League Two guide: All the rivals, all the signings, all the predictions

Ahead of the big kick-off, swot up on all the Sprieites’ rivals and see who has been tipped for the top, and the bottom, by the league’s writers.

Accrington Stanley

NAME/NEWSPAPER – Alex James (Lancashire Telegraph)

CLUB MANAGER – John Coleman

GROUND – The Wham Stadium

SUMMER SIGNINGS: Jonny Edwards (Hull City, Loan), Erico Sousa (Free agent), Mekhi McLeod (Free agent), Kayden Jackson (Barnsley, Undisclosed), Liam Nolan (Southport, Undisclosed)

SUMMER DEPARTURES: Shay McCartan (Bradford City, Undisclosed), Terry Gornell (Chorley, Free), Steven Hewitt, Paddy Lacey, Aaron Davies, Elliott Parish, Bradyen Shaw, Luke Wall, Nathan Webb (all

released)

FANS’ EXPECTATIONS: The management and the players certainly want promotion. John Coleman felt the Reds under achieved last season in finishing 13 th after reaching the play-offs in 2016. The fans will now also be starting to believe in a promotion push. The loss of Shay McCartan is a big one but Stanley have so far kept hold of their key players, and have retained much of the core squad from last term.

ONE TO WATCH: SEAN MCCONVILLE

The midfielder enjoyed a consistent season last time around and in McCartan’s absence will be required to be the club’s creative link as well as a goal scoring threat.

RANDOM FACT ABOUT YOUR CLUB: Stanley had the lowest average attendance in the Football League last season, pulling in an average of 1,699 fans to home games. The club are targeting 1,000 season ticket holders in the 2017-18 campaign and are making strides to increase the supporter

base.

PREDICTIONS

UP: Luton, Lincoln, Swindon, Accrington

DOWN: Newport, Yeovil

Barnet

NAME/NEWSPAPER – Ron Walker (Barnet Times)

CLUB COVERED – Barnet

CLUB MANAGER – Rossi Eames

GROUND – The Hive

SUMMER SIGNINGS: Craig Ross (Macclesfield, Free), Sahquile Coulthirst (Peterborough, Free), Richard Brindley (Colchester United, Free)

SUMMER DEPARTURES: Michael Gash (Released), Tom Champion (Boreham Wood, Free), James Pearson (Released), Shaun Batt (Chelmsford City, Free), Luke Coulson (Ebbsfleet, Undisclosed)

FANS’ EXPECTATIONS: Top-half would be good after a disappointing end to last season, which saw the Bees drop like a stone during the ill-fated Kevin Nugent reign - during which they won only once in 11 games. Rossi Eames was in caretaker charge for much of the year, and did a good job. Having his knowledge of the club, and ability to bring through youth, could give the club an outside chance of the play-offs.

ONE TO WATCH: MAURO VILHETE

The obvious name is John Akinde, but Mauro is a utility man who can play pretty much anywhere - and has! He’s at his best anywhere down the right flank and is a quality player most games.

RANDOM FACT ABOUT YOUR CLUB: There’s a Nando’s-esque chicken shop built into the side of the stadium - if you sit in one of the stands, you have to walk through it to get to your seat.

PREDICTIONS

UP: Luton, Wycombe, Chesterfield, Carlisle

DOWN: Newport, Accrington

Cambridge United

NAME/NEWSPAPER – Aaron Mason (Cambridge News)

CLUB COVERED – Cambridge United

CLUB MANAGER – Shaun Derry

GROUND – Cambs Glass Stadium

SUMMER SIGNINGS: David Amoo (Partick Thistle, Free), Ade Azeez (Partick Thistle, Free), Jabo Ibehre (Carlisle United, Free), Emmanuel Osadebe (Gillingham, Free), Gary Deegan (Shrewsbury Town, Free), Dimitar Mitov (Charlton Athletic, Free), David Forde (Millwall, Free)

SUMMER DEPARTURES: Barry Corr, James Dunne, David Gregory, Conor Newton, Joe Pigott, Dylan Williams, Ben Williamson (all released), Will Norris (Wolves, Undisclosed), Josh Coulson (Leyton Orient, Loan)

FANS’ EXPECTATIONS: There is a hope from fans that Cambridge United can make it into the play-offs this season after just falling short the last couple of seasons, but this is also the stated aim from Shaun Derry.

ONE TO WATCH: LUKE BERRY

After scoring 22 goals from midfield last season and getting into the PFA League Two team of the year, there has been plenty of speculation linking Berry to other clubs this summer, but he’s still with Cambridge as it stands and will again be their key man for as long as he is there.

RANDOM FACT ABOUT YOUR CLUB: Cambridge United are the only team to suffer relegation after finishing fifth from bottom. That was the fate that befell them in 1994/95 in Division Two (now League One) following league reconstruction.

