The sheer misery of January has been replaced by a level of optimism not seen at London Road since the early 1990s.

Alan Swann recalls the highlights and lowlights of 2007.

More of: 2007: the year in review - news, sports, business, entertainment, photos, videos and the most read stories online.

Related: Mark Plummer looks back on a local sporting year.

JANUARY

POSH had three managers and no wins in the first month of the year. There appeared to be a better future at Northern Rock than London Road.

Posh started the year in seventh place, but they finished 2006 with four straight defeats. When four became six Keith Alexander was long-balled out of the club and replaced temporarily by Tommy Taylor and permanently by Darren Ferguson.

Only the appointment of Sir Alex Ferguson would have created a bigger shock. Ferguson junior appeared to be a gamble based on his genes and a telephone interview with chairman Darragh MacAnthony.

Posh bowed out of the FA Cup after a replay in Plymouth and extended their losing run to seven matches before gaining a home draw with Swindon.

Six new players arrived at the club including midfielder Micah Hyde who was reportedly being paid a club record £4,000 per week. "For that he'd better be a cross between Maradona and Platini," said one Posh fan.

The rest of the newcomers were from non-league football so few expected them to be any good. Posh finished the month in 13th place in League Two, their lowest position of the season so far.

Top quote: "I'm not saying there are too many miserable people around here, but moaning appears to be a club tradition," axed Posh boss Keith Alexander.

FEBRUARY

ALEXANDER'S theory about moaning was given credence by two extraordinary outbursts by Director of Football Barry Fry and chairman MacAnthony.

Fry became narked by new signing Craig Mackail-Smith appearing to hint that he would not be honouring his contract at Posh. 'Turn up or rot' was the gist of Fry's rant.

MacAnthony was irked by a feeble display at Macclesfield which also featured an injury which wrecked star striker Aaron Mclean's season. He described the players as 'gutless, spineless, terrible and dreary' before threatening to get rid of the them all.

The shouting worked as Mackail-Smith arrived and claimed his first goal in a 3-0 win at Bury, the away match that followed MacAnthony's tirade.

Earlier in the month Posh won for the first time in 11 matches – and for the first time under their new manager – as Wrexham were sent packing from London Road by a 3-0 margin.

Posh finished February in 12th place and were boosted further by the departures of strikers Lloyd Opara and Trevor Benjamin.

Top quote: "Trevor Benjamin is to finishing what Gordon Ramsey is to polite society," Posh fan Terry Baldwin.