The first fixtures in the Football
League take place this Friday and Saturday with all 72 teams doing
battle. Over the next three days we will bring you a comprehensive guide
to all of the clubs and will look at their managers, key players and
prospects. Today we continue with League One.

BOURNEMOUTH

Last season: 11th

Manager: Paul Groves

The Cherries have spent big in 2012
and their eccentric chairman Eddie Mitchell will be expecting promotion.
Lee Bradbury's harsh sacking in March shows his replacement Groves that
success must be instant.

Key player: Eunan O'Kane

With seven senior strikers now on the
books goals are expected - and it will be O'Kane's job to supply the
chances. The 22-year-old playmaker was one of the best players in League
Two last season with Torquay. Eunan O'Kane has joined from Torquay

Players in: Josh
McQuoid (Millwall, player exchange), Lewis Grabban (Rotherham,
undisclosed), Frank Demouge (FC Utrecht, undisclosed), Eunan O'Kane
(Torquay, undisclosed), Miles Addison (Derby, undisclosed), Richard
Hughes (Portsmouth, free), Tommy Elphick (Brighton, undisclosed)

Players out: Warren
Cummings (AFC Wimbledon, free), Mathieu Baudry and Michael Symes (Leyton
Orient, free), Lyle Taylor (Falkirk, free), Jordan Seabright
(released), Shaun Cooper (Crawley, free)

Title odds: 12/1

Promotion: 4/1

BRENTFORD

Last season: 9th

Manager: Uwe Rosler

Former Man City striker Rosler will be
expected to improve on a solid if not spectacular first season in
English management, especially given another busy transfer window.

Key player: Sam Saunders

Width is key to Brentford's style
under Rosler, and if the tricky Saunders and the pacy Myles Weston can
continue to supply the ammunition then a play-off place should be
achievable.

Players in: Harlee
Dean (Southampton, free), Adam Forshaw (Everton, free), Farid El Alagui
(Falkirk, free), Tony Craig (Millwall, undisclosed), Stuart Dallas
(Crusaders, free), Leon Redwood (Brighton, free), Ryan Fredericks
(Tottenham, loan), Scott Barron (Millwall, undisclosed)

Players out: Karleigh
Osborne (Millwall, free), Marcus Bean (Colchester, free), Liam Bellamy
(Ebbsfleet, free), Sam Wood (Wycombe, free), Craig Woodman (Exeter,
free), Pim Balkestein (AFC Wimbledon, free)

Title odds: 14/1

Promotion: 9/2

BURY

Last season: 14th

Manager: Vacant

Richie Barker - who has left the club
for Crawley - earned the club promotion in 2010-11 after taking over
from Alan Knill late in that season. Bury will hope for another seamless
transition, whoever the new man is.

Key player: Steven Schumacher

Team spirit is key at Gigg Lane and
captain Schumacher epitomises everything that is good about Bury. An all
action midfielder with an eye for goal.

Players in: Trevor
Carson (Sunderland, free), Lateef Elford-Alliyu (West Brom, free),
Marcus Marshall (Rotherham, free), Adam Lockwood (Doncaster, free), Mark
Cullen (Hull, six-month loan)

Players out: Patrick
Cregg (St Johnstone, free), Andy Haworth (Falkirk, free), Ritchie
Branagan, Zachary Rothwell, Danny Hudson (all released), Mike Grella
(Scunthorpe United, free), Shaun Harrad (Cheltenham, season-long loan)

Title odds: 50/1

Promotion: 16/1

CARLISLE

Last season: 8th

Manager: Greg Abbott

Approaching four years in the job,
Abbott is regarded as one of the best managers in the lower leagues
having got Carlisle consistently challenging in the top half of the
League One table on a shoestring budget.

Key player: Lee Miller

Miller's free transfer signing last
summer proved an inspired piece of business as the former Scotland
international striker notched 14 goals in 33 league starts. A strong
physical presence.

Players in: Mike Edwards (Notts County, free), Danny Cadamarteri (Huddersfield, free)

Players out: Craig Curran and Stephen O'Halloran (released), Francois Zoko (Notts Co, free)

Title odds: 28/1

Promotion: 9/1

COLCHESTER

Last season: 10th

Manager: John Ward

The former Cheltenham and Carlisle
boss has restored his reputation at Layer Road with consecutive
10th-place finishes since taking over in 2010. He’ll do well to improve
on that without more investment.

