Experts from the FPL community sign up for the 2018/19 campaign

Ahead of Friday’s Fantasy Premier League deadline The Scout has been active in the transfer market and assembled a squad of experts to deliver FPL insight throughout the 2018/19 season.

FPL managers with proven pedigree, including reigning FPL Champion Yusuf Sheikh, and respected social influencers will now be on hand each Gameweek.

The Scout will consult with the squad regularly and offer them the opportunity to present a range of opinions on the selection and strategic dilemmas that matter most. These will be included in articles, videos and via @OfficialFPL.

Watch this space for more signings ahead of the season kick-off.

Mark McGettigan (@FPLGeneral)

One of the most consistent FPL managers, Mark has finished in the top 500 in three of the past four seasons. Article writer, podcaster and Twitter royalty, Mark is a popular and influential FPL voice.

Holly Shand (@FFCommunity_)

Hull-based Holly is one of the leading lights in FPL's growing female fanbase.

She writes a regular fantasy column and set up her own website, Fantasy Football Community, to showcase the best FPL content.

Nick and Tom (@WGTA_FPL)

The pair formed Who Got The Assist?, a fast-growing podcast that uses the real-world expertise of its founders – behavioural science and finance – to deliver a unique fantasy experience.

Their high-level analysis is washed down with plenty of humour.

Lee and Sam Bonfield (@FPLFamily)

The family that plays together, stays together, even when they're a husband-and-wife team who support different clubs.

The duo's YouTube vlogs are attracting a growing number of subscribers as Liverpool fan Lee and Spurs nut Sam battle it out for supremacy from their own living room.

James Egersdorff (@JEgersdorff)

Eight finishes in the top 5,000 in 11 FPL seasons has earned Jay the title of one of the best managers in the community and a leading opinion-former on social media.

Lejuan Basson (@lejuanshanen27)

One of the most successful female FPL managers, the South African finished 24th overall last season, a triumph which earned her top spot in the women-only WAGS mini-league.

Ben Crabtree

Everton fan Ben broke every rule going when he refused to pick Liverpool players for his team and won the FPL title anyway. He got burned by Mohamed Salah last year, but remains a sharp and insightful FPL expert.

Simon March (@MarchSimon)

FPL's 2014/15 champion took the title while working abroad. That meant he rarely watched a match all season, adding fuel to the stats v "eye test" debate that rages in various FPL circles.

Yusuf Sheikh (@YusufsTeam)

The reigning FPL champion and the first winner from Africa. The Tanzanian went from last in his mini-league, complete with obligatory forfeit dance in his wife's mini-skirt, to first in the world in just one extraordinary season.

Bharat Dhody (@Bharat_Dhody)

Delhi manager Bharat finished third last season having led the world for much of the final stretch. Fortune did not favour Bharat on the final day as seven of his starters were injured or benched.

Neal Thurman

Managing Editor at Rotoworld, Neal has been writing about FPL since its infancy. He co-founded the FantasyEPL blog in 2004, and initiated fantasy coverage at Yahoo UK and the Irish Examiner.

Chuck Booth

Better versed in the draft style of FPL, Chuck brings an American flavour to the game, that and an unabashed love for underrated defenders. He currently provides insights for Rotoworld and Fantrax.

Paul Gee

Paul was another who lost out on the final day of last season to Yusuf Sheikh. The Leeds-based manager was pipped to the title by just six points, despite scoring a superb final-day tally of 73 points.

A highly influential figure on Twitter, Ash has recorded six finishes inside the top one per cent of Fantasy.