Bury - 08/09 4th, Bookies 16/1 6th= - Last season's play-off losers have strengthened during the summer with the arrivals of forwards Ryan Lowe and Danny Carlton to assist Andy Bishop and Andy Morrell. Another play-off run is very likely, and automatic promotion shouldn't be out of their reach after missing out on it by a single goal last term. Ex-Bull Wayne Brown remains no.1 at Gigg Lane after the club failed to sign Mark Tyler from Peterboro.
Cheltenham - 08/09 L1 23rd(r), Bookies 28/1 11th= - With ongoing money worries Martin Allen has been forced to offload the bulk of the higher earners. Veterans Drissa Diallo and Barry Hayles will be surrounded by players half their age, with giant striker Tom Denton likely to be a target for long punted balls. Denton is one of two loan signings that Allen has already brought in, and the trainee Barry Fry will be using the loan market extensively over the season after 22 loans were brought in last term.
Chesterfield - 08/09 10th, Bookies 16/1 6th= - They've been the subject of a takeover, but there's no Sven at Saltergate and the Bookies aren't quite so impressed. Ex-Sheff Weds owner Dave Allen is ploughing most of his money into the stadium rather than the team, but new boss John Sheridan has been able to resist bids for star striker Jack Lester while former loanee Drew Talbot has also made a permanent move to the club.
Crewe - 08/09 L1 22nd(r), Bookies 20/1 9th= - Despite having collected £400,000 in selling Michael O'Connor and Tom Pope, manager Gudjon Thordarsson has not spent a penny this summer. Last season's misfiring forward acquisitions of Joel Grant, Clayton Donaldson, and Anthony Elding has been told to prove their worth after each failed to live up to their six figure price tags. Only a pair of ex-Histon defenders and loan keeper David Button have come in so far.
Dagenham - 08/09 8th, Bookies 33/1 13th= - Last season's surprise package will have to go some to provide a repeat performance after losing five of last season's regulars with only one providing a fee. John Still's bargain hunting usually turns up a few gems, but it would be unlikely all five of the largely unknown quantities that have arrived as replacements are unlikely to be of the same quality to those departed. The sole good news of their summer was the retention of Paul Benson at Shrewsbury's expense.
Darlington - 08/09 12th, Bookies 39/1 17th= - With it looking increasingly likely that they will field a team next Saturday on non-contract terms due their ongoing Administration, it is only left to the imagination quite how badly this season will go. Good performers can been snatched from their grasp before they can award contracts, and their tiny squad has already been forced to cancel a friendly due to lack of bodies. If they can get an even keel they'll probably survive the season in unspectacular fashion, but a return to the Conference is likely if their woes drag on.