Who will make the push for glory?

THE 2015/16 Sky Bet League One season gets under way on Saturday with 24 clubs parading new-look squads. Here is our club-by-club assessment of their strengths and prospects.


BARNSLEY

Manager: Lee Johnson

Position last season: 11th

Nickname: Tykes/Reds

Ground: Oakwell

Capacity: 23,009

Barnsley fell short last season after an impressive late play-off charge under manager Lee Johnson, who arrived from Athletic in February. Some astute signings and a full pre-season under Johnson should see them challenging for a top-six finish.



BLACKPOOL

Manager: Neil McDonald

Position last season: 24th in Championship

Nickname: The Seasiders

Ground: Bloomfield Road

Capacity: 17,338

Tasked with building a squad from scratch again, Blackpool set about that goal with more urgency, although the raft of recruits lack experience so another difficult campaign may be in the offing. Against the backdrop of fan disgruntlement, it's unlikely to be quiet.



BRADFORD

Manager: Phil Parkinson

Position last season: Seventh

Nickname: The Bantams

Ground: Valley Parade

Capacity: 25,136

Bradford are hoping to be promotion challengers with optimism following some key signings reflected in the sale of more than 18,000 season tickets one week into July. Expect Phil Parkinson's side to be among the front-runners this season.



BURTON

Manager: Jimmy

Floyd Hasselbaink

Position last season: League Two champions

Nickname: The Brewers

Ground: Pirelli Stadium

Capacity: 6,912

In the third tier for the first time in their history, staying up would represent success for Burton. The Brewers will not see it that way, though, but they may need a goalscorer if they have their sights set higher than merely survival.



BURY

Manager: David Flitcroft

Position last season: Third in League Two

Nickname: The Shakers

Ground: Gigg Lane

Capacity: 11,840

Bury have made big statements of intent in the transfer window since chairman Stewart Day arrived in 2013 and their summer business has been eye-catching for a promoted team. David Flitcroft has to be confident with an arsenal of proven goalscorers.



CHESTERFIELD

Manager: Dean Saunders

Position last season: Sixth

Nickname: The Spireites

Ground: Proact Stadium

Capacity: 10,600

After reaching the play-offs last season expectations should have been high, but a change of manager and the departures of Ryan, Clucas and Roberts have dampened spirits among supporters. At least one more high-profile sale is expected.



COLCHESTER

Manager: Tony Humes

Position last season: 19th

Nickname: The U's

Ground: Weston Homes Community Stadium

Capacity: 10,084

Colchester survived on the last day of last season and will want to avoid a repeat. Whether that is possible remains to be seen, but their defence should be solid after some decent additions during the close season.



COVENTRY

Manager: Tony Mowbray

Position last season: 17th

Nickname: Sky Blues

Ground: Ricoh Arena

Capacity: 32,604

Boss Tony Mowbray has been a hit with the players and with a full pre-season should start turning Coventry around. The Sky Blues desperately need stability and it should be a year of consolidation at the Ricoh Arena after last season's relegation battle.



CREWE

Manager: Steve Davis

Position last season: 20th

Nickname: Alex, The Railwaymen

Ground: Gresty Road

Capacity: 10,153

Having secured safety on the last day in each of the past two campaigns, favourites for the drop Crewe are determined to steer clear of the mire. That may be easier said than done.



DONCASTER

Manager: Paul Dickov

Position last season: 13th

Nickname: Rovers

Ground: Keepmoat Stadium

Capacity: 15,231

The departure of Bennett was disappointing for Rovers, but Dickov has been shrewd in the transfer market this summer and the acquisition of Williams could be enough to transform Doncaster from last season's also-rans into promotion candidates this time round.



FLEETWOOD

Manager: Graham Alexander

Position last season: 10th

Nickname: The Cod Army

Ground: Highbury Stadium

Capacity: 5,094

Fleetwood should be lauded for their creditable 10th-placed finish in their maiden League One tilt, but this is a club that only looks up. Jimmy Ryan was a marquee recruit and if Declan McManus can deliver the goals, they may be around the play-off picture.



GILLINGHAM

Manager: Justin Edinburgh

Position last season: 12th

Nickname: The Gills

Ground: Priestfield Stadium

Capacity: 11,582

The Gills were seven points off the play-offs and 12 off relegation last season. The gaps are small in League One and Edinburgh will have to hit the ground running if he is not going to get embroiled in a relegation scrap.



