LEAGUES ONE AND TWO

NO dramas, no financial implosion and no fire-sale of star names – it has been a summer like no other in the new Millennium at Elland Road.

Instead, Leeds United manager Gary McAllister has been able to spend the past two months quietly going about his business with a sprinkling of new faces being added to the squad that went so close to winning promotion last season.

Goalscoring winger Andy Robinson's arrival from Swansea has been a key one as United palpably lacked width during the run-in, while left-back Alan Sheehan's permanent capture should finally solve what has been a problem position for the best part of a decade.

The bookmakers make Leeds, who were watched by the biggest average home crowd in the Football League last term, overwhelming favourites to win League One this time around and it is easy to see why in a division that, unlike last season when Swansea City dominated, lacks an outstanding side.

Colchester United are capable of providing the biggest threat to Leeds's title aspirations with Steven Gillespie arriving in a £400,000 deal from Cheltenham Town to underline the club's ambition to win an instant return to the Championship.

Leicester City will be expected to challenge, but may have to settle for the play-offs, while MK Dons and Peterborough are likely to find back-to-back promotions beyond them despite their substantial financial muscle.

Huddersfield Town have been treading water for two seasons, but Stan Ternent has recruited well this summer, as has Micky Adams at Brighton. Carlisle United have lost Joe Garner and Keiren Westwood, but wily John Ward should still ensure a challenge from the Cumbrians.

Two of the clubs promoted from League Two, Hereford United and Stockport County, could find the going tough, while Cheltenham and Yeovil should also struggle.

As for the land of the addenda – or League Two as it is more commonly known in football circles – the only confident prediction that can be made is that the number of asterisks denoting who has been deducted points and how many by the Football League will grow between now and next May.

At the moment, only Luton Town will start the campaign on a minus points tally, but with the futures of both Rotherham and Bournemouth yet to be resolved then it is safe to assume further penalties are on the way. And that could dramatically alter the relegation picture, meaning a possible reprieve for either Accrington Stanley or Dagenham & Redbridge – though the poorly-supported Essex club could still struggle to avoid the trapdoor.

As for the top end, Rochdale and Darlington will again be strong with both clubs having an excellent chance of making up for last season's play-off disappointment by going up automatically. And they could be joined by Bradford City with Stuart McCall having recruited well and brought in a host of players who either impressed in League One – such as Chris Brandon and Paul McLaren – or performed heroically in the basement division as Michael Boulding did in scoring 22 League goals for relegated Mansfield.

In the play-offs, former Huddersfield Town defenders Lee Sinnott and Peter Jackson's paths could cross once again with Port Vale and Lincoln both having a great chance of reaching Wembley.


Sutcliffe's predictions

League One

1 Leeds United

2 Colchester United

3 Brighton & Hove Albion

4 Carlisle United

5 Leicester City

6 Huddersfield Town

21 Yeovil Town

22 Cheltenham Town

23 Hereford United

24 Stockport County


League Two

1 Rochdale

2 Bradford City

3 Darlington

4 Port Vale

5 Lincoln City

6 Aldershot Town

7 Wycombe Wanderers

23 Luton Town

24 Dagenham & Redbridge