Key player: Anthony Wordsworth

Consistently linked with Championship
clubs, Wordsworth possesses a wicked left foot. The combative
23-year-old midfielder is equally comfortable playing out wide or
centrally.

Players in: Marcus Bean (Brentford, free), Freddie Sears (West Ham, free), Clinton Morrison (Sheffield Wednesday, free)

Players out: Kayode
Odejayi (Rotherham, free), Steven Gillespie (Fleetwood, undisclosed),
Ashley Vincent (Port Vale, free), Lloyd James (Leyton Orient, free), Ben
Williams (Hibernian, free)

Title odds: 33/1

Promotion: 11/1

COVENTRY

Last season: 23rd (Championship)

Manager: Andy Thorn

Unusually for a manager of a relegated
club Thorn has maintained backing from the stands at the Ricoh Arena,
mainly due to his admirable handing of off-field dramas and his
insistence on passing football. He will need to deliver promotion this
season though.


Andy Thorn has a tough redbuilding job on his hands

Key player: Stephen Elliott

Goals were the problem for a talented
young team last season and former Sunderland and Wolves striker Elliott
will be expected to deliver.

Players in: Stephen
Elliott (Hearts, free), John Fleck (Rangers, undisclosed), Kevin Kilbane
(Hull, free), Kevin Malaga (Nice, free), William Edjenguele
(Panetolikos, free), Callum Ball (Derby, season-long loan), Reece Brown
(Manchester United, season-long loan), Adam Barton (Preston,
undisclosed)

Players out: Clive
Platt (Northampton, free), James McPake (Hibernian, free), Martin
Cranie, Sammy Clingan, Hermann Hreidarsson and Danny Ireland (all
released), Gael Bigirimana (Newcastle, undisclosed), Freddy Eastwood
(Southend, free), Richard Keogh (Derby, undisclosed), Gary Deegan
(Hibernian, undisclosed)

Title odds: 12/1

Promotion: 9/2

CRAWLEY

Last season: 3rd (League Two)

Manager: Richie Barker

Started life in management with six
wins on the bounce to guide Bury to promotion in 2010-11. Exceeded
expectations once more last term as the Shakers finished well clear of
the drop zone and should have some money to play with now at the
Broadfield Stadium.

Key player: Kyle McFadzean

Strikers Matt Tubbs and Tyrone Barnett
proved replaceable last season, but McFadzean is the rock upon which
Crawley are built. Equally capable of playing in defensive midfield or
central defence.

Players in: Paul
Jones (Peterborough, free), Mat Sadler (Walsall, free), Nicky Adams
(Rochdale, undisclosed), Mark Connolly (Bolton, free), Shaun Cooper
(Bournemouth, free)

Players out: Scott
Shearer (Rotherham, free), Dean Howell (Fleetwood, free), John Dempster
(Mansfield, free), Richard Brodie (Morecambe, loan) Pablo Mills
(released), Glenn Wilson (Gateshead, free)

Title odds: 20/1

Promotion: 11/2

CREWE

Last season: 7th (League Two)

Manager: Steve Davis

Crewe were hovering just above the
relegation zone when Davis took his first Football League job at the
club November - six months later they were celebrating promotion via the
play-offs after a 19-game unbeaten run.

Key player: Ashley Westwood

New Manchester United signing Nick
Powell grabbed all the headlines at Gresty Road last season but there
are plenty of other academy products established in the first team.
Westwood offers a strong physical presence as well as ability on the
ball in midfield.

Players in: Mark
Ellis (Torquay, undisclosed), Gregor Robertson (Chesterfield, free),
Mathias Pogba (Wrexham, nominal), Abdul Osman (AO Kerkyra, free),
Michael West (Ebbsfleet, nominal)

Players out: Nick
Powell (Manchester United, undisclosed), David Artell (Port Vale, free),
Shaun Miller (Sheffield United, undisclosed), Lee Bell, Carl Martin,
Jordan Brown, Danny Shelley, Jason Oswell, Caspar Hughes, Michael Koral,
Danny Ting, Jordan Connerton (all released)

Title odds: 33/1

Promotion: 11/1

DONCASTER

Last season: 24th in Championship

Manager: Dean Saunders

The ex-Wales international found the
step up from the Blue Square Premier League too much to handle but has
been given the chance to redeem himself. Should be helped by a move away
from the ridiculous transfer policy last season that saw over-paid and
underachieving 'stars' dumped on his doorstep.


