Is anyone out there? Well, let's hope so because the first ambition of this blog is to enlist the expertise of The Independent's knowledgeable readership.

Every year this newspaper conducts a survey of the best players outside the Premier League, which for reasons of sanity and convenience will this year mean those playing in the Football League (of any nationality). This blog is an appeal to the many thousand readers who watch the Championship. Which players have impressed you this season? Which ones have that star potential to make it in the top flight? Try to put club bias aside, but also consider players, where possible, on the basis of more than one performance.

We will also be consulting managers, the players themselves, pundits and agents, but would very much appreciate your input; after all, you pay the players' wages.

The winner has to be under 30, but feel free vote for players of any age, reference to 30-somethings will be made in the accompanying text as with the case of Kevin Phillips last year. The initial winners were Phil Jagielka, who is now impressing in the top flight with Everton, then David Nugent, who went on to play for England but has otherwise not yet trained on. Last year we widened the field to include the SPL and the winner was Rangers' Alan Hutton, who soon joined Spurs but has largely been injured since. Wolves' Michael Kightly was second and, on reflection, would have been a worthy winner himself. That is why this year we are again only selecting from the Football League.

So, please, give yourself an excuse to escape the seasonal festivities and send in your nominations.