Express & Star

League One predictions: All 24 club journalists make their season picks

With League One kicking off this weekend, every club reporter has given their predictions for the season ahead.

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All 24 journalists share their tips for promotion, relegation and their expectations for the upcoming campaign..

For Walsall fans, it does not make for good reading.

Recap of questions:

1. Main summer signings (five names max)

2. Main summer departures (five names max)

3. What are the fans’ expectations this season? (50 words)

4. One to watch (50 words)

5. Tell us a random fact about your club (30 words)

6. Three up (who will be promoted), four down (who will be relegated)?

AFC Wimbledon

NAME/NEWSPAPER – Richard Cawley (South London Press)

CLUB COVERED – AFC Wimbledon

CLUB MANAGER – Neal Ardley

GROUND – The Cherry Red Records Stadium

1. Scott Wagstaff, James Hanson, Anthony Wordsworth, Tom King, Tennai Watson

2. Lyle Taylor, Barry Fuller, Dean Parrett, Darius Charles, Jon Meades (retired)

3. Struggled badly for goals last season but their summer dealings have been extensive and James Hanson provides a focal point to the attack. Mitch Pinnock, signed from Dover Athletic, has looked class in pre-season. Expect them to be mid-table contenders.

4. Kwesi Appiah. If the former Crystal Palace man can avoid the injuries which dogged him in 17-18, he could be among the leading scorers.

5. Wimbledon are hoping their new Plough Lane stadium is completed by the end of 2019.

6. Promoted: Barnsley, Southend, Peterborough

Relegated: Blackpool, Walsall, Coventry, Wycombe

Accrington

NAME/NEWSPAPER – Suzanne Geldard (Lancashire Telegraph)

CLUB COVERED – Accrington Stanley

CLUB MANAGER – John Coleman

GROUND - The Wham Stadium

1. Will Wood from Southampton U23s

Piero Mingoia (back for his second spell) from Cambridge

Sam Finley from AFC Fylde

2. Goalkeeper Aaron Chapman, Mekhi McLeod (Halifax), There may yet be others after a few bids, but hopefully not.

3. Accrington Stanley fans are rare breed in football in that they don’t have big demands and put pressure on the manager or players from the stands. They’re enjoying the ride, and would snatch your hand off for survival.

4. Billy Kee - picked up the Golden Boot last season to help fire Stanley to the League Two title with 25 goals. A personal best. Looking forward to proving himself at a higher level after only a handful of appearances for Scunthorpe in 2014/15.

5. Accrington Stanley have played in the third tier of English football before, but this is the first time they have won promotion to get there.

6. Promoted: Sunderland, Blackpool, Scunthorpe

Relegated: AFC Wimbledon, Walsall, Southend, Wycombe

Barnsley

NAME/NEWSPAPER – Doug O'Kane (Barnsley Chronicle)

CLUB COVERED – Barnsley

CLUB MANAGER – Daniel Stendel

GROUND – Oakwell

1. Kenneth Dougall.

2. Christoph Knasmullner, Stevie Mallan, Andy Yiadom, Adam Hammill.

3. What are the fans’ expectations this season? (50 words) Everyone is hoping to bounce straight back to the Championship after relegation in May. Many think that the club has taken a couple of big risks by appointing a German head coach, who is highly-rated but has no experience of English football, and backing almost the same squad who went down to go back up again.

4.Tom Bradshaw and Kieffer Moore should be a very challenging strike force for League one defences, having excelled at that level for Walsall and Rotherham respectively. Barnsley have turned down bids for both this summer and will only sell for ‘exceptional offers’. Wales international wingers Ryan Hedges and Lloyd Isgrove also key.

5.They were taken over by a Chinese and American consortium in December which includes baseball legend Billy Beane, played by Brad Pitt in the film Moneyball.

6.Up: Peterborough, Portsmouth, Plymouth

Down: Gillingham, Shrewsbury, Walsall, AFC Wimbledon.

