Chesterfield - 09/10 8th, Bookies 14/1 5th= - The first of two new stadia in League Two this season. The b2net Stadium has cost £13million to improve their off-field facilities. On field, they have engaged in little more than tinkering to their existing squad with one-time starlet Craig Davies expected to produce a stunning partnership with veteran Jack Lester - if the 34 year old can keep on shining. An automatic spot may be a step too far without further investment.
Crewe - 09/10 18th, Bookies 28/1 15th - The mantra over pre-season has been about balancing the books and keeping the club ticking over. With a reported £600,000 coming in from player sales, and zero going out, more treading League Two water is expected by most with the wage bill drastically cut from 12 months ago. Expensive forward flops Calvin Zola and Clayton Donaldson will have to prove their worth if the Railwaymen are to challenge.
Gillingham - 09/10 21st(r), Bookies 10/1 1st= - Anything less than automatic promotion will be failure according to chairman Paul Scally. No pressure, then, for second time boss Andy Hessenthaler. The loss of Simeon Jackson has been balanced by the arrival of heavyweight Adebayo Akinfenwa and the somewhat unknown Cody McDonald. If they hit the ground running, the title should be theirs to lose.
Hereford - 09/10 16th, Bookies 40/1 19th - New board, new management, and 13 new players by the time Simon Davey has his 20 on board. A stated top ten aim is not unachievable, and the new-found optimism at Edgar Street could be enough to paper over the unfamiliarity in the squad during the early stages so that the christmas party doesn't double up as the end of season party like last term. Maybe, just maybe...
Lincoln - 09/10 20th, Bookies 33/1 16th= - With the budget largely spent at the end of last term keeping them in the League, Chris Sutton has had little more than tinkering money this summer. In have come a selection of players with a lot of if's hanging over their heads. If Gavin McCallum becomes the potent winger, if Drewe Broughton rediscovers the goals... but it's probably too much and another indifferent season is likely.
Macclesfield - 09/10 19th, Bookies 74/1 22nd - Wrexham boss Dean Saunders said this week it was easier to keep a side in League Two on gates of 1,200 than get promoted out of the Conference. The Silkmen are likely to be one of those Saunders referred to, with their bargain basement setup largely reliant on keeper Jonny Brain last season. This term they have former Bulls third choice Jose Veiga inbetween the sticks. Only a bankruptcy elsewhere might save them.
Morecambe - 09/10 4th, Bookies 20/1 12th - The second new stadium, if they finish it, will host a team with aspirations for another play-off spot at least. The permanent capture of Phil Jevons, and a couple of defensive additions to shore up the occasionally leaky defence might give them just cause but they were considered to be over achievers last term and there's no guarantee they'll settle quickly into their new stadium.