A new season brings fresh opportunities and League One promises to be a far more competitive heat after cash-splashing Birmingham’s runaway success last season.
The Blues cruised to the League One title, setting a new record with 111 points, and were chased home by fellow big spenders Wrexham with Charlton doing their business via the playoffs.
Luton, having suffered back-to-back relegations from the Premier League, are this season’s glamour outfit. They are seeking an immediate return to the Championship alongside Cardiff and Plymouth.
However, Huddersfield have enjoyed a summer overhaul while Stockport, Bolton and Blackpool will all feel that they can improve upon last season’s efforts.
New-look Terriers can make their presence felt
There is the potential for Luton to be a cut above this opposition given how far they have fallen in a quick period of time, and in Matt Bloomfield they have a manager that knows this division extremely well following his successful stint at Wycombe.
However, this is a squad with the losing habit and that could contribute to a slow start, while fellow grade-droppers Cardiff are yet to strengthen and Plymouth have been hit by a raft of key departures.
Therefore Huddersfield could be the team to capitalise and, while they have opted to go in a different direction with the appointment of Lee Grant, he was a first-team coach under Kieran McKenna at Ipswich and is highly thought of.
Although only 10th last season, Huddersfield were in automatic promotion contention before a dramatic late drop-off — they signed off with six straight defeats — and Grant has made some astute signings.
The arrival of Alfie May, who has 82 goals across his last four League One campaigns, is particularly eye-catching, while they have injected proven Championship pedigree with the signings of Ryan Ledson, Murray Wallace, Lynden Gooch and Marcus Harness.
Stockport unlikely to take a backwards step
Stockport can count themselves unfortunate to have bumped into two wealthy clubs in Birmingham and Wrexham last season as they finished third on 87 points.
County suffered play-off heartbreak, losing on penalties in the semi-final to Leyton Orient, but it was only four seasons ago that they were in the National League and they are on a steep upward trajectory.
With the experienced figure of Dave Challinor in charge, it is hard to see them enduring a massive drop-off and they have done some excellent business with the signings of Malik Mothersille, Corey O'Keeffe, Arttu Hoskonen, Joseph Olowu and Tayo Edun.
If anything this squad looks stronger and, with the division evidently weaker without Birmingham’s involvement, they look set to figure prominently.
The latest League One odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Bruce’s Blackpool have plenty going for them
Blackpool have finished eighth and ninth in the last two League One campaigns, but they look settled under Steve Bruce and may be able to break into the play-off places.
Last season the Tangerines finished strongly, losing only five of their final 25 matches, and securing the services of prolific forward Niall Ennis on a permanent basis from Stoke is a real boost to their chances.
Losing Rob Apter and Sonny Carey to Charlton is a blow, but Bruce has bolstered his midfield with the arrivals of Jordan Brown and George Honeyman, while defensively they are looking stronger having signed Fraser Horsfall and Michael Ihiekwe.
Back Huddersfield to win League One at 13/2 with LiveScore Bet