Blackpool

NAME/NEWSPAPER – Matt Scrafton (Blackpool Gazette)

CLUB COVERED – Blackpool

CLUB MANAGER – Gary Bowyer

GROUND – Bloomfield Road

1. Joe Dodoo, Ben Heneghan, Mark Howard, Ryan McLaughlin, Paudie O'Connor

2. Will Aimson, Colin Daniel, Kelvin Mellor (free agent, could return), Clark Robertson, Kyle Vassell

3. As is so often the case with Blackpool, a lot depends on what transpires off the pitch rather than on it. But Gary Bowyer has, once again, defied that uncertainty to put together a strong squad capable of matching last season's surprise 12th placed finish, which most fans would be satisfied with.

4. Paudie O'Connor. The centre back arrives with good reviews from fans of his parent club, Leeds United, who were hoping to see him involved in their first team this coming season. He is described as an aggressive defender who refuses to take any prisoners and will be an ideal replacement for Clark Robertson.

5. Blackpool are the most successful side in English play-off history, winning five times from eight attempts

6. Promoted: Sunderland, Barnsley, Portsmouth

Relegated: Wycombe, AFC Wimbledon, Rochdale, Shrewsbury

Bradford

NAME/NEWSPAPER – Simon Parker (Bradford Telegraph & Argus)

CLUB COVERED – Bradford City

CLUB MANAGER – Michael Collins

GROUND – Valley Parade

1. Jack Payne, Sean Scannell, Anthony O’Connor, Hope Akpan, Richard O’Donnell

2. Colin Doyle, Tony McMahon, Charlie Wyke (if it happens)

3. It is a real step into the unknown. After the way last season caved in from the turn of the year, there has been real anxiety that 2018’s annus horribilis could continue.

Appointing Michael Collins is a big gamble but recruitment has been getting considerably stronger so who knows?

4. Tyrell Robinson

The lightning-quick winger burst on to the scene last season with a late winner at Wigan and made the step-up from development football.

If he can build on that exciting first year, with the experience of coping with the lows of City’s fall out the play-offs, he can have a big impact.

5. Bradford City are the only club in the Football League to wear claret and amber colours – although the amber is only trim on the shirt this season!

6. Promoted: Sunderland, Barnsley, Peterborough.

Relegated: Wimbledon, Walsall, Blackpool, Gillingham

Bristol Rovers

NAME/NEWSPAPER – John Evely - Bristol Post

CLUB COVERED – Bristol Rovers

CLUB MANAGER – Darrell Clarke

GROUND - The Memorial Stadium

1. Ed Upson, Sam Matthews, Gavin Reilly, Tareiq Holmes-Dennis

2. Ellis Harrison, Lee Brown, Rory Gaffney

3. As always the fans are looking for the club to mount a top six push having finished 13th last season. In reality continued strong form at home and better defensive performances on the road would make them happy.

4. Ed Upson - the man signed as free agent after leaving MK Dons has really impressed in pre-season in midfield and looks exactly the sort of player Rovers needed to shield the defence but also chip in with a goal. A set piece threat.

5. Bristol Rovers have not beaten their record transfer fee for 26 years. Back in November 1992 the club paid £370,000 to sign Andy Tillson from QPR.

6. Promoted: Sunderland, Bristol Rovers, Barnsley

Relegated: Wycombe Wanderers, Accrington Stanley, Coventry City, Rochdale

Burton Albion

NAME/NEWSPAPER – Joshua Murray (Burton Mail)

CLUB COVERED – Burton Albion

CLUB MANAGER – Nigel Clough

GROUND - Pirelli Stadium

1. Scott Fraser, David Templeton

2. Tom Naylor, Lloyd Dyer, Hope Akpan, Tom Flanagan

3. With Burton heading into a season off the back of a relegation for the first time in 41 years, positivity is not at its highest among all Brewers supporters.

But there is genuine interest in seeing how Clough's Albion can adapt back in League One with the core of their Championship side maintained.

Focus will be on their form in the opening weeks - the first eight or 10 games will give a good insight into how achievable their goal of bouncing straight back is.

4. Liam Boyce - Boyce was signed last summer to be the man that could fire Albion to Championship safety.

An ACL injury in pre-season robbed him of that chance, and it was not until the final month of the campaign that we saw what the Northern Ireland international can do when at peak fitness.

He is a proven goalscorer in the Scottish Premiership, but it is his all-round attacking play and control which mark him down as a crucial figure for Burton this season.