PREDICTIONS

UP: Luton, Mansfield, Lincoln, Cambridge United

DOWN: Morecambe, Crawley

Carlisle United

NAME/NEWSPAPER – Jon Colman (News & Star)

CLUB COVERED – Carlisle United

CLUB MANAGER – Keith Curle

GROUND – Brunton Park

SUMMER SIGNINGS: Jack Bonham (Brentford, loan), Hallam Hope (Bury, Free), Kelvin Etuhu (Bury, Free), Tom Parkes (Leyton Orient, Free), Richard Bennett (Barrow, Undisclosed)

SUMMER DEPARTURES: Jabo Ibehre (Cambridge, Free), Michael Raynes (Crewe, Free), Mark Gillespie (Walsall, Free), James Bailey (Yeovil Town, Free), Patrick Brough (Morecambe, Free), Max Crocombe (Salford City, Free), Shaun Brisley (Notts County, Free), Ben Tomlinson (Released), Junior Joachim (Released)

FANS’ EXPECTATIONS: Not easy to gauge, after last season’s near-miss in the play-offs, which followed a storming first half of the season followed by a new year slump. At the time of writing supporters would like to see more new faces after the departure of a couple of influential figures, while most believe a leaky defence last season must be improved for Carlisle to stand a chance of going one better. There is still the basis of a strong side, and manager Keith Curle, appointed in September 2014, has delivered improvement each season so far. But a couple more key additions are probably needed to turn guarded optimism into real hope again.

ONE TO WATCH: NICKY ADAMS

The 30-year- old rightly cleaned up at last season’s player of the year awards and is consistently one of the top assists men in League Two. No reason to expect anything less from the winger in 2017/18.

RANDOM FACT ABOUT YOUR CLUB: Carlisle recently spent 650 days being courted by a mystery overseas ‘billionaire’, before ending talks in February. Although not confirmed officially, the interested party was Yahya Kirdi, the Syrian former pizza shop owner who once tried to buy Liverpool (and may not, after all, be a billionaire). The club have since entered into a financial arrangement with Edinburgh Woollen Mill, whose owner Philip Day is Cumbria’s richest man.

PREDICTIONS

UP: Luton, Mansfield, Coventry, Lincoln

DOWN: Crawley, Yeovil

Cheltenham Town

NAME/NEWSPAPER – Jon Palmer (Gloucestershire Echo)

CLUB COVERED – Cheltenham Town

CLUB MANAGER – Gary Johnson         

GROUND – LCI Rail Stadium, Whaddon Road

SUMMER SIGNINGS: Kevin Dawson (Yeovil Town, Free), Jamie Grimes (Dover Athletic, Free), Jordon Forster (Hibernian, Undisclosed), Nigel Atangana (Leyton Orient, Free), Jon Flatt (Wolves, Loan), Jerell Sellars (Aston Villa, Free), Mohamed Eisa (Greenwich Borough, Free), Josh Thomas (youth team)

SUMMER DEPARTURES:  Calum Kitscha (Released), Jack Barthram (Released), Jordan Lymn (Evesham United, Free), Dan Parslow (York City, Loan), James Jennings (Wrexham, Free), Liam Davis (Torquay United, Free), Jack Munns (Hartlepool United, Free), Asa Hall (Barrow, Free), James Rowe (Released), James Dayton (Released), Amari Morgan-Smith (York City, Loan), Billy Waters (Northampton Town, Undisclosed).

FANS’ EXPECTATIONS:  Mid-table

ONE TO WATCH: Jerell Sellars, left footed attacking midfielder who has been bright since arriving from Aston Villa.

RANDOM FACT ABOUT YOUR CLUB: Striker Andy Gray of Aston Villa, Everton, Rangers, Scotland and Sky Sports fame, finished his playing career in Cheltenham Town in 1989/90.

PREDICTIONS

UP:  Mansfield Town, Swindon Town, Lincoln City, Luton Town

DOWN: Morecambe, Yeovil Town

Chesterfield

NAME/NEWSPAPER – Graham Smyth (Derbyshire Times)

CLUB COVERED – Chesterfield FC

CLUB MANAGER – Gary Caldwell

GROUND – Proact Stadium

SUMMER SIGNINGS: Chris O’Grady (Brighton and Hove Albion, Free), Jak McCourt (Northampton Town, Free), Gozie Ugwu (Woking, Free), Scott Wiseman (Scunthorpe United, Free), Jordan Sinnott (Halifax, Free), Bradley Barry (Swindon Town, Free), Joe Anyon (Scunthorpe United, Free), Jerome Binnom-Williams (Peterborough, Free), Delial Brewster (Everton, Free)

SUMMER DEPARTURES: Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (Released), Angel Martinez (Released), Dan Jones (Notts County, Free), Jay O’Shea (Bury, Free), Dan Gardner (Oldham, free), Lloyd Allinson (Released), Curtis Morrison (Released), Ritchie Humphries (Released), Thorsten Stuckmann (Released), Liam Graham (Released), Sadiq El Fitouri (Released), Jake Beesley (Released), Charlie Raglan (Oxford United, Free)

FANS’ EXPECTATIONS: Not so much an expectation, but a hope that they can once again be a ‘yo-yo’ club and pop straight back up. Summer signings have gone down well.

ONE TO WATCH: CHRIS O’GRADY

Hugely experienced striker, dropping down two levels to return to League Two where he was once very prolific. Expected to lead the line and help other strikers score.

