Contenders and the pretenders

BARNSLEY

Manager: Danny Wilson

Last season: 23rd in the Championship

Nickname: Tykes

Ground: Oakwell

Capacity: 23,009

Players in: Adam Davies, (Sheffield Wednesday, free), Kane Hemmings (Cowdenbeath, free), Conor Hourihane (Plymouth, undisclosed), Ross Turnbull (Doncaster, free), Sam Winnall (Scunthorpe, undisclosed)

Players out: Bobby Hassell, Emmanuel Frimpong, Paddy McCourt, Jordan Clark, John Cofie, Andrai Jones, Sam Patterson, McCauley Shillito, Erico Sousa, Jordan Tunnicliffe, Iain Turner, Martin Woods, Jacob Mellis (all released), Jim O’Brien (Coventry, free), Kelvin Etuhu (Bury, free), Liam Lawrence (Shrewsbury, free), Luke Steele (Panathinaikos, free), Chris O’Grady (Brighton, undisclosed)

Key man: Sam Winnall

Chances: Barnsley boss Danny Wilson, who steered the club to promotion to the Premier League during his first spell in charge in 1997, overhauled his squad during the summer and expects his new-look side to mount an instant challenge in their bid to bounce back to the Championship at the first attempt.


BRADFORD


Manager: Phil Parkinson

Last season: 11th

Nickname: Bantams

Ground: Valley Parade

Capacity: 25,136

Players in: Matthew Dolan (Middlesbrough, free), Billy Knott (Sunderland, free), Gary Liddle (Notts County, free), Alan Sheehan (Notts County, free), Billy Clarke (Crawley, free), Jordan Pickford (loan, Sunderland)

Players out: Gary Jones, Louie Swain, Nathan Doyle, Jon McLaughlin (all released), Carl McHugh (Plymouth, free), Kyel Reid (Preston, free), Matthew Bates (Hartlepool, free), Garry Thompson (Notts County),

Key man: Aaron Mclean

Chances: Bradford held their own in League One last season following promotion, but plenty of comings and goings indicate the club is not content with making up the numbers. Boss Phil Parkinson has added some experienced players to his squad this summer as he aims to get closer to the top six.


BRISTOL CITY


Manager: Steve Cotterill

Last season: 12th

Nickname: Robins

Ground: Ashton Gate

Capacity: 21,501

Players in: Mark Little (Peterborough, free), Wade Elliott (Birmingham, free), Luke Freeman (Stevenage, undisclosed), Korey Smith (Oldham, undisclosed), Aaron Wilbraham (Crystal Palace, free), Luke Ayling (Yeovil, compensation), Luis Gilabert (Valencia, free), Billy Murphy (Hereford, free)

Players out: Louis Carey, Liam Fontaine, Marvin Elliott, Stephen Pearson, Mitch Brundle, Kevin Krans (all released), Liam Kelly (Oldham, undisclosed), Brendan Moloney (Yeovil, free)

Key man: Jay Emmanuel-Thomas

Chances: Steve Cotterill has overseen a real transformation since arriving at Ashton Gate and City look set to make a sustained challenge at the top end of the table in his first full season in charge. Luke Freeman, Korey Smith and Luke Ayling in particular look like smart additions, while Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Sam Baldock will continue to score goals on a regular basis at this level.


CHESTERFIELD


Manager: Paul Cook

Last season: 1st in League Two

Nickname: Spireites

Ground: Proact Stadium

Capacity: 10,600

Players in: Charlie Raglan (FC United of Manchester, free), Daniel Jones (unattached), Charlie Dawes (Sheffield Wednesday, free)

Players out: Sam Togwell, Jacob Hazel, (both released), Nathan Smith (Yeovil, free), Marc Richards (Northampton, free), Matty Brown (Chester, free), Jamie Devitt (Morecambe, free)

Key man: Ian Evatt

Chances: Chesterfield’s title-winning squad looks well-equipped to make the step up to League One. A season of struggle is not expected, with the right additions possibly making the difference between a mid-table finish and a play-off challenge.