5. Their drop from the Championship in May was the club's first relegation since 1977 - and Nigel Clough's first as a manager.

6. Promoted: Sunderland, Portsmouth, Charlton

Relegation: Wycombe, Accrington Stanley, Walsall, Gillingham

Charlton

NAME/NEWSPAPER – Richard Cawley (South London Press)

CLUB COVERED – Charlton Athletic

CLUB MANAGER – Lee Bowyer

GROUND – The Valley

1. Lyle Taylor, Darren Pratley

2. Ezri Konsa, Ahmed Kashi, Harry Lennon, Brandon Hanlan, Johnnie Jackson (retired)

3. Last season’s play-off semi-finalists face a test to boost their promotion prospects as owner Roland Duchatelet - fed up that takeover talks have not reached fruition - has trimmed back the budget. Charlton’s first-choice 11 are a match for anybody, the question is whether injuries and a lack of squad depth will badly damage their prospects.

4. Lyle Taylor. A star man for AFC Wimbledon and needs the same kind of scoring return for the south London club, who have lacked a prolific finisher in the past couple of season. Hold-up play is excellent.

5. Keith Peacock was the Football League’s first ever substitute.

6. Promoted: Barnsley, Southend, Peterborough

Relegated: Blackpool, Walsall, Coventry, Wycombe

Coventry

NAME/NEWSPAPER – Andy Turner, CoventryLive/Coventry Telegraph

CLUB COVERED – Coventry City

CLUB MANAGER – Mark Robins

GROUND - Ricoh Arena

1. Abu Ogogo (Shrewsbury, free), Junior Brown (Shrewsbury, free), Dujon Sterling (Chelsea, loan), Jonson Clarke-Harris (Rotherham, free), Brandon Mason (Watford, free).

2. Marc McNulty (Reading, £1.2m), Ryan Haynes (Shrewsbury, undisclosed), Chris Stokes (Bury, free).

3. Many were hoping to maintain the momentum and feel-good factor around the club following promotion back to League One at the first attempt, via the play-offs. The post-Wembley euphoria sparked plenty of talk of another play-off push and back-to-back promotions until the sale of 28-goal Marc McNulty to Reading, which has somewhat dented those aspirations. Goals are a major cause for concern after failing to score in three of the first five pre-season friendlies and fans' expectations threaten to take a nosedive if Mark Robins fails in his quest to find a new striker before the transfer window closes.

4. Tony Andreu. The French playmaker joined the Sky Blues from Norwich City last summer but played just six games before a ruptured ACL put him out for ten months. He scored 22 goals, 19 on loan for Dundee United in the Scottish Championship, the season before joining Coventry and hopes are high that, once fully up to speed, the 30-year-old will provide some much needed creativity and goals.

5. Last season's play-off final success at Wembley was the club's first promotion since Jimmy Hill guided the Sky Blues to the old First Division in 1967 and, remarkably, City's first top six in finish in any division in some 48 long years.

6. Three up (Sunderland, Portsmouth, Charlton), four down (Rochdale, AFC Wimbledon, Walsall, Gillingham)

Doncaster

NAME/NEWSPAPER – Liam Hoden, Doncaster Free Press/Sheffield Star

CLUB COVERED – Doncaster Rovers

CLUB MANAGER – Grant McCann

GROUND - Keepmoat Stadium

1. Ali Crawford, Mallik Wilks (loan), Tom Anderson, Max Watters

2. Mathieu Baudry, Andy Williams, Craig Alcock, Liam Mandeville (loan)

3. After consolidating last season, the expectation will be for a strong push for the top six. The change in manager following Darren Ferguson's resignation has brought an element of the unknown heading into the campaign but new boss Grant McCann is positive Rovers can make a strong challenge this season.

4. Beyond the usual key men at Rovers, there is plenty of excitement about Mallik Wilks who has signed on loan from Leeds. The young forward is pacy, powerful and direct and seems to fit in perfectly with Grant McCann's aggressive, positive style. There is a lot of interest is his development.

5. Doncaster Rovers is part of the expanding Club Doncaster organisation which also includes rugby league side Doncaster RLFC, a college, a charity foundation as well as supporting individual sportspeople from the town.

