League One: Runners and riders

Ground: Oakwell

Last season: 13th

To win League One: 20/1 (toteSPORT)

To be promoted: 13/2 (Stan James)

To finish in the Top 6: 7/4 (toteSPORT)

To be relegated: 14/1 (Skybet)

Dark horses for promotion – and an excellent bet to make the top six, Andy Ritchie’s newly-strengthened Tykes look like serious playoff contenders. If new striker Paul Hayes can hit form early, they may even make a run for the automatic places, but a top six finish certainly isn’t beyond Barnsley this season.

Gills365 prediction: 8th

Ground: Bloomfield Road

Last season: 16th

To win League One: 50/1 (Skybet)

To be promoted: 16/1 (Stan James)

To finish in the Top 6: 4/1 (toteSPORT)

To be relegated: 3/1 (Totalbet)

Losing the influential Richie Wellens was a big blow for Colin Hendry’s Blackpool – and with the overall strength in the division increasing this season, it’s hard to see how the Tangerines can make big improvements this term. A bottom half finish awaits again this year.

Gills365 prediction: 20th

Ground: Dean Court

Last season: 8th

To win League One: 33/1 (Bet365)

To be promoted: 10/1 (Bet365)

To finish in the Top 6: 7/2 (toteSPORT)

To be relegated: 11/2 (ukbetting)

Bournemouth look like one of those sides that always seem capable of getting into the playoffs, but just fall short. That was certainly the case last season – and I fear they will regret it this time around. With the top end of League One looking stronger than it did last year, I can’t see Bournemouth improving on their eighth place finish of last year. I’d expect them to finish somewhere in the middle third, but just in the bottom half of the table.

Gills365 prediction: 17th

Last season: 11th

To win League One: 25/1 (Totalbet)

To be promoted: 15/2 (Stan James)

To finish in the Top 6: 2/1 (toteSPORT)

To be relegated: 17/2 (William Hill)

After three or four lean years of financial strife, Bradford look to have steadied the ship under the stewardship of former Bolton boss Colin Todd. The Bantams are another of those middling sides who have an outside chance of the playoffs, but in truth there are probably three or four teams up there with a little more quality. A late top ten finish certainly isn’t out of the question, however.

Gills365 prediction: 16th

Ground: Griffin Park

Last season: 4th

To win League One: 20/1 (Bet365)

To be promoted: 7/1 (William Hill)

To finish in the Top 6: 7/4 (toteSPORT)

To be relegated: 10/1 (VC Bet)

My pick to finish as runners up this season – and at a pretty attractive price, too. Martin Allen has wheeled and dealed in the transfer market over the summer and has strengthened his side from last season. ‘Mad Dog’ is one of the best young managers in the game – and after a very good year last season, his charges look ready for a serious promotion push.

Gills365 prediction: 2nd

Ground: Ashton Gate

Last season: 7th

To win League One: 7/1 (Sportingbet)

To be promoted: 15/8 (Blue Square)

To finish in the Top 6: 4/9 (toteSPORT)

To be relegated: 33/1 (toteSPORT)

My pick for the title this season – Bristol City have been known as a Yankee-buster for a while now. Always considered among the favourites, they’ve often failed to deliver the goods, but despite the sale of the prolific Leroy Lita, Brian Tinnion goes into this season with a stronger squad. The additions of Marcus Stewart and Michael Bridges bring Premiership quality up front – and their overall strength in depth gives them the edge over their title rivals. Anything less than a top-two finish would be considered a failure – and I don’t expect them to fail this season.

Gills365 prediction: 1st

Ground: Recreation Ground

Last season: 17th

To win League One: 80/1 (Bet365)

To be promoted: 25/1 (toteSPORT)

To finish in the Top 6: 10/1 (toteSPORT)

To be relegated: 9/4 (Skybet)

Likely relegation contenders in a hugely competitive division, Roy McFarland’s Spireites look set for a season of struggle this term. Odds of 9/4 on them to go down look rather large – and may be a worth a small bet for you football punters out there.

Gills365 prediction: 23rd

Ground: Layer Road

Last season: 15th

To win League One: 50/1 (BetDirect)

To be promoted: 16/1 (Bet365)

To finish in the Top 6: 4/1 (toteSPORT)

To be relegated: 5/2 (toteSPORT)

The U’s look set for a season of consolidation this season. Manager Phil Parkinson is one of the league’s up and coming managers – and he’s slowly trying to build something at Layer Road. A lack of resources is making the process a slow one – and I don’t expect them to do much better than last season’s 15^th place finish, if at all.