RANDOM FACT ABOUT YOUR CLUB: The club was publicly put up for sale midway through last season following the resignation of chairman Dave Allen. But Mr Allen, who owns the club, has recently taken them off the market and will take another view on it at the end of the 2017/18 campaign.

PREDICTIONS

UP: Mansfield, Luton, Swindon, Chesterfield, 

DOWN: Newport, Yeovil

Colchester United

NAME/NEWSPAPER – Jon Waldron (Colchester Daily Gazette)

CLUB COVERED – Colchester United

CLUB MANAGER – John McGreal

GROUND – Weston Homes Community Stadium

SUMMER SIGNINGS: Ryan Jackson (Gillingham, Free), Rene Gilmartin (Watford, Free), Cole Kpekawa (Barnsley, Undisclosed), Mikael Mandron (Wigan, Undisclosed)

SUMMER DEPARTURES:  Chris Porter (Crewe, Free), George Elokobi (Leyton Orient, Free), Richard Brindley (Barnet, Free), Dean Brill (Released), Matt Briggs (Released), Lloyd Doyley (Released), Macauley Bonne (Leyton Orient, Free)

FANS’ EXPECTATIONS: I think most Colchester fans would regard a top-seven finish as a minimum requirement this season, especially after they finished just a point off the play-offs last time around.

ONE TO WATCH: CRAIG SLATER

The Scottish midfielder is highly regarded and tipped for big things after enjoying a productive first season in the EFL last year.

RANDOM FACT ABOUT YOUR CLUB: Colchester are celebrating their 80th birthday, this season.

PREDICTIONS

UP: Mansfield Town, Luton Town, Notts County, Coventry City

DOWN: Accrington Stanley, Cheltenham Town

Coventry City

NAME/NEWSPAPER – Andy Turner (Coventry Telegraph)

CLUB COVERED – Coventry City

CLUB MANAGER – Mark Robins

GROUND – Ricoh Arena

SUMMER SIGNINGS: Liam O’Brien (Portsmouth, Free), Rod McDonald (Northampton, Undisclosed), Dominic Hyam (Reading, Free), Jack Grimmer (Fulham, Free), Michael Doyle (Portsmouth, Free), Liam Kelly (Leyton Orient, Free), Peter Vincenti (Rochdale, Free), Marc McNulty (Sheffield United, Free), Maxime Biamou (Sutton United, Undisclosed).

SUMMER DEPARTURES: Cian Harries (Swansea City, Undisclosed), Gael Bigirimana (Motherwell, Free), Andy Rose (Motherwell, Free), Nathan Clarke (Grimsby, Free), Ruben Lameiras (Plymouth, Free), Vlad Gadzhev (Released), Marcus Tudgay (Released), Kevin Foley (Released), Jack Finch (Released), Jordan Turnbull (Partick Thistle, Loan)

FANS’ EXPECTATIONS: Promotion.

ONE TO WATCH: MAX BIAMOU

He is a competitive and athletic striker who is hungry to succeed after getting his big chance in full- time football.

RANDOM FACT ABOUT YOUR CLUB: The Sky Blues have not finished in the top six of any division since 1969/70.

PREDICTIONS

UP: Mansfield, Luton, Coventry, Lincoln

DOWN: Cheltenham, Forest Green

Crawley Town – Graham Carter

NAME/NEWSPAPER – Graham Carter (Crawley Observer)

CLUB COVERED – Crawley Town

CLUB HEAD COACH – Harry Kewell

GROUND – The Checkatrade Stadium

SUMMER SIGNINGS: Dannie Bulman (AFC Wimbledon, Free), Moussa Sanoh (RKC Waalwijk, Free), Cedric Evina (Doncaster Rovers, Loan), Panutche Camara (Dulwich Hamlet, Free), Mark Randall (Newport County, Free), Thomas Verheydt (MVV Maastricht, Undisclosed), Dennon Lewis (Watford, Loan) 

SUMMER DEPARTURES: James Collins (Luton Town, Undisclosed), Jason Banton (Woking, Free), Bobson Bawling (Woking, Free), Rhys Murphy (End of loan), Conor Henderson (Released)

FANS’ EXPECTATIONS: Optimistic following appointment in May of former Liverpool and Leeds star Harry Kewell as head coach. Lively showing in pre-season with wins against East Grinstead, Oakwood, Dulwich Hamlet and Bognor Regis Town plus an encouraging draw with strong Chelsea U23s team. Only defeats came against Premier League new boys Brighton plus Portsmouth after having led in the first half. 

ONE TO WATCH: PANUTCHE CAMARA

Striker Panutche Camara is a former Barnsley trainee and has impressed with his speed, trickery and goalscoring during pre-season, having netted four times. 

RANDOM FACT ABOUT YOUR CLUB: Crawley Town are beginning their seventh season in the Football League after winning the Conference in 2011 under Steve Evans with a record points total.

PREDICTIONS

UP: Luton Town, Swindon Town, Exeter City, Mansfield Town

DOWN: Cheltenham, Yeovil

Crewe Alexandra

NAME/NEWSPAPER – Peter Morse (Crewe Chronicle)

CLUB COVERED – Crewe Alexandra

CLUB MANAGER – David Artell

GROUND – Gresty Road

SUMMER SIGNINGS: Chris Porter (Colchester, Free), Jordan Bowery (Leyton Orient, Free), Eddie Nolan (Blackpool, Free), Brad Walker (Hartlepool United, Undisclosed), Michael Raynes (Carlisle

United, Free).

