Division Three preview
The favourites with the bookmakers are Peter Taylor's Hull City and with the number of signings the club have made over the summer, The Tigers may just run away with the title.
Two relegated sides from Division Two last season - Northampton Town and Huddersfield Town - look to have new life breathed into them and both will likely contend for the promotion places, though last season's Conference champions Yeovil Town look to promise much in their inaugural season in The Football League.
BOSTON UNITED did well to finish 15th in their inaugural season last term following Conference success the year before.
Pilgrims boss Neil Thompson will again have a major task keeping his side from dropping into the relegation places this season but their experiences of the previous season should keep them up.
The York Street club have brought in goalkeeping cover for Paul Bastock, with former Grimsby Town custodian Steve Croudson joining the side.
Planetfootball prediction: 18th
Sky Bet title odds: 28/1
BRISTOL ROVERS endured a difficult season last term but a late flourish helped them avoid relegation.
Pirates boss Ray Graydon has gone out and strengthened wisely for the new campaign, with striker Junior Agogo likely to be a key signing at the Memorial Stadium.
Despite an injury to fellow hit-man Andy Rammell, the West Country club will have a far improved campaign and possibly figure in the play-off shake-up come the season's end.
Planetfootball prediction: 8th
Sky Bet title odds: 14/1
BURY did well to make the play-offs last term despite ongoing financial restraints at Gigg Lane.
Player-manager Andy Preece has been able to shape a squad on a tight budget but those restrictions may prove no match to the bigger clubs in the division this term.
The Shakers will struggle to reach the successes of last season and may be forced to face an indifferent campaign.
Planetfootball prediction: 15th
Sky Bet title odds: 28/1
CAMBRIDGE UNITED boss John Taylor will hope his side can improve on last season's mid-table finish.
However, the Abbey Stadium outfit had some players move on over the summer and The U's may too find challenging the bigger clubs to be a bit much.
Their home form has tended to be strong but that may not be enough to take them into the play-offs.
Planetfootball prediction: 10th
Sky Bet title odds: 25/1
CARLISLE UNITED just avoided relegation from The Football League last term and manager Roddy Collins will want an improved display this term.
The Cumbrians took plenty of heart from their run in the LDV Vans Trophy last season but that may not translate itself into the new season.
Their progress, if any, is likely to be gradual and that may see only a slight improvement in terms of league position this season.
Planetfootball prediction: 19th
Sky Bet title odds: 33/1
CHELTENHAM TOWN found Division Two a bridge too far last term and came back down, even though Bobby Gould replaced Graham Allner as manager in a bid to try and stay up.
The Robins have been casting their eye over a number of new faces and have brought in some promising young talent for the new season.
The Whaddon Road side could figure closely in the play-off picture and in youngster Craig Dobson, they have one of the division's most promising talents.
Planetfootball prediction: 8th
Sky Bet title odds: 16/1
DARLINGTON will look forward to playing in the newly-built Reynolds Arena this term but that may not bring promotion success just yet.
Quakers boss Mick Tait was disappointed not bring back fan favourite Marco Gabbiadini to the club but he has made some useful signings in the process.
Chairman George Reynolds will hope the new stadium pays dividends on the pitch and Darlo may prove a dark horse this season.
Planetfootball prediction: 9th
Sky Bet title odds: 25/1
DONCASTER ROVERS came up through the Conference play-offs last term and will hope to pick up where they left off last May.
Donny pulled off a major coup by signing midfielder Michael McIndoe from Yeovil Town recently but that may not be enough to put the side in the top of the table this season.
Manager Dave Penney does have a combination of youth and experience in his squad and the club should give a decent account of themselves.
Planetfootball prediction: 16th
Sky Bet title odds: 33/1
HUDDERSFIELD TOWN seem ready to resurrect themselves after a tumultuous last season which ended in relegation from Division Two.
Ken Davy has taken control of the club and new Terriers boss Peter Jackson has made some big signings during the summer - including Nigerian World Cup star Efe Sodje from Crewe Alexandra.
An excellent pre-season campaign looks to have sparked the club for a real promotion push this term.
Planetfootball prediction: 5th
Sky Bet title odds: 12/1
HULL CITY look to be the class of the division and should set the pace by which the other clubs will have to chase.
With a first-class stadium and the financial backing of chairman Adam Pearson, Tigers boss Peter Taylor has been able to bring new faces to strengthen his squad.
Their determination to climb up the league will likely see Hull City make a fast start to the new season and remain top of the pile throughout the campaign.
Planetfootball prediction: 1st
Sky Bet title odds: 4/1
KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS had a fair season last term but the Aggborough club may find it difficult to repeat that again this time around.
Manager Ian Britton has shown his shrewdness in getting the most from his squad in the past.
However, with most clubs improving their sides over the summer, The Harriers may have more struggles in the new campaign.
Planetfootball prediction: 21th
Sky Bet title odds: 33/1
LEYTON ORIENT chairman Barry Hearn has made clear that he wants the East London club in a promotion push this season.
However, O's boss Paul Brush may find it difficult to contest with the bigger clubs following the struggles of last term.
Orient should have a far improved campaign but the play-offs may be a bridge too far in the end.
Planetfootball prediction: 11th
Sky Bet title odds: 20/1
LINCOLN CITY had a late run to sneak their way into the play-offs last season and reach the final, where they eventually lost to Bournemouth in Cardiff.
However, The Red Imps' hopes of repeating that success will prove far more difficult this term.