COLCHESTER


Manager: Joe Dunne

Last season: 16th

Nickname: U’s

Ground: Weston Homes Community Stadium

Capacity: 10,084

Players in: Sean Clohessy (Kilmarnock, free), Ben Gordon (Ross County, free), Chris Lewington (Dagenham, free), Dominic Smith (Crewe, free), Dan Holman (Braintree, free)

Players out: Ryan Dickson (Crawley, free), Brian Wilson (Oldham, free), Mark Cousins (Dagenham, free)

Key man: Freddie Sears

Chances: Colchester steered clear of another nerve-jangling final day last season, finishing six points above the drop zone, but they were constantly looking over their shoulders and manager Joe Dunne will be expecting another tough challenge. Improving their home form will be crucial if the U’s are to retain their League One status.


COVENTRY


Manager: Steven Pressley

Last season: 18th

Nickname: Sky Blues

Ground: Groundsharing at Northampton’s Sixfields Stadium

Capacity: 7,653

Players in: Danny Swanson (Peterborough, free), Jim O’Brien (Barnsley, free), Reda Johnson (Sheffield Wednesday, free), Ryan Allsopp (Bournemouth, loan), Mohamed Coulibaly (Bournemouth, loan), Danny Pugh (Leeds, free), Shaun Miller (Sheff Utd, free), Marcus Tudgay (Nottingham Forest, free).

Players out: Ben Maund, Louis Garner, Lewis Rankin, Alex Gott, Ryan Smith, Jordan Smith, Ryan Quinn, Eli Bako, Jordan Forrester and Courtney Baker-Richardson (all released), Joe Murphy (Huddersfield, free), Blair Adams (Notts County, free), Franck Moussa (Charlton, free), Mark Marshall (Port Vale, free), Callum Wilson (Bournemouth, undisclosed), Cyrus Christie (Derby, undisclosed)

Key man: Reda Johnson

Chances: Coventry will start off on an equal footing after being deducted 10 points last season but will not be helped by another campaign of playing ‘home’ games in Northampton. If manager Steven Pressley can fill the void left by leading goalscorer Callum Wilson’s departure, the Sky Blues could mount a play-off challenge.


CRAWLEY


Manager: John Gregory

Last season: 14th

Nickname: Red Devils

Ground: Broadfield Stadium

Capacity: 5,996

Players in: Jimmy Smith (Stevenage, undisclosed), Brian Jensen (Bury, free), Lanre Oyebanjo (York, free), Ryan Dickson (Colchester, free), Sonny Bradley (Portsmouth, undisclosed), Gavin Tomlin (Port Vale, undisclosed), Izale McLeod (MK Dons, free), Gwion Edwards (Swansea, undisclosed), Lewis Young (Bury, free), Dean Leacock (Notts Co, free), Raphael Spiegel (West Ham, loan), Emmett O’Connor (free agent), Raphael Spiegel (West Ham, loan)

Players out: Rory Fallon, Louis John, Johnny Maddison, Alex Malins, Jonte Smith (all released), Dannie Bulman (AFC Wimbledon, free), Mike Jones (Oldham, free), Paul Jones (Portsmouth, free), Mat Sadler (Rotherham, free), Kyle McFadzean (MK Dons, undisclosed), Jamie Proctor (Fleetwood, free), Billy Clarke (Bradford, free), Andy Drury (Luton, free), Gary Dicker (Carlisle, free), Sergio Torres (Whitehawk, free), Paul Connolly (Luton, free), Mark Connolly (Kilmarnock, free)

Key man: Joe Walsh

Chances: John Gregory has overhauled his squad bringing in the likes of former Chelsea midfielder Jimmy Smith and ex-England under-21 striker Izale McLeod.

But, much like their manager, past glories are long behind the new boys and a relegation battle is on the cards.


CREWE


Manager: Steve Davis

Last season: 19th

Nickname: Alex, Railwaymen

Ground: Gresty Road

Capacity: 10,153

Players in: Scott Shearer (Rotherham, free)

Players out: Abdul Osman (released), Steve Phillips (Nantwich, free), Byron Moore (Port Vale, free), AJ Leitch-Smith (Yeovil, free), Mark Ellis (Shrewsbury, free), Kelvin Mellor (Plymouth, free), Mathias Pogba (Pescara, undisclosed).