6. Up: Sunderland, Peterborough, Oxford.

Down: Walsall, Gillingham, Shrewsbury, AFC Wimbledon

Fleetwood

NAME/NEWSPAPER – Rosie Swarbrick (Blackpool Gazette)

CLUB COVERED – Fleetwood Town

CLUB MANAGER – Joey Barton

GROUND – Highbury

1. Ched Evans, Tommy Spurr, Craig Morgan, Jason Holt, Dean Marney,

2. Nathan Pond, Chris Neal, Toumani Diagouraga

3. Since Joey Barton took over initial trepidation has thawed to a feeling of optimism.

Barton has recruited well by adding experience and left-sided defensive options to the talented young crop he inherited.

The new boss has been addressing issues of last term like set-pieces in pre-season and with Town unbeaten thus far fans are eyeing a top half finish... if Barton can stay away from controversy.

4. Conor McAleny

If striker Conor McAleny can get his first ever 30 plus game league season he is my tip for the golden boot.

If he stays fit the 25-year-old Everton academy product has the pedigree to become the first Fleetwood player since Jamie Vardy to score more than 20 goals in one term.

5. Fleetwood have never been relegated from the Football League

6. Promoted: Sunderland, Fleetwood, Barnsley.

Relegated: Wycombe, Accrington, AFC Wimbledon, Walsall

Gillingham

NAME/NEWSPAPER – Luke Cawdell - Medway Messenger / kentonline

CLUB COVERED – Gillingham

CLUB MANAGER – Steve Lovell

GROUND - The Medway Priestfield Stadium

1. Dean Parrett, Regan Charles-Cook, Josh Rees, Brandon Hanlan, Barry Fuller

2. Lee Martin, Scott Wagstaff, Jake Hessenthaler, Ben Nugent

3. A season without the threat of relegation would be nice, after finishing 20th and 17th in the last two years. Any kind of progress would be welcome and a play-off challenge shouldn't be beyond them.

4. There are high hopes for a fit-again Billy Bingham, who missed much of his first season through injury. Could be a key man for the Gills, holding things together in midfield and bringing experience to a squad which is quite young.

5. The club was formed 125 years ago as New Brompton FC and this season’s black and white striped away shirt is a replica of their first kit.

6. Up. Bradford, Barnsley, Sunderland. Down: Walsall, Fleetwood, Accrington, Rochdale.

Luton

NAME/NEWSPAPER – Mike Simmonds / Luton News

CLUB COVERED – Luton Town

CLUB MANAGER – Nathan Jones

GROUND - Kenilworth Road

1. Jorge Grant, Matty Pearson, Sonny Bradley, Andrew Shinnie

2. Olly Lee, Scott Cuthbert, Johnny Mullins, Jordan Cook, Lawson D’Ath

3. Hatters fans aren’t quite as expectant as last campaign when getting out of League Two was just everything. This season, they would no doubt like to see another promotion challenge mounted with the squad in place and new additions over the summer, although through the play-offs could be a more realistic target.

4. Danny Hylton. You can’t fail to witness a Hatters game without Hylton doing something, whether it be scoring a goal, producing some outrageous skill, getting booked or winding up the home crowd as the pantomime villain. Been a sensational signing for Town though, scoring 50 goals in just two seasons.

5. The ground is situated in two different postcodes, so when Olly Lee scored from inside his own half against Cambridge last season, he unleashed his shot from LU4, with the goal actually going in in LU1.

6. Up - Sunderland, Charlton, Portsmouth. Down - Accrington, Wycombe, Wimbledon, Walsall.

Oxford

NAME/NEWSPAPER – David Pritchard (Oxford Mail)

CLUB COVERED – Oxford United

CLUB MANAGER – Karl Robinson

GROUND – Kassam Stadium

1. Jamie Mackie, Gavin Whyte, Marcus Browne, Samir Carruthers, Luke Garbutt

2. Ryan Ledson, Kane Hemmings, Wes Thomas, Joe Rothwell, Mike Williamson

3. This season is about forgetting the last 12 months and getting back to where the side was when Michael Appleton left at the end of the 2016/17 campaign.

That means a challenge for the top six come the spring, rather a repeat of last season’s run-in, when they were nervously looking over their shoulders.

