from a three-match ban for his sending-off against Wrexham.

Sentenced to six years imprisonment for causing death by dangerous driving in August 2004, Hughes returned to the professional game with Oldham Athletic in 2007, after serving just three years of his sentence.

After hitting 25 in 51 league starts, Hughes moved to Notts County and netted a further 59 in 98 league starts for the Magpies, en-route to the League Two title.

In 2013, Hughes secured another promotion, helping Port Vale reach League One by finishing in third place in League Two. However, after 13 goals in 19 starts for the Valiants, he was released and joined Rovers in January this year.

Also among the club’s plentiful striking options are ex-Welling United youngster Kurtis Guthrie and former New York Red Bulls hitman Luke Rodgers – who is yet to make a league start after featuring five times as a substitute.

At the back, former Bristol Rovers and Exeter City defender Coles joined the club after an ill-advised comment on Twitter brought his time at St James’ Park to an abrupt end.

Stripped of the club’s captaincy, Coles was transfer-listed and fined two weeks’ wages before moving to The New Lawn.

His partner at the heart of the backline is former Bradford City man-mountain, Luke Oliver. The 6ft 7in centre-back moved to Forest Green in February after four years and more than 100 appearances for the Bantams.

The defender has previously turned out for Wycombe Wanderers and Stevenage, where he worked under Peter Taylor – the man who brought him to Valley Parade in 2010.

Likely Forest Green Rovers XI: Russell; Pipe (c), Coles, Oliver, Stokes; Sinclair, Kelly, Norwood, Wedgbury; Kamdjo, Parkin.

To read a preview of Saturday's clash at The New Lawn, click here.