So who will go up to the Championship?

BRENTFORD

MANAGER: Andy Scott.

LAST SEASON: 1st (League Two).

COMMENT: Brentford have shown their ambition with the signing of ex- Newcastle man Carl Cort.

VERDICT: Last season's League Two champions should comfortably survive. 15th.

BRIGHTON

MANAGER: Russell Slade.

LAST SEASON: 16th.

COMMENT: The Seagulls only ensured survival on the final day of last season but should be up the other end of the table this time.

VERDICT: A play-off push is expected and should arrive. 6th.

BRISTOL ROVERS

MANAGER: Paul Trollope.

LAST SEASON: 11th.

COMMENT: Rovers came up from League Two two seasons ago like Walsall. And like the Saddlers, have enjoyed two pretty comfortable mid-table campaigns.

VERDICT: More of the same. Too good to struggle, perhaps not strong enough to challenge. 12th.

CARLISLE UNITED

MANAGER: Greg Abbott.

LAST SEASON: 19th.

COMMENT: Another team who were dragged into last season's relegation battle and just survived.

VERDICT: Could struggle again after losing top scorer Danny Graham to Watford. 21st

CHARLTON ATHLETIC

MANAGER: Phil Parkinson.

LAST SEASON: 24th (Championship).

COMMENT: Finished rock bottom last year thanks to a woeful campaign. They will not find life in League One easy.

VERDICT: Enough young talent to ward off trouble but tough to see them bouncing back up. 11th.

COLCHESTER UNITED

MANAGER: Paul Lambert.

LAST SEASON: 12th.

COMMENT: Many expected United to bounce back last season after being relegated but they were too inconsistent. Should do better.

VERDICT: Play-offs are a distinct possibility. 5th.

EXETER CITY

MANAGER: Paul Tisdale.

LAST SEASON: 2nd (League Two).

COMMENT: Successive promotions have seen the Grecians climb out of non-league mediocrity and back into the big time.

VERDICT: Three promotions on the bounce is too much but Exeter could be dark horses this year. 8th.

GILLINGHAM

MANAGER: Mark Stimson.

LAST SEASON: 5th (League Two).

COMMENT: Play-off winners Gillingham will have one of the lowest budgets in League One.

VERDICT: Could be a long season for Kent's only league club. 23rd.

HARTLEPOOL UNITED

MANAGER: Chris Turner

LAST SEASON: 18th.

COMMENT: Another side that came up the same season as the Saddlers and have done ok since.

VERDICT: A few personnel changes over the summer could refresh Pools but tough to see anything better than mid-table. 16th.

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN

MANAGER: Lee Clark.

LAST SEASON: 9th.

COMMENT: Clark has been quietly impressive in his first managerial role and has funds behind him.

VERDICT: Many people's tips for automatic promotion after threatening a push last year. 2nd.

LEEDS UNITED

MANAGER: Simon Grayson.

LAST SEASON: 4th.

COMMENT: Twice foiled in the play-offs, Leeds will be aiming to make it third time lucky and go straight up.

VERDICT: After losing Fabian Delph to Villa and Jermaine Beckford's future uncertain, the play-offs will beckon again. 4th.

LEYTON ORIENT

MANAGER: Geraint Williams.

LAST SEASON: 14th.

COMMENT: Orient have punched above their weight in the last couple of years. It will be tough to repeat.

VERDICT: Should just have enough to stay up but it will be close. 19th.

MILLWALL:

MANAGER: Kenny Jackett.

LAST SEASON: 5th.

COMMENT: Were desperately unlucky to lose out in a thrilling play-off final against Scunthorpe. They will challenge again.

VERDICT: May have to settle for the play-off lottery again. 3rd.

MK DONS

MANAGER: Paul Ince.

LAST SEASON: 3rd.

COMMENT: Almost made it two successive promotions last year but Peterborough achieved that by beating them to second spot.

VERDICT: Ince has returned but it's tough to see them matching last season's effort. 10th.

NORWICH CITY

MANAGER: Bryan Gunn.

LAST SEASON: 22nd (Championship).

COMMENT: Of the sides to come down, Norwich look by far the most stable and have made some shrewd signings.

VERDICT: Stability equals success and Norwich are the club most qualified to bounce back up. 1st.

OLDHAM ATHLETIC

MANAGER: Dave Penney.

LAST SEASON: 10th.

COMMENT: Oldham have become a comfortable mid-table League One outfit in recent years and that probably won't change this season.

VERDICT: Penney has a solid squad but Oldham will struggle to challenge, purely because of the strength of the league. 13th.

SOUTHAMPTON

MANAGER: Alan Pardew.

LAST SEASON: 23rd (Championship).

COMMENT: A new chairman, a new manager, plenty of new players. But, oh, a ten-point deduction for going into administration.

VERDICT: Saints will escape relegation but it won't be easy. Play-off hopes are pie in the sky. 17th.

SOUTHEND UNITED

MANAGER: Steve Tilson.

LAST SEASON: 8th.

COMMENT: The Shrimpers have reaped the benefits of backing Tilson and were unlucky to fall short of the play-offs last year.

VERDICT: Could be another case of so near yet so far this time. 7th.

STOCKPORT COUNTY

MANAGER: Gary Ablett.

LAST SEASON: 20th.

COMMENT: Narrowly survived relegation last season when a ten-point deduction for going into administration spoiled a good start.

VERDICT: Boss Jim Gannon has left for Motherwell and Ablett arrives for his first managerial role. They should survive. Just. 20th.

SWINDON TOWN

MANAGER: Danny Wilson.

LAST SEASON: 15th.

COMMENT: Wilson is a shrewd boss and after steadying the Swindon ship on arrival, he has made some good signings this summer.

VERDICT: Town may be a surprise package, despite losing top scorer Simon Cox to West Brom. 9th.

TRANMERE ROVERS

MANAGER: John Barnes.

LAST SEASON: 7th.

COMMENT: Rovers shocked many by sacking Ronnie Moore this summer after only missing out on the play-offs by two points.

VERDICT: Much will depend on Barnes – his managerial record is not great. 14th.

WALSALL

MANAGER: Chris Hutchings.

LAST SEASON: 13th.

COMMENT: The Saddlers lost some big names over the summer but kept perhaps the most important, keeper Clayton Ince.

VERDICT: Anything approaching the mid-table placings of the last two seasons would be an achievement in a tough league. 18th.

WYCOMBE WANDERERS

MANAGER: Peter Taylor.

LAST SEASON: 3rd (League Two).

COMMENT: Wycombe were finally promoted back to League One last season after years of threatening to do so but will find the going tough.

VERDICT: Despite the experience of Taylor at the helm. 22nd.

YEOVIL TOWN

MANAGER: Terry Skiverton.

LAST SEASON: 17th.

COMMENT: Player-boss Skiverton did well to keep the Glovers up following the departure of manager Russell Slade. But it could prove a task beyond him this time.

VERDICT: Would take anything outside the bottom four. 24th.