4. Gavin Whyte. The winger is virtually unknown outside of his native Northern Ireland, but United believe they have unearthed a gem.

Scoring more than a goal per game for Crusaders last season, the 22-year-old has pace to burn and if he adjusts quickly to English football, he may not stay in League One for long.

5. This season marks the 125th in the club’s history (they were known as Headington United until 1960)

6. Promoted: Sunderland, Portsmouth, Plymouth Argyle

Relegated: Walsall, Gillingham, Wycombe, Rochdale

Peterborough

NAME/NEWSPAPER: Alan Swann (Peterborough Telegraph)

CLUB COVERED: Peterborough United

CLUB MANAGER: Steve Evans

GROUND: The ABAX Stadium.

1) Of the 15 we have signed so far.......Jason Cummings (loan), Alex Woodyard, Siriki Dembele, Jason Naismith, Aaron Chapman.

2) Of the 17 we have let go so far.... Jack Marriott, Gwion Edwards, Jack Baldwin, Leo Da Silva Lopes, Junior Morias.

3) Promotion basically. Fuelled by the sheer optimism of the chairman and the manager, Posh fans expect us to get back into the Championship before every season. The sheer turnover of players and the loss of the two best players (Marriott and Edwards) are concerns though.

4) Young winger Siriki Dembele has turned a few heads this summer since arriving from Grimsby, but I suspect defensive midfielder Alex Woodyard will be a more reliable performer. He's been handed the captaincy even though he didn't arrive until this summer.

5) Posh are currently enjoying the longest spell outside the bottom division since entering the Football League in 1960 (11 years).

6) Promoted: Barnsley, Sunderland, Portsmouth

Relegated: Shrewsbury, Accrington, Wycombe, Walsall.

Plymouth

NAME/NEWSPAPER – Chris Errington - Plymouth Herald

CLUB COVERED – Plymouth Argyle

CLUB MANAGER – Derek Adams

GROUND - Home Park

1. Former Everton pair Calum Dyson and Conor Grant, central defenders Niall Canavan and Scott Wootton, and striker Freddie Ladapo

2. Sonny Bradley, Oscar Threlkeld, Luke McCormick, Gary Miller, Aaron Taylor-Sinclair

3. After a surprise seventh place finish last season, some of the Green Army are hoping their team can clinch a play-off place this time around. Others, though, would take a top half finish and further consolidation in League One.

4. Graham Carey remains the main man for Argyle. He has scored 43 goals - many of them spectacular ones, and quite a few penalties too - during his very impressive three seasons at the club. His delivery at set pieces is usually excellent, as is his shooting from distance.

5. Home Park will be a three-sided ground throughout this season because of redevelopment work on the grandstand.

6.Promoted: Sunderland, Peterborough United and Burton Albion.

Not mad keen on tipping teams to be relegated but, if pushed, Accrington, Blackpool, Rochdale and Wycombe Wanderers.

Portsmouth

NAME/NEWSPAPER – Neil Allen (Portsmouth News)

CLUB COVERED – Pompey

CLUB MANAGER – Kenny Jackett

GROUND - Fratton Park

1. Craig MacGillivray, Lee Brown, Tom Naylor, Ronan Curtis, Anton Walkes.

2. Kal Naismith

3. It was an encouraging eighth spot finish upon last season’s League One return, while five points short of the play-offs.

None of the regular first-teamers have left this summer, so the club are seeking progress, which naturally focuses on at least breaking into the play-off positions.

4. Jamal Lowe

The non-league recruit who scored twice to win Pompey promotion in 2016-17, continued his remarkable rise last term, establishing himself in the League One team.

The right-sided winger is pacy, hard-working, tricky and has an eye for goal. He was last season’s leading assist maker and continues to flourish.

5. When Pompey won the League Two title in 2016-17, they had occupied top spot for only the final 32 minutes of the entire season.