SUMMER DEPARTURES: Ben Nugent (Released), Oliver Turton (Released), John Guthrie (Walsall, Free), Harry Davis (Released) Billy Bingham (Gillingham, Free), Danny Hollands (Eastleigh, Free), Callum Saunders (Released).

FANS’ EXPECTATIONS: Play-offs. After four consecutive seasons of disappointment, a change of manager and impressive-looking summer recruitment has raised hopes and boosted season ticket sales by 10%.

ONE TO WATCH: CALLUM AINLEY

The homegrown 19-year- old midfielder already has nearly 50 appearances under his belt and now looks ready to play a significant role as playmaker and creator.

RANDOM FACT ABOUT YOUR CLUB: Since 2012 away supporters at Gresty Road have taken their seats in the Ice Cream Van Stand - sponsored by local firm Whitby Morrison, the world’s leading manufacturer of ice cream vans.

PREDICTIONS

UP: Mansfield, Lincoln, Notts County, Luton

DOWN: Newport, Morecambe

Exeter City

NAME/NEWSPAPER – Jamie Hawkins (Express & Echo/Devonlive)

CLUB COVERED – Exeter City

CLUB MANAGER – Paul Tisdale

GROUND – St James Park

SUMMER SIGNINGS: Dean Moxey (Bolton Wanderers, Free), Luke Croll (Crystal Palace, Free)

SUMMER DEPARTURES:  Ollie Watkins (Brentford, Undisclosed), Ethan Ampadu (Chelsea, Undisclosed), Bobby Olejnik (Mansfield, Free), Joel Grant (Plymouth Argyle, Free), Connor Riley-Lowe (Released), Tom McCready (Released)

FANS’ EXPECTATIONS: After narrowly missing out on promotion last season in the play-off final, many are hopeful Tisdale’s side can go one better next campaign. Losing Watkins and Ampadu will be big losses, but there is still a strong squad that can challenge for at least the play-offs next year.

ONE TO WATCH: DAVID WHEELER

He was City’s top scorer last season, with 21 goals, and also set a new club record, where he scored in seven consecutive league matches.

RANDOM FACT ABOUT YOUR CLUB: The Grecians were the first ever team to play five-time World Champions Brazil in 1914.

PREDICTIONS

UP: Mansfield, Luton, Coventry, Exeter

DOWN: Newport, Morecambe

Forest Green Rovers

NAME/NEWSPAPER – Ashley Loveridge (Stroud News and Journal)

CLUB COVERED – Forest Green Rovers

CLUB MANAGER – Mark Cooper

GROUND – New Lawn

SUMMER SIGNINGS: Jack Fitzwater (West Brom, Free) Scott Laird (Scunthorpe, Free), Lee Collins (Mansfield, Free), Reece Brown (Birmingham City, Free), Charlie Cooper (Birmingham City, Free),  Luke James (Peterborough, Free), Brad Collins (Chelsea, Loan), Jordan Simpson ( Swindon Town, Free), Rhys Evans (Barnsley), Harry Pickering (Port Vale, Free), Tom Anderson (Forest Green Academy), Jordan Morris (Forest Green Academy)

SUMMER DEPARTURES: Ethan Pinnock (Barnsley, Undisclosed), Sam Wedgbury (Wrexham, Free), Marcus Kelly (Wrexham, Free), Simon Lefebvre (Released), Curtis Tilt (Released)

FANS’ EXPECTATIONS: Play-offs

ONE TO WATCH: CHRISTIAN DOIDGE

Despite protracted interest from Oxford United and Rotherham in the summer, Forest Green appear to have kept hold of their crown jewel. Prolific in the National League with 28 goals last season, including a worldie at Wembley, Doidge scored 10 times in the Dagenham side that dropped out of League Two in 2015, so the former Bristol Rovers trainee will return to the Football League expecting to replicate his form that helped his side gain Football League status for the first time in their history.

RANDOM FACT ABOUT YOUR CLUB: The pitch is cut by a solar powered robot.

PREDICTIONS

UP: Luton, Coventry, Mansfield, Forest Green Rovers

DOWN: Cheltenham, Newport

Grimsby Town

NAME/NEWSPAPER - Liam Wood (Grimsby Telegraph)

CLUB COVERED - Grimsby Town

CLUB MANAGER - Russell Slade

GROUND – Blundell Park

SUMMER SIGNINGS: Mitch Rose (Newport County, Free), Sam Kelly (Port Vale, Free), Siriki Dembele (Nike Academy, Free), Nathan Clarke (Coventry City, Free), Ben Killip (Norwich City, Free), Harry Cardwell (Readin, Free), Karleigh Osborne (Kilmarnock, Free), Paul Dixon (Dundee United, Free)