Key man: Brad Inman

Chances: Saved on the final day of last season, Crewe’s young charges will be better for the experience of their long relegation fight. Top scorer Chuks Aneke, who was on loan from Arsenal, will not be back, though, so the onus will once again fall to the next generation to keep them in the third tier.


DONCASTER


Manager: Paul Dickov

Last season: 22nd in the Championship

Nickname: Rovers

Ground: Keepmoat Stadium

Capacity: 15,231

Players in: Nathan Tyson (Blackpool, free)

Players out: Abdoulaye Meite, Billy Paynter (both released), Gabriel Tamas (Watford, free), Mark Duffy (Birmingham, free), Chris Brown (Blackburn, free), David Cotterill (Birmingham, free)

Key man: Richie Wellens

Chances: The collapse of the takeover by former chairman John Ryan alongside One Direction star Louis Tomlinson has clouded the summer in South Yorkshire and, with several big names having left following relegation, manager Paul Dickov has some rebuilding to do if Rovers are to make an immediate return to the Championship.


FLEETWOOD


Manager: Graham Alexander

Last season: 4th

Nickname: Cod Army

Ground: Highbury Stadium

Capacity: 5,094

Players in: Danny Andrew (Macclesfield, undisclosed), Keith Southern (Huddersfield, free), Jamie Proctor (Crawley, free), Josh Morris (Blackburn, loan)

Players out: Jon Parkin (released), Shaun Beeley (Morecambe, free), Alan Goodall (Morecambe, free)

Key man: David Ball

Chances: Ambition will not be curbed at Highbury, even if they have embarked on an unprecedented upward trajectory with six promotions in 10 seasons. Confidence will be high too given Fleetwood beat four of the five League One clubs they met in cup competitions last season.


GILLINGHAM


Manager: Peter Taylor

Last season: 17th

Nickname: Gills

Ground: Priestfield Stadium

Capacity: 11,582

Players in: Aaron Morris (AFC Wimbledon, free), Glenn Morris (Aldershot, free), Doug Loft (Port Vale, free), Jermaine McGlashan (Cheltenham, free), Josh Pritchard (Fulham, free), Brennan Dickenson (Brighton, free), John Egan (Sunderland, free), Luke Norris (Brentford, compensation), Kortney Hause (Wolves, loan)

Players out: Sam Baxter, Adam Birchall Gary Borrowdale, Joe Carter, Craig Fagan, Steven Gregory, George Howard (all released), Nathan Nyafli (retired), Sam Muggleton (Barnet, free), Myles Weston (Southend, free), Stephen Butcher (Maidstone, free), Adebayo Akinfenwa (AFC Wimbledon, free), Chris Whelpdale (Stevenage, free), Charlie Lee (Stevenage, free)

Key man: Cody McDonald

Chances: Gillingham struggled to make an impact last season following promotion as League Two champions and endured an anxious run-in with one win in their last seven games. But manager Peter Taylor has made big changes during the summer and a new-look side will be aiming for a top-half finish.


LEYTON ORIENT


Manager: Russell Slade

Last season: 3rd

Nickname: O’s

Ground: Brisbane Road

Capacity: 9,271

Players in: Adam Legzdins (Derby, free), Bradley Pritchard (Charlton, free), Jobi McAnuff (Reading, free), Darius Henderson (Nottingham Forest, free), Jay Simson (Buriram United, free).

Players out: Jake Larkins, Yohann Lasimant, De’Reece Vanderhyde, Johnny Gorman (all released), Jamie Jones (Preston, free), Moses Odubajo (Brentford, undisclosed), Robbie Simpson (Cambridge, free)

Key man: Darius Henderson

Chances: New chairman Francesco Becchetti has promised a raft of signings as Orient attempt to bounce back from their play-off heartbreak and those that have been made look impressive. Orient will be aiming for automatic promotion.