MILLWALL

Manager: Neil Harris

Position last season: 22nd in Championship

Nickname: The Lions

Ground: The Den

Capacity: 20,146

Following relegation last season, Millwall have yet to make any marquee signings and have had a clear-out. A promotion push is unlikely for Harris's men unless he can bring in some quality.



OLDHAM ATHLETIC

Manager: Darren Kelly

Position last season: 15th

Nickname: Latics

Ground: SportsDirect.com Park

Capacity: 10,638

Much will depend on how left-field choice Darren Kelly fares. He has the makings of a decent squad that pushed hard for the play-offs for much of last year, but the jury is out on whether he can win promotion with a team starting a 19th straight season in the third tier.



PETERBOROUGH

Manager: Dave Robertson

Position last season: Ninth

Nickname: The Posh

Ground: London Road

Capacity: 14,640

Collison's return to the club where it all began is a real coup for Posh and he will provide that little bit of quality that was lacking sometimes last season. It was unusual for Peterborough not to be involved in the promotion shake-up last time, but you can expect normal service to be resumed in 2015/16.



PORT VALE

Manager: Rob Page

Position last season: 18th

Nickname: The Valiants

Ground: Vale Park

Capacity: 19,052

A terrible final couple of months last season almost saw Vale relegated but Page's team are not expected to struggle this time round. If they can improve at the back, in Ikpeazu the Burslem club have got themselves a goalscorer who might be able to propel them towards a play-off challenge.



ROCHDALE

Manager: Keith Hill

Position last season: Eighth

Nickname: Dale

Ground: Spotland

Capacity: 10,249

Rochdale surprised everybody in their first season back in League One last term and while they may find it harder to maintain such progress, boss Keith Hill's new signings could see them challenging in the top 10.



SCUNTHORPE:

Manager: Mark Robins

Position last season: 16th

Nickname: The Iron

Ground: Glanford Park

Capacity: 9,088

Scunthorpe's intentions are clear from the quality of their summer signings and they will be expecting to improve significantly on last season's struggles, with a play-off challenge by no means an unrealistic target in their last season at Glanford Park.



SHEFFIELD UNITED

Manager: Nigel Adkins

Position last season: Fifth

Nickname: The Blades

Ground: Bramall Lane

Capacity: 32,702

Manager Adkins has won promotion from League One on three previous occasions and will be expected to take the Blades close after replacing Nigel Clough in June. The South Yorkshire club will embark on a fifth season in the third tier.



SHREWSBURY

Manager: Micky Mellon

Position last season: Second in League Two

Nickname: The Shrews

Ground: Greenhous Meadow

Capacity: 9,875

The Shrews' attacking style will serve them well in their return to League One. Mellon has moulded a good squad and is an up and coming manager. They will not struggle, but it is a leap to expect them to challenge for the top six.



SOUTHEND

Manager: Phil Brown

Position last season: Fifth in League Two

Nickname: The Shrimpers

Ground: Roots Hall

Capacity: 12,392

The Shrimpers are riding the crest of a wave after promotion last season and on the back of some solid recruitment will be hopeful of a decent campaign. A top-half finish looks beyond them, but lower mid-table would be respectable in their first season back in the second tier since 2010.



SWINDON

Manager: Mark Cooper

Position last season: Fourth

Nickname: The Robins

Ground: County Ground

Capacity: 15,728

The loss of Massimo Luongo and Ben Gladwin to QPR was a big blow for Swindon, while top-scorer Andy Williams and first-choice ‘keeper Wes Foderingham were both released. Much will be expected of Liverpool loan duo Jordan Williams and Kevin Stewart, but it is hard to see the Robins challenging for promotion again.



WALSALL

Manager: Dean Smith

Position last season: 14th

Nickname: The Saddlers

Ground: Banks's Stadium

Capacity: 11,300

Manager Smith goes into his fifth season in charge still trying to make the play-off breakthrough at Walsall. They are likely to flirt with the top six, but lack the depth to make a serious challenge. He will hope Bradshaw has finally shrugged off his hamstring problems and can better his 20-goal haul of last term.



WIGAN

Manager: Gary Caldwell

Position last season: 23rd in Championship

Nickname: Latics

Ground: DW Stadium

Capacity: 25,133

A young chairman and a rookie manager will preside over a new-look Wigan, with the former making declarations about wanting to reach 100 points. Wigan fans would settle for promotion and a fully-fit Craig Morgan and Craig Davies.