Safe to say this year's Carolina RailHawks won't look much like last year's. And since last season was a losing one, that's a good thing.

In the past week, the RailHawks have announced the signings of two-time USL-2 Defender of the Year Mark Schulte, 2008 USL-2 Champion Jeremy Tolleson and former MLS star defender Jack Stewart.

That brings the new faces count up to 10 with the season about a month away. There should be other names to be announced before the season begins as well. The team began training camp on Monday.

The RailHawks open the season with a home match with the MLS' New England Revolution on March 14. 

The Carolina RailHawks announced today the signing of La Liga star and Uruguayan International midfielder Marcelo Romero pending league and USSF approval and International clearance.

Romero will be at training camp from the beginning, on February 9, and will make his debut in orange at the “Community Shield” on Saturday March 14, when the RailHawks host the New England Revolution.

“I am extremely happy to begin a new adventure in the United States,” said midfielder Marcelo Romero. “This is a market with great potential and I am excited to see this franchise grow and have an impact on the local community. I am hungry to have success here; we need to match these brilliant facilities with the team on the field.”

The Carolina RailHawks announced the signing of former NC State star forward Aaron King on Friday. The move is pending League and USSF approval.

King will make his debut in RailHawks Orange on Saturday, March 14, when the RailHawks take on the New England Revolution of Major League Soccer in the “Community Shield” match.

“Aaron King is an exceptional athlete,” said RailHawks head coach Martin Rennie. “He scored a lot of goals at Charleston and N.C. State, and I am sure he will do the same for the RailHawks.”

The Carolina RailHawks announced on Thursday that individual tickets for the “Community Shield” match against Major League Soccer’s New England Revolution will go on sale Tuesday, February 3, at 9:00 a.m.

Soccer fans won't want to miss a chance to see the RailHawks newest signings like midfielders Josh Gardner and Luke Kreamalmayer match up against soccer superstars Taylor Twellman, Matt Reis and Steve Ralston on Saturday, March 14th at WakeMed Soccer Park.

Tickets will be available at the LGFCU Box Office at WakeMed Soccer Park, online at www.carolinarailhawks.com, and charge by phone at (919) 859-KICK (5425). Tickets for the “Community Shield” match will start at $10.00 each.

The Carolina RailHawks are excited to announce a "new marquee player" that's "straight from a European top division." And according to the team, "not since Romario and Zinho has the League (USL-1) seen a player of this caliber."

Who is the player? Don't know. You'll have to find out for yourself on Thursday, Feb. 5 just like I will.

As soon as I know, I'll post it here on the SWakeSports blog. Afterwards, I'll have a one-on-one with the unknown player and we'll post the audio online just as we did when head coach Martin Rennie was announced.

We also didn't know who the head coach was going to be until the day of the press conference. so if you like surprises, I hope this info will hold you over until next Thursday.

It's a little hard to prepare for a one-on-one interview when you don't know who you'll be speaking to, but not to worry. I've started crossing out names that don't follow the criteria and have narrowed down the list of possible players somewhat. For instance, I don't think it'll be this guy:

Although that circus would be fun to cover. 

The Carolina RailHawks announced today the signing of three more players to the 2009 roster, defender John Gilkerson, midfielder Luke Kreamalmeyer and midfielder Brian Plotkin pending League and USSF approval.

“These are three phenomenal players with extensive experience,” said RailHawks Head Coach Martin Rennie. “Their knowledge of the game and their talent will be an invaluable and integral part of the RailHawks this season.”

The Carolina RailHawks announced today the signing of former MLS, US Open Cup and USL-1 Champion, midfielder Josh Gardner for the 2009 season, pending League and USSF approval. Fans will get a first glimpse of this soccer superstar on Saturday, March 14, at 7:00 p.m. when the RailHawks take on the New England Revolution in the Inaugural “Community Shield Match”.

“I am very excited to sign with the Carolina RailHawks,” said RailHawks newest midfielder Josh Gardner. “Martin and the owners have been very welcoming and I appreciate the level of professionalism that the club has portrayed. I believe in Martin's vision for the team and want to be a part of the organization. I’m looking forward to the next couple of years, as I hope that we will bring a championship or two to Cary. "

The Carolina RailHawks, under the direction of the United Soccer League's D-2 Coach of the Year, Martin Rennie, will open their USL-1 season at home against the Minnesota Thunder on Saturday, April 11, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. and close the season Friday, September 18, when the Montreal Impact visit WakeMed Soccer Park. This was announced by The United Soccer Leagues today together with the alignment and the schedule for the 2009 USL-1 season.

The RailHawks will be on Fox Soccer Channel on May 22, when they visit the Cleveland City Stars, May 29, when they host Cleveland and July 17, when the 2008 USL-1 Champion Vancouver Whitecaps travel to WakeMed Soccer Park.

The Carolina RailHawks announced today that they have agreed to terms with Ivory Coast native and 2008 RailHawks leading scorer, forward Hamed Diallo.

Diallo will be donning RailHawks' orange for the 2009 season pending USL and USSF approval.

“Diallo is an excellent forward,” said RailHawks head coach Martin Rennie. “He has proven himself to be a tremendous asset to the RailHawks in only half a season and I look forward to coaching him this year.”

Hamed Diallo was acquired by the RailHawks, in July of the 2008 season, from the Rochester Rhinos in a three-way trade that saw Jamil Walker go to Portland and Andrew Gregor head to Rochester.

Carolina RailHawks brand new Head Coach Martin Rennie was honored as the USL-2 Coach of the Year by FieldTurf Tarkett this week.