The Football League season gets underway this weekend and down in League Two there are a few teams with big dreams who are looking to start their climb up the league ladder. Here is our guide to the title contenders and relegation candidates in the bottom tier of the Football League.
A lot of eyes are going to be on Crawley Town (3/1 Title Outright) this season after Steve Evans used the club’s financial muscle to steam-roll through the Blue Square Premier last season. He established a strong side consisting of the best and brightest stars of non-league and has continued to add to his squad this summer.
Evans is a love him or hate him character, but he has experience of League Two and in Matt Tubbs has someone who will guarantee goals. It is no shock Crawley are the favourites to win the League Two title, but they will not have it as easy as they did last season.
Bristol Rovers (10/1 Title Outright) have also been using their financial powers during the summer following relegation and Paul Buckle, who performed heroics as Torquay boss, has brought in no fewer than 15 players. The majority of these are highly experienced at this level, and higher, so they look likely to push Crawley all the way for that title.
Shrewsbury Town (12/1 Title Outright) have lost in the play-offs in three of the last four seasons and the wily old Graham Turner will be desperate to avoid going through that again. They were strong throughout the last campaign and Turner has moved to add the 6ft 5in Marvin Morgan to his attack, who showed at Aldershot he can score goals at this level.
There is a great spirit around Shrewsbury and they should be well fancied to go up automatically come May.
The appointment of Paulo Di Canio as Swindwon Town (9/1 Title Outright) manager has brought some glamour to League Two and fans will be desperate for some success after last season’s struggles at the County Ground.
However, there remain question marks over his ability as a manager and how he will adapt to this level, and some of his overseas signings will need to adapt quickly.
The likes of Oxford, Port Vale and Northampton will all be sniffing around the play-offs, while Gillingham also have the capability of surprising a few people.
After the fairytale story of AFC Wimbledon (12/1 Relegation Outright) it could be a real struggle for them in their first season in the Football League, especially after losing Danny Kedwell to Gillingham. There is not much money around the club but in Terry Brown they have an experienced head and ensuring League Two survival will be enough for their fans.
It could be a long old season for two former Premier League managers in the shape of Peter Reid at Plymouth (9/1 Relegation Outright) and Lawrie Sanchez at Barnet. Consecutive relegations and financial nightmares have left the Pilgrims floundering and it could be seen as a success that they are even able to take their place in League Two.
Reid has struggled to attract players as wages are rarely paid on time and he will need to use all his contacts to get some bargains for the south-west club.
Barnet (11/4 to go down) seem to have been clinging on to their League Two life for many seasons and they spent most of last term in the relegation zone. Former Northern Ireland and Fulham boss Sanchez worked as a consultant to save them and has now taken over the job full-time. A small budget and fan-base limits Barnet and this could be the season they drop out of the Football League.
The likes of Macclesfield (11/4 Relegation Outright) and Cheltenham (10/3) are also be in for a real battle for their Football League lives between now and May.
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