MK DONS


Manager: Karl Robinson

Last season: 10th

Nickname: Dons

Ground: stadium:mk

Capacity: 22,000

Players in: Danny Green (Charlton, free), Kyle McFadzean (Crawley, undisclosed), Tom Hitchcock (QPR, free), Will Grigg (Brentford, loan)

Players out: Ryan Hall (Rotherham, free), Izale McLeod (Crawley, free), Alan Smith (Notts County, free), Stephen Gleeson (Birmingham, free), Luke Chadwick (Cambridge, free)

Key man: Ben Reeves

Chances: It has been a summer of regrouping at stadium:mk after the 2013/14 campaign saw the club fail to mount a serious promotion challenge for the first time in four years. Manager Karl Robinson has said he wants the Dons to be League One’s ‘entertainers’ this season, and if they avoid the injury problems of last time round then a return to the play-offs is a strong possibility.


NOTTS COUNTY


Manager: Shaun Derry

Last season: 20th

Nickname: Magpies

Ground: Meadow Lane

Capacity: 20,229

Players in: Alan Smith (MK Dons, free), Taylor McKenzie (Sheffield Wednesday, free), Hayden Mullins (Birmingham, free), Liam Noble (Carlisle, free), Nicky Wroe (Preston, free), Blair Adams (Coventry, free), Cieron Keane (unattached), Jake Cassidy (Wolves, loan), Garry Thompson (Bradford), Zeli Ismail (Wolves, loan)

Players out: Manny Smith, Dean Leacock, Gareth Roberts, Mark Fotheringham, Andre Boucaud, Malcolm Melvin, Enoch Showunmi, Adam Coombes, Romello Nangle, Malachi Lavelle-Moore (all released) Gary Liddle (Bradford, free), Alan Sheehan (Bradford, free), Jamal Campbell-Ryce (Sheffield United, free), Andy Haworth (Cheltenham, free), Bartosz Bialkowski (Ipswich, undisclosed)

Key man: Hayden Mullins

Chances: Shaun Derry has stamped his own mark on the squad over the summer ahead of his first full season as manager. The Magpies staged their version of ‘the Great Escape’ during the 2013/14 campaign but should not struggle this time round with a mid-table finish the likelihood, although perhaps a play-off push is not beyond them.


OLDHAM


Manager: Lee Johnson

Last season: 15th

Nickname: Latics

Ground: SportsDirect.com Park

Capacity: 10,638

Players in: Joseph Mills (Burnley, free), Mike Jones (Crawley, free), Brian Wilson (Colchester, free), Liam Kelly (Bristol C, undisclosed), Timothee Dieng (Brest, free), William Gros (Kilmarnock, free), Amari Morgan-Smith (Kidderminster, free), Jonathan Forte (Southampton, free).

Players out: Kirk Millar, Danny Gosset, Terry Dunfield (all released), Jonathan Grounds (Birmingham, free), James Wesolowski (Shrewsbury, free), Korey Smith (Bristol C, undisclosed), Glenn Belezika (Stockport, free), Anton Rodgers (Swindon, free), Charlie MacDonald (Barnet, free)

Key man: Jonson Clarke-Harris

Chances: This summer has been a period of change at Oldham with the impressive Jonathan Grounds, James Wesolowski and Korey Smith among those to have flown the nest. How they fare in their 18th consecutive season at this level will therefore depend on new arrivals like Liam Kelly.


PETERBOROUGH


Manager: Darren Ferguson

Last season: 6th

Nickname: Posh

Ground: London Road

Capacity: 14,640

Players in: Jon Taylor (Shrewsbury, undisclosed), Erhun Oztumer (Dulwich Hamlet, undisclosed), Gabriel Zakuani (Kalloni, free), Ben Alnwick (Leyton Orient, free), Michael Smith (Bristol Rovers, undisclosed).

Players out: Peter Grant (released), Nathaniel Knight-Percival (Shrewsbury, free), Tommy Rowe (Wolves, free), Danny Swanson (Coventry, free), Mark Little (Bristol City, free), Daniel Kearns (Carlisle, free), Craig Alcock (Sheffield United, free)

Key man: Britt Assombalonga

Chances: An immediate return to the Championship was the target last season but Peterborough fell short. Key players have departed but any team with Britt Assombalonga in it has a chance of competing. However, he needs help and it could be another campaign of struggle to sneak into the play-off positions.