Dean Saunders will hope to take Doncaster straight back up

Key player: James Coppinger

Experienced attacking midfielder who
has been at the club for eight years and has two years left on his
contract. He can chip in with the odd goal and will be looking to do so
more often now that he has dropped down a levle.

Players in: David
Syers (Bradford, free), David Cotterill (Barnsley, free), Robbie Blake
(Bolton, free), Rob Jones (Sheffield Wednesday, free), Billy Paynter
(Leeds, undisclosed), Paul Quinn (Cardiff, free)

Players out: Sam Hird
(Chesterfield, free), James Hayter (Yeovil, free), Adam Lockwood (Bury,
free), El-Hadji Diouf, Pascal Chimbonda, Simon Gillett, John Oster,
Fabien Robert, Giles Barnes, Oscar Radford and Habib Beye (all
released), George Friend (Middlesbrough, undisclosed), James O'Connor
(Derby, undisclosed), James Baxendale (Walsall, free)

Title odds: 16/1

Promotion: 9/2

HARTLEPOOL

Last season: 13th

Manager: Neale Cooper

Cooper made a good impression on his
return to the hotseat last season, guiding the Pools to their highest
league finish since he was first in charge. May have his work cut out
this time around however after a 5-0 defeat to Crewe in the Capital One
Cup, which he described as 'garbage'.

Key player: Peter Hartley

Harltepool born and bred, Hartley has
been with the club for three years after beginning his career with
Sunderland. At 24, he has time on his side and will be a crucial part of
the Pools defence once again this season.

Players in: Jonathan Franks (Middlesbrough, free), Simon Walton (Plymouth, free), Steve Howard (Leicester, free)

Players out: Gary
Liddle (Notts County, free), James Brown (Gateshead, free), Adam Boyd
(Celtic Nation, free), Colin Larkin, Steve Haslam, Callum Hassan (all
released), Nolberto Solano (retired)

Title odds: 50/1

Promotion: 16/1

LEYTON ORIENT

Last season: 20th

Manager: Russell Slade

Slade has overseen a summer clear-out
after last season's struggles, and he must get his new-look squad to gel
quickly if they are to avoid a repeat.

Key player: Dean Cox

Former Brighton man can play on the
wing or in a more advanced role and scored nine times last season. His
goals could be crucial once again if Orient are to mount a promotion
push this time.

Players in: Gary
Sawyer (Bristol Rovers, free), Anthony Griffith (Port Vale,
undisclosed), Mathieu Baudry and Michael Symes (Bournemouth, free), Ryan
Allsop (Millwall, free), Ryan Brunt (Stoke, loan), Nathan Clarke
(Huddersfield, free), Lloyd James (Colchester, free)

Players out: Dean
Leacock (Notts County, free), Matt Spring (Wycombe, free), George Porter
(Burnley, free), Terrell Forbes (Chesterfield, free), Jamie Smith
(Dover, free), Jonathan Tehoue, Jamie Cureton, Tom Lovelock, Mike Cestor
(released)

Title odds: 50/1

Promotion: 20/1

MK DONS

Last season: 5th

Manager: Karl Robinson

Will this finally be Robinson's year?
He has been banging on the promotion door for some time now that it must
surely open this time. Minimal squad changes mean the Dons should be
able to hit the ground running.

Key player: Alan Smith

The former Leeds, Manchester United
and Newcastle man is no longer a goalscorer but his experience could
prove to be vital this season. He received three times as many yellow
cards as he scored goals during his loan spell but clearly enjoyed
himself having signed permanently.

Players in: Jon Otsemobor (Sheff Weds, free), Alan Smith (Newcastle, free), Ryan Lowe (Sheffield Wednesday, undisclosed)

Players out: George Williams (Fulham, tribunal), Tom Flanagan (Gillingham, loan)

Title odds: 7/1

Promotion: 12/5

NOTTS COUNTY

Last season: 7th

Manager: Keith Curle

Narrowly missed out on the play-offs
last season. Curle's first full campaign in charge will surely see them
challenge for at least a top-six spot again, with automatic promotion a
possibility.