6. Promoted; Sunderland, Scunthorpe, Luton

Relegated; AFC Wimbledon, Shrewsbury, Walsall, Wycombe

Rochdale

NAME/NEWSPAPER – Richard Partington (Manchester Evening News/Rochdale Observer)

CLUB COVERED – Rochdale AFC

CLUB MANAGER – Keith Hill

GROUND - Crown Oil Arena

1. Aaron Wilbraham, David Perkins, MJ Williams, Brad Inman, Stephen Dooley

2. Keith Keane, Niall Canavan, Steve Davies

3. There is a strong feeling that Keith Hill has a much stronger and fitter group of players this time around. That should help cut out the tendency to concede late goals on a regular basis. They are no longer reliant on talented but injury-prone players like Keith Keane and Steve Davies, there is quality all over the pitch and the midfield - an area of weakness last season - looks well stocked.

4. Dan Adshead. He's only 16 years old but Manchester United have been linked with a move for him and senior players in the squad have been raving about him for several months. He won't be a regular starter as Keith Hill will treat him with kid gloves, but he's a real prospect in midfield

5. Promoted in 2014, this is Rochdale's longest spell in League One

6. Promoted: Sunderland, Barnsley, Scunthorpe

Relegated: Walsall, AFC Wimbledon, Shrewsbury, Bristol Rovers

Scunthorpe

NAME/NEWSPAPER – Paul Crute, Scunthorpe Telegraph

CLUB COVERED – Scunthorpe United

CLUB MANAGER – Nick Daws

GROUND – Glanford Park

1. Olufela Olomola, Stephen Humphrys, Andy Dales, James Horsfield, Cameron Borthwick-Jackson

2.Murray Wallace, Hakeeb Adelakun, Conor Townsend, Tom Hopper, Sam Mantom

3. After two seasons where the Iron have reached the play-off semi-finals, fans are a bit more sceptical about what will happen this year. Some of the clubs best players have left and there has not been a massive influx of players. Midfield looks a major problem. At the present time a mid-table finish looks likely but one or two decent signings could change that.

4. Providing he stays Duane Holmes. The midfielder came into his own last season and his pace and skill caused problems for many a League One defence. He was the club’s second top scorer with eight goals and provided five assists last season and will be expected to cause plenty of problems for opponents next season.

5. When Scunthorpe United sold Neil Cox to Aston Villa in 1991, they also received 1,600 blue seats to help provide seating for their away end.

6. Sunderland, Barnsley, Peterborough. Relegated: Gillingham, Walsall, Accrington Stanley, Wycombe.

Shrewsbury

NAME/NEWSPAPER – Lewis Cox/Shropshire Star

CLUB COVERED – Shrewsbury Town

CLUB MANAGER – John Askey

GROUND - Montgomery Waters Meadow

1. Fejiri Okenabirhie, Josh Laurent, Charlie Colkett (loan), Joel Coleman (loan), Alex Gilliead

2. Abu Ogogo, Junior Brown, Alex Rodman, Craig MacGillivray, Ben Godfrey/Carlton Morris/Dean Henderson (last season’s loans returned to parent clubs).

3. Paul Hurst’s instant exit following the play-off heartbreak left fans gutted. The appointment of National League champ John Askey brought optimism but he had a tough start losing key out-of-contract players. Signings since, and some decent friendly displays, has seen confidence improve and Town should not find themselves in a relegation scrap this term. Mid-table safety would be great.

4.Alex Gilliead comes highly rated from Newcastle United, where Town beat a host of rivals for his signature. The 22-year-old winger has impressed on previous loans but this is a key time for him after departing his boyhood club. Askey likes to play with width and he fits the bill.

5.Shrewsbury Town became the first team in England or Wales to install safe-standing in their all-seater stadia. It will be used for the first time against Bradford in the curtain-raiser on Saturday.

6. Promoted: Sunderland, Charlton, Peterborough

Relegated: Wycombe Accrington, Gillingham Rochdale

Southend

NAME/NEWSPAPER – Chris Phillips (Southend Echo)

CLUB COVERED – Southend United

CLUB MANAGER – Chris Powell

GROUND – Roots Hall

1. Harry Lennon, Timothee Dieng, Sam Mantom, Tom Hopper & Luke Hyam

2. Anthony Wordsworth, Josh Wright, Marc-Antoine Fortune, Michael Timlin & Jermaine McGlashan

3. Hopes are quite high among the fans following the improvements made under Chris Powell in the second half of last season.

Powell took the Shrimpers from just above the relegation zone to 10th place in just 18 games.