PORT VALE


Manager: Micky Adams

Last season: 9th

Nickname: Valiants

Ground: Vale Park

Capacity: 19,052

Players in: Colin Daniel (Mansfield, free), Ryan McGivern (Hibernian, free), Mark Marshall (Coventry, free), Byron Moore (Crewe, free), Michael O’Connor (Rotherham, free), Frederic Veseli (Ipswich, loan), Steve Jennings (Tranmere, free), Michael Brown (Leeds, free)

Players out: Liam Chilvers, Anthony Griffith, Rob Taylor (all released), Chris Shuker (retired), Doug Loft (Gillingham, free), Gavin Tomlin (Crawley, undisclosed), Jennison Myrie-Williams (Scunthorpe, free), Kaid Mohamed (Northampton, loan), Jordan Hugill (Preston, undisclosed), Ben Jefford (Welling, free)

Key man: Tom Pope

Chances: Port Vale enjoyed a terrific first season back in League One but a repeat this time round looks difficult. Manager Micky Adams will be working with a dramatically reduced budget and the departures of the likes of Doug Loft, Jennison Myrie-Williams and Jordan Hugill leave big boots to fill. Should survive but will struggle.


PRESTON


Manager: Simon Grayson

Last season: 5th

Nickname: Lilywhites

Ground: Deepdale

Capacity: 23,408

Players in: Jamie Jones (Leyton Orient, free), Calum Woods (Huddersfield, free), Jordan Hugill (Port Vale, undisclosed), Andy Little (Rangers, free), Kyel Reid (Bradford, free), Paul Gallagher (Leicester, loan)

Players out: Graham Cummins, Alex Nicholson, Iain Hume (all released), John Mousinho (Burton, free), Shane Cansdell-Sherriff (Burton, free), Ryan Croasdale (Sheffield Wednesday, free), Stuart Beavon (Burton, loan), Nicky Wroe (Notts County, free), Chris Beardsley (Stevenage, free)

Key man: Joe Garner

Chances: After another season ended in play-off heartache — North End have never been promoted via that route in nine attempts — the focus has to be on securing a top-two finish. Last season’s squad largely remains intact and Joe Garner’s goals may prove pivotal.


ROCHDALE


Manager: Keith Hill

Last season: 3rd in League Two

Nickname: Dale

Ground: Spotland

Capacity: 10,249

Players in: Jack Muldoon (Worksop, free), Sean McGinty (Sheffield United, free), Calvin Andrew (York, free)

Players out: Peter Cavanagh, Robbie Thomson, Reece Gray, George Porter, Craig Lynch, Godwin Abadaki (all released), Scott Hogan (Brentford, undisclosed)

Key man: Ian Henderson

Chances: Rochdale manager Keith Hill has high hopes for his side after leading them to automatic promotion to the third tier for the second time in five years and is confident the same group of players can comfortably bridge the gap from League Two and challenge in the top half of the table.


SCUNTHORPE


Manager: Russ Wilcox

Last season: 2nd in League Two

Nickname: Iron

Ground: Glanford Park

Capacity: 9,088

Players in: Neal Bishop (Blackpool, free), Jennison Myrie-Williams (Port Vale, free), Lyle Taylor (Sheff Utd, undisclosed), Miles Addison (Bournemouth, loan), Miguel Llera (Sheff Wed, free).

Players out: Christian Ribeiro, Etienne Esajas, Andy Welsh, Connor Jennings, Jamie Wootton, George Grayson (all released), Matt Godden (Ebbsfleet, free), Paul Hayes (Wycombe, free), Michael Collins (Oxford, free), Sam Winnall (Barnsley, undisclosed)

Key man: Neal Bishop

Chances: Scunthorpe set a club record of 28 games unbeaten last season and boss Russ Wilcox beat a 125-year-old Football League record for games unbeaten at the start of a managerial reign. They may find it harder to maintain their momentum after bouncing straight back to League One, but there is no denying the air of optimism at the club.