Key player: Jeff Hughes

An impressive 13-goal haul in his
debut season last year ensured Hughes was an instant hit. The former
Northern Ireland international will hope for a repeat performance, with
perhaps the prize of promotion as a reward.

Players in: Enoch
Showunmi (Tranmere, free), Bartosz Bialkowski (Southampton, free), Gary
Liddle (Hartlepool, free), Dean Leacock (Leyton Orient, free), Jamal
Campbell-Ryce (Bristol City, free), Joss Labadie (Tranmere, free), Manny
Smith (Walsall, free), Yoann Arquin (Hereford, free), Francois Zoko
(Carlisle, free), Carl Regan, Tom Williams (both free agents)

Players out: Ishmael
Demontagnac (Northampton, free), Ben Burgess (Tranmere, free), Mike
Edwards (Carlisle, free), Stuart Nelson (Gillingham, free), Charlie
Allen (Gillingham, free), Stephen Hunt, Sam Sodje, Liam Chilvers, Karl
Hawley, Robert Burch, Jude Stirling, John Spicer, Jon Harley, George
Nicholas (all released)

Title odds: 14/1

Promotion: 9/2

OLDHAM

Last season: 16th

Manager: Paul Dickov

Surely the Scotsman must improve
significantly this season after finishing just one place higher than his
debut campaign. Perhaps some clubs would be happy with mediocrity but
this seems a good time for Oldham to start moving up the table.

Key player: Dean Furman

Club captain is still only 24 after
signing from Rangers on a permanent basis two years ago. Started his
career at Chelsea and will be looking to establish himself once again
with perhaps an eye on a move to a bigger club.

Players in: Connor
Brown (Sheffield United, free), Daniel Taylor (Newcastle, free),
Jonathan Grounds (Middlesbrough, free), Lee Croft (Derby, season loan),
Liam Jacob (Manchester United, free), Cliff Byrne (Scunthorpe United,
free), Jordan Slew (Blackburn, loan)

Players out: Ryan
Brooke (Altrincham, free), Kieran Lee (Sheffield Wednesday, free), Keanu
Marsh-Brown and Reuben Reid (Yeovil, free), Chris Taylor (Millwall,
free), Zander Diamond (Burton, free), Paul Black (Tranmere, free), Djeny
Bembo-Leta, Matt Carr, Phil McGrath, Josh Parker, Shefki Kuqi, Filipe
Morais (all released)

Title odds: 50/1

Promotion: 16/1

PORTSMOUTH

Last season: 22nd in Championship

Manager: Michael Appleton

A job you wouldn't wish on your worst
enemy. Appleton almost pulled off a miracle escape last season but with a
10-point penalty and barely any players, he will do well to avoid a
similar fate this campaign.

Key player: A buyer

Portsmouth remain in danger of going
out of business and so without a new buyer, it doesn't matter who does
what on the field. Balram Chainrai has withdrawn his offer on the eve of
the new season.

Players in: Simon Eastwood (free agent)

Players out: Jason
Pearce (Leeds, £500,000), Joel Ward (Crystal Palace, £400,000), Stephen
Henderson (West Ham, undisclosed), Kelvin Etuhu (Barnsley, free), Hayden
Mullins (Birmingham, undisclosed), Marko Futacs (Leicester, undisclosed
compensation), Ricardo Rocha, Benjani Mwaruwari (both released), Jamie
Ashdown (Leeds, free), Erik Huseklepp (SK Brann, free), Luke Varney
(Leeds United, free), Greg Halford (Nottingham Forest, free), David
Norris (Leeds, free), Aaron Mokoena (Bidvest Wits, free), David Kitson
(released), Richard Hughes (Bournemouth, free), Tal Ben-Haim, Liam
Lawrence (both released)

Title odds: 50/1

Promotion: 10/1

PRESTON

Last season: 15th

Manager: Graham Westley

One of the more colourful and
controversial characters in football. Probably not a good idea to cross
him as you may find a text message winging its way to your phone. Has
overhauled the squad and must improve on last season's dismal showing.