SUMMER DEPARTURES: Shaun Pearson (Wrexham, Free), Craig Disley (Alfreton Town, Free), Josh Gowling (Torquay United, Free), Dan Jones (Barrow, Free), Gavin Gunning (Port Vale, Free), Ashley Chambers (Nuneaton Town, Free), Danny Andrew (Doncaster Rovers, Free), Rhys Browne (Yeovil Town, Undisclosed), Andrew Boyce (Eastleigh, Free), Adi Yussuf (Barrow, Free)

FANS’ EXPECTATIONS: Play-Offs (or just around)

ONE TO WATCH: SIRIKI DEMBELE

He signed for the club from the Nike Academy which, in itself, is quite an unusual step. Siriki has excelled in pre-season, with fans taking an instant liking to him because of his pace, tricky and ability to play in several of the forward positions. He may drift in and out of games at some point, but when he’s on the front foot the crowd will certainly be on the edge of their seat. It won’t be long before one or two scouts are taking note.

RANDOM FACT ABOUT YOUR CLUB: Last season the club’s fans raised more than £1,000 to pay for a Mariachi band to attend their final away game of the season after Barnet banned inflatables.

PREDICTIONS

UP: Mansfield, Luton, Notts County, Grimsby (of course)

DOWN: Morecambe, Cheltenham

Lincoln City

NAME/NEWSPAPER – Mark Whiley (Lincolnshire Echo)

CLUB COVERED – Lincoln City

CLUB MANAGER – Danny Cowley

GROUND – Sincil Bank

SUMMER SIGNINGS: Michael Bostwick (Peterborough, Undisclosed), Josh Vickers (Swansea, Free), Billy Knott (Gillingham, Free), Josh Ginnelly (Burnley, Loan), Jordan Maguire-Drew (Brighton and Hove Albion, Loan), Ollie Palmer (Leyton Orient, free), Matt Green (Mansfield, Free), Harry Anderson (Peterborough, Undisclosed)

SUMMER DEPARTURES:  Bradley Wood (Released), Alan Power (Kilmarnock, Free), Terry Hawkridge (Notts County, Free), Jack Muldoon (AFC Fyde, Free), Adam Marriott (Royston Town, Free)

FANS’ EXPECTATIONS: Sky high after last season. Almost 6,000 season tickets have been sold (they sold 1,300 before the start of last season). I think there’d be a tinge of disappointment among the fans if they didn’t at least reach the play-offs.

ONE TO WATCH: JORDAN MAGUIRE

A young winger on a season-long loan from Brighton. Scored a worldie seven minutes into his debut against Benfica B last week.

RANDOM FACT ABOUT YOUR CLUB: Lincoln have never played at Wembley. Their two play-off finals were at Cardiff

PREDICTIONS. Imps to reach play-offs but miss out on promotion

UP: Mansfield, Coventry, Luton, Port Vale

DOWN: Newport, Crawley

Luton Town

NAME/NEWSPAPER – Mike Simmonds (Luton News)

CLUB COVERED – Luton Town

CLUB MANAGER – Nathan Jones

GROUND – Kenilworth Road

SUMMER SIGNINGS: Andrew Shinnie (Birmingham, Loan), James Collins (Crawley Town, Undisclosed), Alan McCormack (Brentford, Free), Marek Stech (Sparta Prague, Free), James Shea (AFC Wimbledon, Free), Elliot Lee (Barnsley, Free), Jack Stacey (Reading, Undisclosed), Harry Isted (Stoke City, Free).

SUMMER DEPARTURES: Cameron McGeehan (Barnsley, Undisclosed), Jack Marriott (Peterborough, Undisclosed), Jake Gray (Yeovil, Undisclosed), Stephen O’Donnell (Kilmarnock, Free), Craig Mackail- Smith (Released), Craig King (Retired), Zane Banton (St Albans City, Free), Danny Green (Released).

FANS’ EXPECTATIONS: It’s fair to say that promotion is a must for Luton supporters this season and with the calibre of new signing coming in too, then a concerted push for the title should be on the

cards as well.

ONE TO WATCH: JAMES COLLINS

The striker signed from Crawley Town after a prolific campaign for the Red Devils. Won promotion from this level a number of times and already off to a promising start with five goals in pre-season too.

RANDOM FACT ABOUT YOUR CLUB: When Elliot Lee and Olly Lee feature in a competitive game for the Hatters this term, they will be the first brothers to do so since the Steins, Mark and Brian, back in 1988 and only the sixth set of siblings in the club’s long history. 

PREDICTIONS

UP: Luton, Mansfield, Coventry, Notts County

DOWN: Morecambe, Cheltenham

Mansfield Town

NAME/NEWSPAPER – John Lomas (Mansfield Chad)

CLUB COVERED – Mansfield Town

CLUB MANAGER – Steve Evans

GROUND – One Call Stadium

SUMMER SIGNINGS: Bobby Olejnik (Exeter, Free), Conrad Logan (Rochdale, Free), Will Atkinson (Southend United, Free), Johnny Hunt (Chester, Free), David Mirfin (Scunthorpe United, Free), Jacob Mellis (Bury, Free), Hayden White (Peterborough United, Free), Lee Angol (Peterborough United, Free), Paul Anderson (Northampton Town, Free), Paul Digby (Ipswich Town, Free), Zander Diamond (Northampton Town, Free), Jimmy Spencer (Notts County, Free), Omari Sterling-James (Solihull

Moors, Free).

