League One prospects: Wilder and McCall ready to embrace the challenge

Wilder guided Northampton to the League Two title last season and has made some astute signings at Bramall Lane after releasing 11 players, with new recruits Mark Duffy, Chris Hussey, Jack O’Connell and John Fleck all proven performers in the third tier or above.

But previous Blades chiefs Danny Wilson, Nigel Clough and Nigel Adkins were all given the resources, if not the time, to get the Blades back in the Championship and it remains to be seen whether Wilder needs longer than one summer to mould the South Yorkshire club into serious contenders.

Wilder, a former ball-boy and player at Bramall Lane and the club’s fifth permanent manager since they were relegated to League One in 2011, made clear his intentions following his appointment in May.

“I’m not frightened of the challenge,” he said. “I don’t go in for three or five-year plans. If we can get out of the division this year then we will do.

“The biggest thing is to go and win games of football and I put myself under enormous pressure to do that.”

Of the clubs who out-performed the Blades to reach the play-offs last season, beaten finalists Millwall appear best placed to pick up where they left off under Neil Harris, who has retained the key players who helped push the Londoners close while adding to his squad.

Bradford are also among the promotion favourites, but the winds of change have swept through Valley Parade.

Some fans have questioned the return of Stuart McCall, appointed as manager by the club’s new German owners following Phil Parkinson’s departure to Bolton.

McCall’s first stint as Bantams manager ended in disappointment in 2010 and although his stock has risen following success in Scotland with Motherwell and Rangers, there are concerns a raft of comings and goings both on and off the pitch could stall the club’s progression.

“Every club and every set of fans want someone different to manage them - some supporters will want you and some won’t,” McCall said.

“It’s water off a duck’s back to me now and it’s about getting out on the park. I’m a lot better equipped now and more street-wise than when I was previously here.”

Fellow beaten play-off semi-finalists Walsall have been forced to rebuild following the departure of key players such as Romaine Sawyers and Tom Bradshaw and may struggle to replicate the form which saw them challenge for a top-two finish last season.

MK Dons, Charlton and Bolton came up short in 2015-16 to drop out of the Championship, but all will harbour hopes of an instant return.

The latter two will mount their challenge under new managers. Charlton’s Russell Slade will hope his replacements for the departed trio of Jordan Cousins, Nick Pope and Johann Berg Gudmundsson can all hit the ground running, while Bolton’s priority is stability under new boss Parkinson after an extended period of turmoil.

MK Dons are expected to be in the promotion shake-up. They will be wiser for their season in the second tier and manager Karl Robinson is well versed on what it takes to get there. Their historic fixtures against newly-promoted AFC Wimbledon, the club that was formed after the Dons relocated from south London to Milton Keynes, are eagerly awaited.

Oxford are also well fancied to maintain their climb following promotion despite selling last season’s star performer Kemar Roofe to Leeds, while League Two champions Northampton will bid to maintain their momentum under new boss Rob Page following Wilder’s departure.

Bristol Rovers clinched a top-three finish in dramatic fashion on the final day in League Two last season and will be aiming to at least consolidate under Darrell Clarke.

The likes of Coventry, Peterborough, Gillingham and Scunthorpe, the latter whose barnstorming finish last season saw them miss out on a play-off place only on goal difference, are likely to mount a stronger challenge.

Oldham, Port Vale, Shrewsbury and Bury have plenty to prove after all being tipped to struggle at the other end of the table.