Gills365 prediction: 22nd

Ground: Belle Vue

Last season: 10th

To win League One: 20/1 (Sportingbet)

To be promoted: 11/2 (Coral)

To finish in the Top 6: 5/4 (toteSPORT)

To be relegated: 10/1 (toteSPORT)

Excellent each-way bets for the title, Doncaster Rovers may not be a huge club, but under Dave Penney, they look ready for a big season at Belle Vue. The signings of Sean Thornton and Paul Heffernan should help increase their goals output – and with big Leo Fortune West still battering defenders in League One, Donny will pose a strong threat to the top sides this season.

Gills365 prediction: 6th

Ground: Priestfield Stadium

Last season: 22nd in the Championship

To win League One: 14/1 (Paddy Power)

To be promoted: 5/1 (William Hill)

To finish in the Top 6: EVENS (toteSPORT)

To be relegated: 14/1 (toteSPORT)

After the despair of last-gasp relegation last season, it’s been all change at Priestfield. Stan Ternent has gone, as have virtually all the old guard – and new boss Neale Cooper is looking to build a young, vibrant passing side this season. They’re likely to start slowly, but expect them to be up there challenging for a playoff place by the end of the season.

Gills365 prediction: 9th

Ground: Victoria Park

Last season: 6th

To win League One: 18/1 (BetDirect)

To be promoted: 6/1 (William Hill)

To finish in the Top 6: 5/4 (toteSPORT)

To be relegated:10/1 (Paddy Power)

“Scotty, take us up!” is likely to be the cry from the Hartlepool fans this season as Martin Scott embarks on his first full season as manager at Victoria Park. Just missing out at Cardiff will give the side a real incentive to go one better this time round. They’ve lost defender Chris Westwood to Walsall, but crucially they’ve kept the goalscoring duo of Adam Boyd and Eifion Williams. With those two regularly hitting the net, the ‘Pool should secure a top six berth again this season.

Gills365 prediction: 5th

Ground: McAlpine Stadium

Last season: 9th

To win League One: 12/1 (Skybet)

To be promoted: 7/2 (Blue Square)

To finish in the Top 6: 4/6 (toteSPORT)

To be relegated: 20/1 (toteSPORT)

Peter Jackson’s side have a great outside chance of automatic promotion. With Pavel Abbott looking the part in front of goal last season, the boys at the McAlpine could be ready for a serious promotion push. Playoffs are their best bet, but I expect them to narrowly miss out this season.

Gills365 prediction: 8th

Ground: National Hockey Stadium

Last season: 20th

To win League One: 50/1 (BetDirect)

To be promoted: 16/1 (Paddy Power)

To finish in the Top 6: 4/1 (toteSPORT)

To be relegated: 3/1 (Stan James)

Lucky not to be relegated last season, Danny Wilson’s charges will be up against it once again this season. Expect them to be involved in a relegation battle again, but with Port Vale, Scunthorpe, Colchester and Chesterfield all likely to be down there as well, the Franchise boys could cheat relegation again. Much will depend on the goalscoring form of young striker Izale McLeod, but if the quality of their manager has anything to do with it, they’ll be safe.

Gills365 prediction: 18th

Ground: The City Ground

Last season: 23rd in the Championship

To win League One: 5/1 (Totalbet)

To be promoted: 6/4 (Blue Square)

To finish in the Top 6: 2/9 (toteSPORT)

To be relegated: 33/1 (Coral)

Everybody’s got them pegged as title winners, haven’t they? Well, no actually. A fair few bookies prefer Bristol City’s chances – and I also believe that Forest won’t top the table by the end of the season. Gary Megson will have them there or thereabouts, but they are a club in crisis and if Megson can put Forest into the automatic places it will be a huge achievement. However, I think the two-time European Cup winners will have to content themselves with a playoff spot.

Gills365 prediction: 3rd

Last season: 19th


To win League One: 22/1 (PremierBet)

To be promoted: 13/2 (Skybet)

To finish in the Top 6: 5/4 (toteSPORT)

To be relegated: 13/2 (Stan James)

The Latics have speculated to accumulate – and until recently, they looked an excellent outside bet for promotion. However, a serious knee injury to key summer signing Luke Beckett has put Ronnie Moore’s side one very important man down before the season even starts. They should finish comfortably in the top half, but unless someone can take up the goalscoring mantle of Beckett during his absence, the playoffs could be their best hope.

Gills365 prediction: 10th

Last season: 18th

To win League One: 50/1 (Paddy Power)

To be promoted: 18/1 (Stan James)

To finish in the Top 6: 6/1 (toteSPORT)

To be relegated: 2/1 (Blue Square)

My pick to finish bottom. Vale were fortunate that there were some pretty awful sides habiting the relegation positions last season – and they survived, despite looking pretty poor themselves. Without the ability to bring in quality and without a striker who can guarantee 20+ goals this season, it’s set to be a long campaign for Martin Foyle’s side this season.