SUMMER DEPARTURES: Yoann Arquin (Released), James Baxendale (Orange County, Free), Lee Collins (Forest Green Rovers, Free), Matt Green (Lincoln City, Free), Ashley Hemmings (Boston United, Free), Kevan Hurst (Released), Pat Hoban (Released), Brian Jensen (Crusaders, Free), Jamie McGuire (Boston United, Free), Scott Shearer, Corbin Shires (Released)

FANS’ EXPECTATIONS: This looks to be one of the best squads ever assembled in the club’s history and bookies have the Stags as title favourites. Steve Evans has nine promotions under his belt and knows this level inside out. So fans are naturally expecting play-offs as a minimum this time around.

ONE TO WATCH: DANNY ROSE

The striker joined the club two summers ago but saw last season hampered by injury and suspension and was rarely given a run of starts, though still hit double figures. But boss Steve Evans likes the look of him and feels he could be the 20-goal striker the fans are yearning for after the departure of club legend Matt Green

RANDOM FACT ABOUT YOUR CLUB: In 2008 the Stags were bizarrely threatened with being re-named Harchester United after the fictional squad from the TV series Dream Team by the controversial John Batchelor, who was trying to buy the club and felt it would make it ‘more promotable’. His bid failed and they remain Mansfield Town.

PREDICTIONS

UP: Mansfield, Coventry, Luton, Notts County

DOWN: Newport, Cheltenham

Morecambe – Gavin Browne

NAME: Gavin Browne (Morecambe Visitor)

CLUB COVERED: Morecambe

MANAGER: Jim Bentley

GROUND: Globe Arena

SIGNINGS: Patrick Brough (Carlisle, Free), Steve Old (GAIS, Free), Mitchell Lund (Doncaster Rovers, Loan), Garry Thompson (Wycombe Wanderers, Free), Vadaine Oliver (York City, Free), Adam

Campbell (Notts County, Free), Reece Deakin (Airbus UK, Free)

DEPARTURES: Ryan Edwards (Plymouth Argyle, Undisclosed), Paul Mullin (Swindon Town, Undisclosed), Peter Murphy (Retired), Lee Molyneux (Released), Liam Wakefield (Released), Alex Whitmore (Loan ended), Antony Evans (Loan ended), Michael Duckworth (Loan ended)

FANS’ EXPECTATIONS: For a less stressful season than last year’s which brought question marks over the club’s ownership.

ONE TO WATCH: MICHAEL ROSE

The Shrimps’ new captain is a consistent performer week in week out and adds quality to the centre

of midfield.

RANDOM FACT ABOUT YOUR CLUB: Haven’t won more than eight home league games in a season since moving to the Globe Arena in 2010.

PREDICTIONS

UP: Mansfield Town, Luton Town, Chesterfield, Coventry City

DOWN: Yeovil Town, Cheltenham Town.

Newport County

NAME/NEWSPAPER – Andrew Penman (South Wales Argus)

CLUB COVERED – Newport County AFC

CLUB MANAGER – Michael Flynn

GROUND – Rodney Parade

SUMMER SIGNINGS: David Pipe (Eastleigh, Free), Robbie Willmott (Chelmsford, Free), Matt Dolan (Yeovil, Free), Lamar Reynolds (Brentwood, Free), Frank Nouble (Southend, Free), Shawn McCoulsky (Bristol City, Loan)

SUMMER DEPARTURES:  Liam Angel, Paul Bignot, Jack Compton, Tom Meechan, Jennison Myrie- Williams, Craig Reid, Finlay Wood (All released), Darren Jones (Bath City, Free), Mitch Rose (Grimsby, Free), Marcus Beauchamp (Hungerford, Free), Ryan Bird (Dover, Free), Kieran Parselle (Gloucester City, Free), Mark Randall (Crawley, Free), Lenell John-Lewis (Shrewsbury, Free)

FANS’ EXPECTATIONS: After successive 22nd-placed finishes anything other than another relegation dogfight will be welcomed. Mid-table mediocrity would be welcomed and after last season’s miraculous escape from relegation momentum could play a big part.

ONE TO WATCH: LAMAR REYNOLDS

New winger Lamar Reynolds is lightning quick with good control and an eye for goal. Signed from Brentwood Town after impressing at Jamie Vardy’s V9 Academy.

RANDOM FACT ABOUT YOUR CLUB: Rodney Parade is the only ground in Britain that hosts three teams. County share with two rugby teams – the Dragons and Newport RFC.