Graham Westley has his work cut out at Preston

Key player: Lee Trundle

Remember him? Trundle has been given
another chance to play English league football after two successful
years at Neath. It remains to be seen how much ability he retains from
the heady heights of his career when he was prolific for Swansea.

Players in: John
Welsh (Tranmere, free), Shane Cansdell-Sherriff (Shrewsbury, free),
Nicky Wroe (Shrewsbury, free), Paul Huntington (Yeovil, free), David
Buchanan (Tranmere, free), David Amoo (Liverpool, free), Richard Wright
(Ipswich, free), Scott Laird and John Mousinho (Stevenage, free), Lee
Holmes (Southampton, free), Jeffrey Monakana (Arsenal, free), Keith
Keane (Luton, free), Lee Trundle (Neath, free)

Players out: Nicky
Hunt (Rotherham, free), David Gray (Stevenage, free), Paul Parry
(Shrewsbury, free), Barry Nicholson (Fleetwood, undisclosed), Paul
Coutts (Derby, undisclosed), Conor McLaughlin (Fleetwood, free), Seanan
Clucas (Bristol Rovers, free), Scott Leather (Altrincham, free), Jamie
Douglas (Dungannon Swifts, free), George Miller (Accrington Stanley,
free), Daniel Devine, Ian Ashbee, Michael McLellan, Alex Billington,
Andreas Arestidou, Iain Turner, Dominic Comrie, Aaron Brown, Richard
Wright and Juvhel Tsoumou (all released), Neil Mellor (retired), Adam
Barton (Coventry, undisclosed)

Title odds: 10/1

Promotion: 10/3

SCUNTHORPE UNITED

Last season: 18th in League One

Manager: Alan Knill

The jury is still out on Knill. He has
a reputation for wanting his sides to play attractive football but
failed at both Rotherham and as first-team coach of Chesterfield before
having success at Bury. Last season’s finish was disappointing however
and will need to bring the better form from the second half of last
season into August.

Key player: David Mirfin

Knill believes signing the former
Watford defender, who is in his third stint at the club, is a real coup.
He was one of the major reasons for a revival in fortunes on loan last
season and the club will hope the 27-year-old can continue his fine
form.

Players in: James
Severn (Derby, free), Callum Kennedy (Swindon, free), Josh Walker
(Watford, free), Christian Ribeiro (Bristol City, free), Mike Grella
(Bury, free), David Mirfin (Watford, free)

Players out: Michael
O'Connor (Rotherham, free), Andrew Wright (Morecambe, free), Sam Togwell
(Chesterfield, free), Josh Lillis (Rochdale, free), Cliff Byrne
(Oldham, free), Garry Thompson (Bradford, free), Jordan Robertson, Eddie
Nolan, Ashley Palmer and Aron Wint, Scott Matthews (all released)

Title odds: 33/1

Promotion odds: 10/1

SHEFFIELD UNITED

Last season: 3rd

Manager: Danny Wilson

Put simply, must get promoted. Came so
close last season losing 8-7 on penalties in play-off final but club is
too big to be in this division, particularly when their cross-city
rivals won the promotion duel last season. Wilson will need a good start
to keep the fans happy after they were upset at the appointment of the
former Sheffield Wednesday boss at the start of last season.

Key player: Harry Maguire

Showed some real maturity at the heart
of defence last season and is developing into a class act. The
19-year-old is comfortable on the ball as well as being a physical
presence. Harry Maguire seems destined for the top


Players in: Darryl
Westlake (Walsall, tribunal), Tony McMahon (Middlesbrough, free), Matt
Hill (Blackpool, free), Shaun Miller (Crewe, undisclosed), Nick Blackman
(Blackburn, undisclosed)

Players out: Connor
Brown (Oldham, free), Seamus Conneely (Sligo Rovers, free), Marc Warren
(Airdrie United, free), Ched Evans, Steve Simonsen, James Beattie,
Johnny Ertl, Andy Taylor, Jack Adams, Corey Gregory, Shane Murray (all
released)

Title odds: 6/1

Promotion: 7/4

SHREWSBURY TOWN

Last season: 2nd in League Two

Manager: Graham Turner

You could tell he was a defender as a
player after his miserly defence leaked just 12 goals at home all season
and didn’t lose a game at New Meadow. Organisation will be crucial if
he is to keep his side in the division.

