A long but decent read from Barnet's local rag...
Hartlepool United: the appointment of Danny Wilson as manager has played a big part in the bookies making United one of the pre-season favourites. Relegated clubs sometimes take time to adapt to their new surroundings, but his experience will help lift Pool back up to League One at the first attempt.
Final position: First Grimsby Town: teams that fail in the play-offs often struggle the following season and the Mariners have also lost their manager Russell Slade, who has taken a couple of decent players with him to Yeovil. However, the signing of Brentford striker Isaiah Rankin might turn out to be a shrewd one for new boss Graham Rodger and Town, so long as they can attract a few new faces, might just go one better this time.
Final position: Second Wrexham: the surprise package. Wrexham were tough to beat at home but suffered on their travels last season. If they can get the latter right, they might just make an impact. Their much-publicised off-the-pitch problems also appear to be coming to an end. This could be the year of the Dragons.
Final position:Third Franchise: many reckon the Dons are very fortunate to lure the former Bee Martin Allen to Buckinghamshire. Indeed, it would be a surprise if he fails to inspire a promotion push after years of relegation battles for the Dons. Milton Keynes, with a new stadium being built in the wings, have huge potential and Allen is probably the man to help them fulfil it. However, the top three places might just elude them.
Final position: Fourth Mansfield Town: another surprise package. The Stags suffered from inconsistency last season but showed flashes of what their newly assembled squad was capable of, including a comprehensive beating of Barnet. The players are now one year older and wiser, and there is a feeling that they have something to prove. There can be no excuses for failing to deliver this time and the manager Peter Shirtliff, with a few new arrivals in the pipeline, could be the surprise manager of the season.
Final position: Fifth Swindon Town: the Robins are most people's favourites, but not even the arrival of the new boss Dennis Wise and his assistant Gus Poyet will bring guaranteed success. Town will be seen as the team everyone wants to beat and that might work against them. They will at least start winning games more frequently again and should make the play-offs at the very least.
Final position: Sixth Peterborough United: Keith Alexander knows what it takes to make the play-offs. He steered Lincoln there on a regular basis and he will ensure his new club are in the frame again. Expect Alexander to lure more of his former players to London Road in the next couple of weeks. But long-suffering fans have seen many false dawns and automatic promotion will remain out of Posh's reach.
Final position: Seventh Shrewsbury Town: another of the surprise packages. The Shrews are gradually getting better following their return to the Football League and they might just be able to sustain a push for the play-offs this time round. Manager Gary Peters has gone for youth with experience. Six new signings to date are under 20 but all of them played 40 games for their previous clubs last season. It could prove to be a winning formula.
Final position: Eighth Wycombe Wanderers: The Chairboys suffered an alarming slump last season and ultimately had to settle for a place in the play-offs after being dead certs for promotion. There is a new manager at the helm (Paul Lambert) and a fresh start is just what is needed to revitalise the club. A few new faces will ensure Wycombe are again up there or thereabouts, but they might not get off to such a good start.
Final position: Ninth Hereford United: The season will be all about consolidation for the Bulls, but they might surprise a few along the way. Boss Graham Turner has not rested on his laurels and has moved quickly to strengthen his squad, bringing in a number of new faces.The play-offs will just be beyond them, however.
Final position: Tenth Bristol Rovers: the manager Paul Trollope almost lifted the Pirates to a play-off place following his appointment last season. Expectations will be much higher now, but Rovers will be left frustrated again. At least they now look to be heading in the right direction following years of decline. The uncertain future of striker Junior Agogo remains a concern for fans.
Final position: 11th Torquay United: it is unlikely Torquay will fail to improve on last season's disappointing showing. The Gulls finished the season on a high, with Ian Atkins coming in and saving them from relegation. He has instilled some grit into the side and they will enjoy a season of consolidation at the very least.
Final position: 12th Walsall: the Saddlers might be among the pre-season favourites, but they will struggle to find their feet and it will be a season of frustration at the Bescot Stadium. Their new signings to date do little to suggest they can sustain a serious promotion push.
Final position: 13th Stockport County: County did well to recover from an awful first half of the campaign and should do better this time. But there is a feeling the Hatters are still rebuilding and mid-table mediocrity will probably be the best they can hope for.
Final position: 14th Chester City: Chester were up and down like a yo-yo last season and it is difficult to predict what sort of campaign they will have. Manager Mark Wright is back at the helm and has already made some shrewd signings, including Doncaster midfielder Simon Marples who could turn out to be a key player.
Final position: 15th Barnet: there are more realistic expectations at Underhill this summer. No one expects the Bees to take the division by storm and it might just work in their favour. However, Barnet are competing against clubs with much bigger resources and another season of consolidation would not necessarily be a bad thing.
Final position: 16th Notts County: the oldest club in the Football League almost suffered the humiliation of relegation last season. Manager Steve Thompson has brought in a whole host of new faces in a bid to revive the fortunes of this once-great club. Whether it will all click into place straight away is anybody's guess, but it is more than likely to be a season of laying foundations.
Final position: 17th Accrington Stanley: like the Bees, Stanley will find it tough to adapt to life back in the Football League. However, no team from the Conference has gone straight back down and Accrington should have enough momentum to carry them to safety. Manager John Coleman has so far been relatively quiet in the transfer market, keeping faith with the players that got the club this far.
Final position: 18th Lincoln City: the Imps once again failed in the play-offs, for the third year running. City, now without ex-Bee Keith Alexander at the helm, must start all over again. His departure marks an end of an era at Sincil Bank and the new head coach John Schofield might need time to rebuild a squad capable of going one better than those before him. It could be a long and difficult season.
Final position: 19th Darlington: the new stadium arguably the best at this level was supposed to herald a new era on the pitch too. The Quakers have been threatening to make an impact but have generally flattered to deceive over the last couple of seasons, again just missing out on a place in the play-offs last time. And it is unlikely to be third-time lucky. It might get worse before it gets better.
Final position: 20th Boston United: the club's bold move of bringing in a number of former big names last season was still not enough to sustain a promotion challenge. The ex-Stevenage striker Anthony Elding should help take some pressure of Julian Joachim, who is another year older and might find goals a little harder to come by this season. United might not look obvious relegation fodder, but neither did Oxford United last season.
Final position: 21st Bury: These are tough times at Bury and they are among the favourites for the drop. Manager Chris Casper has little cash available and there is not much to suggest this season will be any different from the last one. The Shakers will just about cling on to League football.
Final position: 22nd Rochdale: despite a good start last season, Dale failed to build on it and just about avoided being dragged into the relegation mire. And they will not have the goals of Grant Holt to propel them to such giddy heights this time. Rochdale have been in League Two longer than any other club, but this could be the end of the road for them.
Final position: 23rd Macclesfield Town: the Silkmen have been punching above their weight for many years, but last season's lowly finish they almost got dragged into the mire was a big disappointment after almost gaining promotion the season before and it might be the sign of what is to come. Macc operate on limited resources and their time may be up.