PREDICTIONS

UP: Swindon, Luton, Coventry, Lincoln

DOWN: Cheltenham, Morecambe

Notts County

NAME/NEWSPAPER – Leigh Curtis (Nottingham Post)

CLUB COVERED – Notts County

CLUB MANAGER – Kevin Nolan

GROUND – Meadow Lane

SUMMER SIGNINGS: Liam Walker (Europa, Free), Ross Fitzsimons (Chelmsford, Free), Shaun Brisley (Carlisle United, Free), Jorge Grant (Nottingham Forest, Loan), Lewis Alessandra (Hartlepool United, Undisclosed), Terry Hawkridge (Lincoln City, Free), Dan Jones (Chesterfield, Free), Branislav Pindroch (MFK Karvina, Free), Pierce Bird (Dunkirk, Free), Callum Saunders (Crewe Alexandra, Free)

SUMMER DEPARTURES:  Thierry Audel, Adam Campbell, Mark Yeates, Scott Loach, Jack McMillan, Luther Wildin, Wes Atkinson, Jordan Richards Montel Gibson

FANS’ EXPECTATIONS:  To mount a promotion challenge

ONE TO WATCH: JORGE GRANT

He scored six goals in 17 games in his first loan spell for Notts last season. Hugely talented and turned down a host of League One and SPL clubs to sign for Notts. Very adept at scoring goals from midfield.

RANDOM FACT ABOUT YOUR CLUB:  It’s the world’s oldest professional Football League club

PREDICTIONS

UP:  Luton, Mansfield, Coventry, Cambridge

DOWN: Yeovil, Cheltenham

Port Vale

NAME/NEWSPAPER – Mike Baggaley (The Sentinel)

CLUB COVERED – Port Vale

CLUB MANAGER – Michael Brown

GROUND – Vale Park

SUMMER SIGNINGS: Rob Lainton (Bury, Free), Sam Hornby (Burton Albion, Free), Joe Davis (Fleetwood, Free), Graham Kelly (Sheffield United, Free), Antony Kay (Bury, Free), Gavin Gunning (Grimsby, Free), Cristian Montano (Bristol Rovers, Free), Marcus Harness (Burton Albion, Loan), Tom Pope (Bury, Free), Tyrone Barnett (AFC Wimbledon, Undisclosed), Rekeil

Pyke (Huddersfield Town, Loan)

SUMMER DEPARTURES:  Sam Foley (Northampton, Free), Harry Pickering (Forest Green Rovers, Free), Jerome Thomas (Released), Sebastien Amoros (Released), Ryan Lloyd (Macclesfield Town, Free), Scott Tanser (St Johnstone, Free), Sam Johnson (Halifax Town, Free), Deniz Mehmet (Dundee United, Free)

FANS’ EXPECTATIONS:  Top 10, hopefully top seven. 

ONE TO WATCH: NATHAN SMITH

The highly-rated 21-year- old centre half was runaway player of the season for Vale in his breakthrough year at the club, even if it ultimately ended in relegation to League Two. The 21-year- old, from Madeley, is a watched man, with chief scout Ray Williams backing him to play at top-flight level.

RANDOM FACT ABOUT YOUR CLUB:  Robbie Williams is a fan and so was Sir Stanley Matthews as a

youngster. 

PREDICTIONS

UP:  Luton Town, Coventry City, Lincoln City, Port Vale

DOWN: Morecambe, Newport

Stevenage

NAME/NEWSPAPER – Neil Metcalfe/The Comet

CLUB COVERED – Stevenage FC

CLUB MANAGER – Darren Sarll

GROUND – Lamex Stadium

SUMMER SIGNINGS: Harry Beautyman (Northampton, Free), Joe Martin (Millwall, Free), James Ferry (Brentford, Free), Blair Turgott (Bromley, Free), Terence Vancooten (Reading, Free), Alex Samuel (Swansea, Free), Danny Newton (Tamworth, Free), Chris Whelpdale (AFC Wimbledon, Free), Joe Fryer (Middlesbrough, Loan)

SUMMER DEPARTURES:  Jobi McAnuff (Leyton Orient, Free), Charlie Lee (Leyton Orient, Free), Dean Wells (Boreham Wood, Free),  Jake Hyde (Maidenhead, Free), Nathan Kerr (Glentoran, Free), Kgosi Nthle, Michael Tonge, Andrex Fox (all released), Ryan Johnson (Boreham Wood, Loan), Dipo Akinyemi (Bishop’s Stortford, Loan)

FANS’ EXPECTATIONS: After the struggles with relegation the previous season, Boro’s flirtation with the play-offs last time out was a welcome occurrence. But challenging for the playoffs is the least they expect in these parts. After a few minor early grumbles over the appointment of Darren Sarll, the mood is a very positive one among the Stevenage fans and they are expecting another challenge. And if Matt Godden can produce the goals as he did last year, then they might not be too disappointed.

ONE TO WATCH: BEN KENNEDY

Had his injury problems but the club believe he is one of the best footballers in the division.

RANDOM FACT ABOUT YOUR CLUB: Currently using a crowd-funding bond scheme to help build a new North Stand.