Manager Keith Alexander has proven to bring the best out of his side but the division is promising to be stronger this term.
Planetfootball prediction: 14th
Sky Bet title odds: 25/1
MACCLESFIELD TOWN finished strongly to pull clear of the relegation zone last term but it looks to be another fight to avoid the drop this term.
The Moss Rose club will find the shape of the division to be a more daunting task and that could threaten their status as a Football League club.
Silkmen boss David Moss will have young Aston Villa goalkeeper Boaz Myhill at his disposal but a nerve-racking season likely awaits the Cheshire outfit.
Planetfootball prediction: 20th
Sky Bet title odds: 33/1
MANSFIELD TOWN failed to cope with life in Division Two last term following promotion the season before.
Player-manager Keith Curle has brought some new faces in but his rebuilding process may take a season before it shows results.
Much will depend on their run of results this season, and if The Stags can stop large numbers of goals being scored against them, as was the case last season.
Planetfootball prediction: 12th
Sky Bet title odds: 20/1
NORTHAMPTON TOWN look set to turn things around following relegation last term and make a real push for promotion and the title as well.
Cobblers boss Martin Wilkinson has brought in numerous new faces this summer and after a successful pre-season trip to the United States, they seem ready to take Division Three by storm.
Automatic promotion looks on the cards for the Sixfields Stadium side and they may prove to be the only real contenders to Hull City for the league title.
Planetfootball prediction: 2nd
Sky Bet title odds: 11/2
OXFORD UNITED should deliver on the potential the club has this season and earn their long-awaited promotion to Division Two.
With one of the best grounds in the Third Division and the backing of chairman Firoz Kassam, U's boss Ian Atkins should see his side come good this term.
They should win the race for an automatic promotion spot this season following the heartache of missing the play-offs by a single point last term.
Planetfootball prediction: 3rd
Sky Bet title odds: 10/1
ROCHDALE struggled under the charge of former player-manager Paul Simpson last term, despite a fine run in The FA Cup.
New Dale boss Alan Buckley has made some new signings but departures such as striker Clive Platt to Second Division side Notts County will hamper the club's fortunes this term.
It looks to be a rebuilding process at Spotland for Buckley and a relegation fight seems likely this season.
Planetfootball prediction: 17th
Sky Bet title odds: 33/1
SCUNTHORPE UNITED missed out on a trip to Cardiff last May when upstarts Lincoln City beat them in last season's play-off semi-finals.
Iron boss Brian Laws did well to keep his side in the play-off picture most of last term and the former Grimsby Town manager should be able to repeat that feat again this time around.
The Glanford Park outfit will have new contenders pushing for promotion but Laws's knowledge of the division will keep his squad in the race as well this season.
Planetfootball prediction: 6th
Sky Bet title odds: 14/1
SOUTHEND UNITED have been one of the busiest sides in the transfer market during the close season.
Shrimpers boss Steve Wignall has completely rebuilt his squad at Roots Hall and that should bring better things for the future with the club.
However, the amount of change that has occurred means the squad will need time to settle before real progress can be seen.
Planetfootball prediction: 13th
Sky Bet title odds: 25/1
SWANSEA CITY celebrated their survival from relegation on the last day of the season with a home victory against Hull City.
However, the Welsh club look set to be in another scrap to stay in The Football League, despite some new faces arriving at Vetch Field.
Swans director of football Brian Flynn faces another difficult season trying to keep the club from going into The Conference.
Planetfootball prediction: 22nd
Sky Bet title odds: 33/1
TORQUAY UNITED missed the play-offs by four points last term but it looks to be a more sobering season this time around at Plainmoor.
Gulls boss Leroy Rosenior did ever so well to exceed expectations last season but the new campaign will not bring the same fortune.
The Devon outfit may be another side that finds the division playing far stronger than it did last term and that could take Torquay United out of The Football League.
Planetfootball prediction: 23rd
Sky Bet title odds: 33/1
YEOVIL TOWN make their debut as a Football League club this season, with expectations that the Somerset outfit can push the division's big boys for promotion honours.
Glovers boss Gary Johnson has a sound squad that should turn heads in Division Three, despite losing the services of midfielder Michael McIndoe to Doncaster Rovers.
Huish Park will likely prove a difficult ground for visiting clubs and Yeovil Town's brand of football should figure them for the play-offs, at the very least.
Planetfootball prediction: 4th
Sky Bet title odds: 10/1
YORK CITY have continued to suffer under ongoing financial restraints at Bootham Crescent and their on-field heroics of last season look likely to become a distant memory.
The Minstermen do have the youngest manager in league football with 28-year-old Chris Brass but even he may find the task of Football League survival too much.
The turmoil of the last couple of seasons has meant little or no money for new signings and it looks like York City will be facing a future in The Conference come the season's end.
Planetfootball prediction: 24th
Sky Bet title odds: 33/1
Planetfootball's predicted table:
1) Hull City
2) Northampton Town
3) Oxford United
4) Yeovil Town
5) Huddersfield Town
6) Scunthorpe United
7) Bristol Rovers
8) Cheltenham Town
9) Darlington
10) Cambridge United
11) Leyton Orient
12) Mansfield Town
13) Southend United
14) Lincoln City
15) Bury
16) Doncaster Rovers
17) Rochdale
18) Boston United
19) Carlisle United
20) Macclesfield Town
21) Kidderminster Harriers
22) Swansea City
23) Torquay United
24) York City
