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League Two preview

Image: Skysports.com previews the 2010/11 npower League Two season

As part of skysports.com's build-up to the 2010/11 season, we preview League Two.

As part of skysports.com's build-up to the 2010/11 season, we run a beady eye over League Two

Bradford will be hoping that this is finally their year in npower League Two and they have the perfect man at the helm to lead them on a promotion charge. The Bantams have endured three disappointing campaigns of unfulfilled promise following their relegation in 2007 but manager Peter Taylor has guided Gillingham, Brighton, Hull and Wycombe to promotion from the basement tier during a successful managerial career and after committing his future to the Bantams, a promotion bid looks a good bet at Valley Parade this term. With an average crowd of close to 14,000 last season, there is no doubt Bradford are playing below their level and on the back of some late season form and astute summer signings, supporters should have something to cheer come May. Rotherham look certainties to once again be challenging at the top of the division and manager Ronnie Moore will be targeting a repeat of the automatic promotion he brought to the club 11 years ago. Much will depend on whether the Millers can keep hold of star striker Adam Le Fondre, whose 30 goals last season almost single-handedly earned a play-off final at Wembley, but with investment on the playing side and a new stadium on the horizon a promotion challenge will be seen as a must for Moore's men. Despite losing striker Adebayo Akinfenwa, Northampton have recruited well and they will be aiming to continue their late season form of last term which saw them just miss out on a play-off place and mount an automatic promotion campaign. Gillingham will be desperate to bounce back from their final day relegation of last term and under returning manager Andy Hessenthaler they will be a strong outfit, especially at home, while Shrewsbury, under new boss Graham Turner, will again be seeing a play-off challenge as a minimum target. As ever in League Two, a host of clubs will be harbouring realistic ambitions of making a promotion bid.

Title tilt

Wycombe are back in the division after just one year in League One but a busy summer at Adams Park will stand them in good stead for a lofty finish, while Port Vale, Crewe and Burton will be targeting the play-offs. Chesterfield disappointed last term and slipped out of play-off contention towards the end of the season but their move away from Saltergate to the B2net Stadium will ignite hopes of a top seven finish, while losing play-off semi-finalists Morecambe will also be eyeing a promotion campaign to accompany their move to the brand new Globe Arena. Southend and Stockport come down from League One with financial troubles and with the Hatters only leaving administration a few weeks ago, keeping hold of their Football League status will be seen as new boss Paul Simpson's most important target. Paul Sturrock will be hoping for better things in his new role at Roots Hall, though, and despite bringing in a number of new signings, a season of struggle could lay ahead for the Shrimpers, while a relegation battle also lies in wait for regular strugglers Macclesfield. Chris Sutton enters his first full season of management at Lincoln aiming to better the lower mid-table finish of last term while under Paul Buckle the days of a perennial Torquay relegation battle could be behind them. Stevenage are enjoying their maiden season in the Football League after winning the Blue Square Premier title last season and are finally allowed in 14 years after they were denied entry because of a sub-standard stadium, while Oxford return to the elite level after four years away. Read skysports.com's exhaustive guide to each club in League Two and join the debate over whether we've got our predictions right. Click here for clubs (A-C): Accrington, Aldershot, Barnet, Bradford, Burton, Bury, Cheltenham, Chesterfield, Crewe. Click here for clubs (D-O): Gillingham, Hereford, Lincoln, Macclesfield, Morecambe, Northampton, Oxford. Click here for clubs (P-Z): Port Vale, Rotherham, Shrewsbury, Southend, Stevenage, Stockport, Torquay, Wycombe.

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