Key Player: Mark Wright

The 30-year-old winger has been one of
the top players over the last two seasons, playing more than 100 games
for the club. If he can keep contributing from out wide while chipping
in with vital goals the team will prosper.

Players in: Asa Hall
(Oxford, free), Aaron Wildig (Cardiff, free), Darren Jones (Aldershot,
free), Ryan Doble (Southampton, free), Luke Summerfield (Cheltenham,
free), Rob Purdie (Hereford, free), Paul Parry (Preston, free), Chris
Weale (Leicester, free), Joe Anyon (Lincoln, free)

Players out: Shane
Cansdell-Sherriff and Nicky Wroe (Preston, free), James Collins
(Swindon, free), Ian Sharps (Rotherham, free), Lionel Ainsworth
(Rotherham, free), Chris Neal (Port Vale, free) Carl Regan, Lionel
Ainsworth and Ben Smith (released)

Title odds: 40/1

Promotion: 14/1

STEVENAGE

Last season: 6th

Manager: Gary Smith

Replaced Graham Westley in January and
maintained the club’s promotion push brilliantly only to lose in the
play-offs. The 43-year-old built a strong reputation in the MLS after
turning round Colorado Rapids to win the title in 2010. Is savvy in the
transfer market so expect his big, strong squad to challenge again at
the top end if he makes some good acquisitions.

Key player: Jon Ashton

The defender has been key to the mean
defence which has been the cornerstone of the rise through the division
over the past few seasons. Will have to play well to cover for the loss
of last season’s player of the year, full back, Scott Laird.


Jon Ashton has been a rock in the Stevenage defence

Players in: Anthony
Furlonge (Southend, free), Greg Tansey (Inverness, free), James Dunne
(Exeter, free), Steven Arnold (Wycombe, free), Anthony Grant (Southend,
free), David Gray (Preston, free), Bondz N'Gala (Yeovil, free), Lee
Hills (Crystal Palace, free), Lucas Akins (Tranmere, undisclosed)

Players out: Scott
Laird and John Mousinho (Preston, free), Stacy Long (AFC Wimbledon,
free), Darren Murphy (Port Vale, free), Jennison Myrie-Williams (Port
Vale, free) Ronnie Henry (Luton Town, free), Michael Bostwick
(Peterborough, undisclosed), Darren Murphy (Port Vale, free), Peter Winn
(Macclesfield, free), Alan Julian (Newport County, free), Ben May, Phil
Edwards (both released), Craig Reid (Aldershot, undisclosed)

Title odds: 33/1

Promotion: 10/1

SWINDON

Last season: 1st in League Two

Manager: Paolo di Canio

The controversial former West Ham
striker repaid the faith shown in him by chairman Jeremy Wray last
season after a sticky start. The 44-year-old overhauled his squad and
they walked away with the League Two title.

Key player: Matt Ritchie

Arguably the best player in League Two
last season. The attacking midfielder is still young and can improve
again. Another decent contribution of goals (he scored 11 last seaon)
would be handy for Di Canio as well.

Title odds: 9/1

Promotion: 11/4

Players in: Gary
Roberts (free), James Collins (Shrewsbury, free), Andy Williams (Yeovil,
free), Alan Navarro (Brighton, free), Jay McEveley (Barnsley, free),
Tommy Miller (Huddersfield, free), Troy Archibald-Henville (Exeter,
undisclosed)

Players out: Billy
Bodin (Torquay, undisclosed), Alan Connell (Bradford, free), Jonathan
Smith (York, undisclosed), Callum Kennedy (Scunthorpe United, free),
Mehdi Kerrouche (CS Constantine, free), Lukas Magera (Mlada Boleslav,
free), Etienne Esajas, Abdul Said, Phil Smith, Mark Scott, Lander
Gabilondo, and Mattia Lanzano (all released)

TRANMERE ROVERS

Last season: 12th

Manager: Ronnie Moore

Replaced Les Parry in March after a
run of 20 games with just one win. The 59-year-old turned round the
season and led the team to mid-table safety in his third spell at the
club.