4. Dru Yearwood: The 18-year-old midfielder broke into the team last season and was named in an England under 18 squad in the summer.

He will be looking to push on again this season and enhance his ever-improving reputation in the game.

5. Southend will be looking to be more of a threat going forward this season.

Last season they went 18 away games, between September and April, without scoring in the second half.

6. Promoted: Charlton, Sunderland and Plymouth

Relegated: Wycombe, Accrington, AFC Wimbledon and Walsall

Sunderland

NAME/NEWSPAPER – Richard Mennear, Sunderland Echo

CLUB COVERED – Sunderland AFC

CLUB MANAGER – Jack Ross

GROUND - Stadium of Light

1. Jon McLaughlin (goalkeeper), Jack Baldwin (defender), Dylan McGeouch (midfielder), Luke O'Nien (midfielder), Jerome Sinclair (forward).

2. Paddy McNair to Middlesbrough, Wahbi Khazri to St Etienne, Joel Asoro to Swansea, Jason Steele to Brighton, John O'Shea to Reading.

3. I think the majority of fans would expect promotion from League One this season, with Jack Ross building a very competitive squad.

Sunderland do, however, remain two strikers short, with Bradford City striker Charlie Wyke one of the main summer targets they hope to land before deadline day.

Secure two strikers before the window shuts and this Sunderland side should be targeting automatic promotion after a dramatic summer on Wearside that has seen a major summer overhaul.

4. Dylan McGeouch. The Scotland international has been superb in pre-season since arriving in the summer, the deep-lying central midfielder makes Sunderland tick.

He is definitely one to watch this season as Sunderland target promotion back to the Championship.

5. Sunderland AFC were formed in 1879 at a meeting of schoolteachers called by James Allan, the club has been a member of the Football League since 1890.

6. Promoted: Sunderland, Barnsley, Luton Town.

Relegated: Accrington, Rochdale, Walsall, AFC Wimbledon.

Walsall

NAME/NEWSPAPER – Joe Masi, Express & Star

CLUB COVERED – Walsall

CLUB MANAGER – Dean Keates

GROUND - Banks's Stadium

1. Andy Cook, Zeli Ismail, Josh Ginnelly, Chris Dunn

2. Erhun Oztumer, Florent Cuvelier, Mark Gillespie, Jack Fitzwater (loan), Julien Ngoy (loan).

3. After narrowly avoiding the drop last year, supporters are now hoping for a brighter campaign under club legend Dean Keates.

With signings still to be made though, the squad is light on quality, experience and numbers.

A top half-finish, which lays foundations for the future, is the aim.

4. Andy Cook has been snapped up after scoring 51 goals in 89 games for Tranmere in the National League.

He’s already made a positive start after netting a brace in a 2-0 friendly win over Ajax.

A target man who can finish, Cook will be key to Walsall fortunes.

5. Dean Keates won three promotions with Walsall as a player.

He was also in charge of a Wrexham team that last season registered 23 clean sheets, a club record.

6. Promoted: Portsmouth, Sunderland, Peterborough

Relegated: Doncaster, Wycombe, Accrington, AFC Wimbledon

Wycombe

NAME/NEWSPAPER – Nick Tunney (Bucks Free Press)

CLUB COVERED – Wycombe Wanderers

CLUB MANAGER – Gareth Ainsworth

GROUND – Adams Park

1. Darius Charles, Ryan Allsop, Curtis Thompson

2. Scott Brown, Max Muller, Will De Havilland

3. I think the expectation will be just to survive but they could definitely surprise a few teams in this division. After an absence of six years, Wanderers are back in League One in probably the best shape they have ever been and Gareth Ainsworth is one of the best young managers in the country

4. Adebayo Akinfenwa. ‘The Beast’ has been an incredible signing for the Chairboys and scored 18 goals last season as the Blues got promoted. Teams see Akinfenwa as just a battering ram but his close control is exceptional and his ability to bring team-mates into the game is second to none. He will strike fear into League One defences this season.

5. Voted one of the most beautiful ground in the country last season

6. Promoted: Sunderland, Barnsley, Portsmouth

Relegated: Accrington, Gillingham,. AFC Wimbledon, Walsall