SHEFFIELD UNITED


Manager: Nigel Clough

Last season: 7th

Nickname: Blades

Ground: Bramall Lane

Capacity: 32,702

Players in: Jamal Campbell-Ryce (Notts County, free), Marc McNulty (Livingston, undisclosed), Ben Davies (Derby, free), Andy Butler (Walsall, free), Chris Basham (Blackpool, free), James Wallace (Tranmere, undisclosed), Craig Alcock (Peterborough, free), Harrison McGahey (Blackpool, tribunal)

Players out: Matt Hill, Shaun Miller, Darryl Westlake, Elliott Whitehouse, Jasper Johns, Jordan Hodder, Jahmal Smith, Febian Brandy (all released), Lyle Taylor (Scunthorpe, undisclosed), Sean McGinty (Rochdale, free), Harry Maguire (Hull, undisclosed).

Key man: Jamie Murphy

Chances: Nigel Clough made an immediate impact at the club when he replaced David Weir as manager last October following a disastrous start to the season that put paid to promotion aspirations. The Blades’ FA Cup semi-final appearance and strong finish last season suggest they will be among the front-runners for promotion this time around.


SWINDON


Manager: Mark Cooper

Last season: 8th

Nickname: Robins

Ground: County Ground

Capacity: 15,728

Players in: Josue Antonio (Staines, free), Anton Rodgers (Oldham, free)

Players out: Nile Ranger, Jay McEveley, Paul Benson, Alex Ferguson, Mark Francis, Leigh Bedwell, Aaron Oakley, Dany N’Guessan (all released), Lee Cox (Plymouth, free), Troy Archibald-Henville (Carlisle, free), Miles Storey (Portsmouth, loan).

Key man: Nathan Thompson

Chances: They may have been far from active in the transfer market but having held on to their key players Swindon will be targeting another top-half finish. Manager Mark Cooper has developed a free-flowing side that is easy on the eye and if they can replace Nile Ranger’s goal threat then they could gatecrash the play-offs.


WALSALL


Manager: Dean Smith

Last season: 13th

Nickname: Saddlers

Ground: Banks’s Stadium

Capacity: 11,300

Players in: Craig MacGillivray (Harrogate, compensation), James O’Connor (Derby, free), Tom Bradshaw (Shrewsbury, free), Jordan Cook (Charlton, free), Ashley Grimes (Bury, free).

Players out: Troy Hewitt, Danny Griffiths, Shane Lewis, Liam Roberts, Nicky Featherstone, Ben George, James McQuilkin, Ashley Hemmings (all released), Andy Butler (Sheff Utd, free), Craig Westcarr (Portsmouth, free), Alex Dallison (Stourbridge), Aris Christopherou (Rushall Olympic).

Key man: Sam Mantom

Chances: Walsall could not wait for last season to finish as just two wins from of their final 18 games saw them slip from play-off contention to 13th. Manager Dean Smith will work again with most of the same squad, while the addition of players like James O’Connor and Tom Bradshaw should ensure the Saddlers are looking up rather than down.


YEOVIL


Manager: Gary Johnson

Last season: 24th in the Championship

Nickname: Glovers

Ground: Huish Park

Capacity: 9,665

Players in: Nathan Smith (Chesterfield, free), Aaron Martin (Birmingham, free), AJ Leitch-Smith (Crewe, free), Artur Krysiak (Exeter, free), Chris Weale (Shrewsbury, free), Jakub Sokolik (Liverpool, free), James Barrett (Carlisle, free), Brendan Moloney, (Bristol City, free), Ben Nugent (Cardiff, loan)

Players out: Jamie McAllister, Ruben Palazuelos (both released), Marek Stech (Sparta Prague, free), Reuben Reid (Plymouth, free), Chris Dunn (Cambridge, free), Byron Webster (Millwall, free), Luke Ayling (Bristol City, compensation), Joey Jones (Woking, free)

Key man: Joe Edwards

Chances: Gary Johnson’s men may be back in League One without the spine of the side that won the 2012/13 play-off final but there is plenty to be positive about after their Championship adventure. If they can shake off the hangover of relegation, expect a top 10 finish.