PREDICTIONS

UP: Swindon Town, Lincoln City, Port Vale, Colchester United

DOWN: Newport County, Notts County

Swindon Town

NAME/NEWSPAPER – Matt Edwards (Swindon Advertiser)

CLUB COVERED – Swindon Town

CLUB MANAGER – David Flitcroft

GROUND – County Ground

SUMMER SIGNINGS: James Dunne (Cambridge United, Free), Olly Lancashire (Shrewsbury Town, Free), Ben Purkiss (Port Vale, Free), Chris Robertson (AFC Wimbledon, Free), Donal McDermott (Rochdale, Free), Amine Linganzi (Portsmouth, Free), Harry Smith (Loan, Millwall), Chris Hussey (Loan, Sheffield United), Paul Mullin (Morecambe, Undisclosed), Kyle Knoyle (West Ham United, Free)

SUMMER DEPARTURES:  Yaser Kasim (Northampton Town, Free), Raphael Branco (Boavista, Free), Nathan Thompson (Portsmouth, Free), Anton Rodgers (Released), Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill (Helmond, Free), Jamie Sendles-White (Released), Jonathan Obika (Oxford United, Free), Jordan Simpson (Forest Green Rovers, Free), Jordan Stewart (Linfield, Free), Bradley Barry (Chesterfield, Free)

FANS’ EXPECTATIONS: After the disaster that was last season, fans will be looking for stability from top to bottom at the club. Town fans are an ambitious bunch and many will be looking for a top- seven finish at least, with some expectant of an immediate return to League One, which will be a tough ask given the high turnover of staff over the summer.

ONE TO WATCH: LAWRENCE VIGOUROUX

One of the standout goalkeepers in League One last season, Swindon will have pulled off a great coup if they can keep hold of the former Liverpool youngster past the summer transfer window. Whilst he has gained some unwanted headlines away from the pitch, penny-gate coming to mind, on the pitch his class is clear for everyone to see and you’ll have to be good to beat him.

RANDOM FACT ABOUT YOUR CLUB: No member of the play-off final squad that lost to Preston North End in 2015 remain at Swindon Town.

PREDICTIONS

UP: Luton Town, Coventry City, Swindon Town, Barnet

DOWN: Morecambe, Newport County

Wycombe Wanderers

NAME/NEWSPAPER – Nicholas Tunney (Bucks Free Press)

CLUB COVERED – Wycombe Wanderers

CLUB MANAGER – Gareth Ainsworth

GROUND – Adams Park

SUMMER SIGNINGS: Adam El-Abd (Shrewsbury Town, Free), Nathan Tyson (Kilmarnock, Free)

SUMMER DEPARTURES:  Garry Thompson (Morecambe, Free), Sam Wood (Eastleigh, Free), Aaron Pierre (Northampton Town, Free), Jack Williams (Queens Park Rangers, Loan)

FANS’ EXPECTATIONS: I think the supporters will be hoping to avoid last season’s heartbreak of just missing out on the playoffs and get in them at least this season. They usually are there or thereabouts every campaign and I think the fans will expect no different as of August 5.

ONE TO WATCH: SCOTT KASHKET

He was brought as an unknown on a short-term deal from Leyton Orient last summer and was transformed into a striker when he had a run in the team beginning at the end of October. He is an electric finisher, pacey and causes defenders nightmares with his low centre of gravity. Despite being softly spoken, he is very assured and confident and after the final game of last season, he declared he would be disappointed not to hit at least 30 goals if he stays injury-free this term. He scored 16 in 29 appearances last season and was injured for three months. If he stayed fit, I firmly believe they would have gone up.

RANDOM FACT ABOUT YOUR CLUB: Voted one of the most picturesque grounds in the country.

Yeovil Town

NAME/NEWSPAPER – Stephen D’Albiac (Western Gazette/Somerset Live)

CLUB COVERED – Yeovil Town

CLUB MANAGER – Darren Way

GROUND – Huish Park

SUMMER SIGNINGS: Rhys Browne (Grimsby Town, Undisclosed), Connor Smith (Plymouth Argyle, Free), Jake Gray (Luton Town, Undisclosed), James Bailey (Carlisle United, Free), Stephane Zubar (Bournemouth, Free) Alefe Santos (Derby County, Free), Olufela Olomola (Southampton, Loan), Keston Davies (Swansea City, Loan)

SUMMER DEPARTURES: Alex Lacey (Gillingham, Free), Matty Dolan (Newport County, Free), Kevin Dawson (Cheltenham Town, Free), Tom Eaves (Gillingham, Free), Alex Lawless (Leyton Orient, Free), Brandon Goodship (Weymouth, Free), Joe Lea (Bognor Regis Town, Free), Darren Ward (Released), Ollie Bassett (Released)

FANS’ EXPECTATIONS: The expectation among fans will be for the club to improve on last season’s finish and end up safe from a relegation battle. Many supporters were disappointed with the way that the club’s fortunes slumped over the second half of last season and are keen to see progress on the pitch. The prospects of challenging for promotion or the play-offs are not a realistic expectation

for this season.

ONE TO WATCH: OTIS KHAN

The 21-year- old winger has committed his future until the summer of 2019 after an impressive debut campaign that saw him score eight goals and establish himself as a crucial part of Darren Way’s side. Khan’s performances on the left wing made him one of the players that Glovers fans were desperate to keep hold of.

RANDOM FACT ABOUT YOUR CLUB: Yeovil have a historic reputation as giantkillers in the FA Cup and hold the record for the most Football League as a non-league side

PREDICTIONS

UP: Luton Town, Coventry City, Notts County, Lincoln City

DOWN: Crawley Town, Morecambe