Key player: Ian Goodison

In his 40th year, the Jamaican has won
more than 100 caps for his country and has been a consistent performer
at the heart of Rovers defence over the past eight years. Could be a
tough season for Tranmere so will have to use all of his experience.

Players in: Ben
Burgess (Notts County, free), Danny Harrison (Rotherham, free),
Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro (Rochdale, free), James Wallace (Everton,
undisclosed), Jason Mooney (Wycombe, free), Liam Palmer (Sheffield
Wednesday, six-month loan), Paul Black (Oldham, free), Jake Cassidy
(Wolves, six-month loan), Joe Thompson (Rochdale, undisclosed)

Players out: John
Welsh (Preston, free), David Buchanan (Preston, free), Robbie Weir
(Burton, free), Enoch Showunmi (Notts County, free), Joss Labadie (Notts
County, free), Mustafa Tiryaki (1461 Trabzon, free), David Raven
(Inverness, free), Andy Coughlin (Wrexham, free) Martin Devaney
(released), Lucas Akins (Stevenage, undisclosed), Ben Burgess (retired)

Title odds: 25/1

Promotion: 9/1

WALSALL

Last season: 19th

Manager: Dean Smith

Couldn’t improve on the 2010-2011
season after drawing too many games (20) last time around. Will hope
that the young squad he built will start to thrive with more experience
this season and stop conceding late goals that set them back last term.

Key player: Andy Butler

The former Huddersfield and Scunthorpe
central defender was made captain when Smith took charge. The
28-year-old will be crucial in helping to develop the youngsters that
are coming through the ranks.


Andy Butler will captain Walsall this season

Players in: Ashley
Hemmings (Wolves, released), Florent Cuvelier (Stoke, six-month loan),
Dean Holden (Rochdale, free), Febian Brandy (Panetolikos, free), James
Baxendale (Doncaster, free), Ben Purkiss and Nicky Featherstone (both
Hereford, free)

Players out: Alex Nicholls
(Northampton, free), Mat Sadler (Crawley, free), Ryan Jarvis (Torquay,
free), Olly Lancashire (Aldershot, free), Kevan Hurst (Southend, free),
Jamie Tank (Wolves, undisclosed), Connor Deards (Redditch, free) Jon
Macken, Anton Peterlin and Jonny Haynes (released), Emanuel Ledesma
(Middlesbrough, free), Darryl Westlake (Sheffield United, tribunal)

Title odds: 80/1

Promotion: 25/1

YEOVIL TOWN

Last season: 17th

Manager: Gary Johnson

After replacing Terry Skiverton in
January for his second stint at the club, the team went on a decent run
of form to stave off relegation. Will be battling against a small budget
again.

Key player: Luke Ayling

With top scorer Andy Williams leaving
there is even more of an emphasis on the defence to keep things tight
given that they conceded 80 goals last term. The 20-year-old former
Arsenal trainee will be key to this and keeping his team in the
division.

Players in: Keanu
Marsh-Brown (Oldham, free), Sam Foley (Newport County, free), Reuben
Reid (Oldham, free), Jamie McAllister (Bristol City, free), James Hayter
(Doncaster, free), Lewis Young (Northampton, free), Nathan Ralph
(Peterborough, free), Gozie Ugwu (Reading, six-month loan), Byron
Webster (Northampton, free), Marek Stech (West Ham, free), Rohan Ince
(Chelsea, six-month loan)

Players out: Andy
Williams (Swindon, free), Paul Huntington (Preston, free), Billy Gibson
(Cambridge, free), Kieran Agard (Rotherham United, free), Rhys
Baggridge, Lewis Clarke and Rob Clowes (released), Bondz N'Gala
(Stevenage, free)

Title odds: 66/1

Promotion: 25/1




BLOGGERS' PREDICTIONS


Kevin

Champions: Sheffield United

Promoted: Swindon

Play-offs: MK Dons

Relegated: Walsall, Yeovil, Leyton Orient, Hartlepool.


Joe

Champions: Swindon

Promoted: MK Dons

Play-offs: Bournemouth

Relegated: Tranmere, Bury, Walsall, Hartlepool


Martin

Champions: Sheffield United

Promoted: MK Dons

Play-offs: Swindon

Relegated: Yeovil, Walsall, Portsmouth, Oldham