Gills365 prediction: 24th

Ground: Millmoor

Last season: 24th in the Championship


To win League One: 28/1 (toteSPORT)

To be promoted: 9/1 (toteSPORT)

To finish in the Top 6: 3/1 (toteSPORT)

To be relegated: 6/1 (Skybet)

Had an absolute shocker in the Championship last season, where they were pretty much nailed-on relegation certainties by late November. It’s given them time to re-organise, however – and the Millers should look an altogether more solid unit this season under the tutelage of Mick Harford. A mid-table finish is most likely.

Gills365 prediction: 14th

Ground: Glanford Park

Last season: 2nd in League Two

To win League One: 50/1 (Blue Square)

To be promoted: 16/1 (Paddy Power)

To finish in the Top 6: 6/1 (toteSPORT)

To be relegated: 2/1 (Paddy Power)

Another side tipped by the bookies to struggle this season, and I’ve no reason to disagree. The loss of Paul Hayes is a huge blow – and while his replacement, the veteran former Gill Tommy Johnson, has bundles of quality, keeping him fit and in the side is going to be crucial to the Iron’s chances this season. Without him, they look average at best – and mid-table is the best they can hope for. However, the runners-up from League Two could well get dragged into a relegation battle this season.

Gills365 prediction: 19th

Ground: Roots Hall

Last season: League Two playoff winners (4th in league)

To win League One: 50/1 (Blue Square)

To be promoted: 16/1 (Paddy Power)

To finish in the Top 6: 4/1 (toteSPORT)

To be relegated: 3/1 (Totalbet)

Somehow Southend have managed to hide Freddy Eastwood over the summer, so the former Grays Athletic hitman will lead the Shrimpers’ line in League One this season. However, Eastwood will probably be the only highlight of a tough season for Steve Tilson’s men – and they’re more than likely to lose first Eastwood, then possibly their League One status, before this season’s out.

Gills365 prediction: 21st

Ground: The Vetch Field

Last season: 3rd in League Two

To win League One: 40/1 (BetDirect)

To be promoted: 12/1 (Skybet)

To finish in the Top 6: 7/2 (toteSPORT)

To be relegated: 9/2 (Ladbrokes)

A potential surprise package. Swansea boast a potent and unpredictable forward pairing that could take this division by storm. The mercurial Lee Trundle and the prolific Adebayo Akinfenwa should ensure a healthy goals for column, but their defence will ultimately decide where in the league Swansea will finish. Personally, I can see them finishing in the top half, just missing out on a playoff berth.

Gills365 prediction: 11th

Ground: County Ground

Last season: 12th

To win League One: 33/1 (BetDirect)

To be promoted: 10/1 (toteSPORT)

To finish in the Top 6: 7/2 (toteSPORT)

To be relegated: 5/1 (Bet365)

Losing their talismanic striker Sam Parkin was a huge blow to the Robins, who may find the going tougher this season. Even with Parkin, they only managed a 12^th place finish – and their squad is lower on quality than it was 12 months ago. I’ve got them to finish in the bottom half, but comfortably safe from relegation.

Gills365 prediction: 13th

Ground: Prenton Park

Last season: 3rd

To win League One: 10/1 (BetDirect)

To be promoted: 4/1 (William Hill)

To finish in the Top 6: 8/13 (toteSPORT)

To be relegated: 40/1 (VC Bet)

One of the title contenders, according to many bookies, Tranmere will have to go through the season without two of their more influential players. Both Ryan Taylor and Eugene Dadi have left Prenton Park – and Iain Hume may not hang around for too long either. If he goes, expect Tranmere to drop out of contention. With Hume in the side and on-form, they can cement a playoff place.

Gills365 prediction: 4th

Ground: Bescot Stadium

Last season: 14th

To win League One: 25/1 (Skybet)

To be promoted: 8/1 (toteSPORT)

To finish in the Top 6: 2/1 (toteSPORT)

To be relegated: 7/1 (Stan James)

The Saddlers boast a hugely experienced squad, but do they have the quality? The likes of Paul Smith, Simon Osborn and boss Paul Merson himself have a huge wealth of experience – and would have been a midfield trio to fear three or four years ago, but in what is increasingly becoming a young man’s division, there must surely be a question mark over their ability to last the pace of a long, gruelling season. Midfield aside, a lack of goalscoring class up front could well cost them a run at the playoffs – and I expect them to finish just above the halfway mark.

Gills365 prediction: 15th

Ground: Huish Park

Last season: 1st in League Two

To win League One: 20/1 (Bet365)

To be promoted: 7/1 (Coral)

To finish in the Top 6: 7/4 (toteSPORT)

To be relegated: 8/1 (toteSPORT)

Could be the surprise package of the season. Gary Johnson’s side knows how to score goals, but they will need to sort their leaky defence if they’re to make a big impact on the division this season. Could sneak into the playoffs if they start well, but I’d go for a top half finish.

Gills365 prediction: 12th