Cheltenham Town - Last season 17th - Bookies 149/1 24th - Mark Yates will probably want to forget the bulk of 2011 so far. His underperforming side just about kept themselves out of danger, but his bargain basement trawling this summer has not turned heads and a largely disasterous pre-season, culminating in a 4-2 loss to Glenn Hoddle's Academy side, has seen even the most die-hard Robins fan wondering how much longer they can remain a League side.
Crawley Town - Last Season Conf 1st(P) - Bookies 3/1 1st - If the bookies are correct, then we might as well pack up and go home now. The Red Devils are expected to have an unrelenting march towards League One this season, and have received almost unrelenting backing since opening at 5/1. Their only defeat in 2011, in 30 games, was at Old Trafford against Man Utd in the FA Cup. Over the summer they've casually waved their chequebook of debatable origins at a string of high profile signings, and they seem more likely to be derailed by off-field matters than on-field ones.
Crewe Alexandra - Last season 10th - Bookies 40/1 16th= - Dario Gradi's policy of blooding youth players is likely to take even more focus this season with finances tight at Gresty Road. The veteran boss has even hinted at using a squad rotation system to give the youngsters some time off. With a trio of England u17 internationals in their arsenal scouts are likely to be filling the stands to cherry pick the wares on offer, but the reliance on largely untested kids is likely to mean an indifferent season for the Railwaymen.
Dagenham and Redbridge - Last season L1 21st(R) - Bookies 33/1 13th= - A surprise promotion was, less surprisingly, followed by an immediate drop back to League Two. John Still has seen some of his prize assets, including the vast majority of his goalscorers, depart over the summer and he will have to largely start from scratch with his forward line. Half a dozen more unknowns from non-league have entered the stadium gates, and if Still's record of converting them into decent players keeps up he should find enough to keep the Daggers somewhere close to the play-offs.
Gillingham - Last season 8th - Bookies 16/1 6th - Andy Hessenthaler is another manager with an ultimatium. It's promotion or bust at Priestfield, with chairman Paul Scally demanding League One football next season. He's backed his manager in the transfer market, but the injury to Adam Birchall that will see him miss the rest of 2011 at least is likely to put a large dent in the plans. Those plans were already hinging on Birchall and Danny Kedwell taking their prolific non-league records into League Two. The failure of Kedwell in the absence of Birchall will likely cost Hessenthaler his job.
Hereford United - Last season 21st - Bookies 66/1 19th - If Jamie Pitman's record in charge was stretched across last season, the Bulls would have been within touching distance of the play-offs. The January sale of Mathieu Manset threatened to derail the escape from the drop zone, but Stuart Fleetwood now gets Delroy Facey to feed off after often working solo last term. Good team spirit is evident at Edgar Street, but it's now down to the young manager to make an undoubtedly talented side a success on the pitch.
Text at top (next game etc)
Next Game: Away At Scunthorpe In The League On Saturday 21st December At 3.00pm