1st August 2000
1st August 2000 BOURNEMOUTH
Nickname: 'The Cherries'
Ground: Dean Court (10,770)
Position last season: 16th
Manager: Mel Machin
Transfers:
In: Gareth O'Connor (Bohemians Dublin, free), Stephen Purces (West Ham, free), Bernard Narada (Arsenal, free), Chukkie Erbienne (Coventry, free), Peter Grant (Reading, free)
Out: Mark Stein (Luton, free), Steve Robinson (Preston, £375,000), Christer Warren (QPR, free), Mark Rawlinson (Exeter, free), Scott Mean, Michael Dean, Jon O'Neill, Gordon Watson (all released)
Title odds: Ladbrokes 40-1, William Hill 40-1
Key men: Peter Grant, Mark Ovendale, Eddie Howe
Chances: The problems with their stadium mean the Cherries are unlikely to get out of the bottom third for most of the season. But ultimately too good to be relegated.
BRENTFORD
Nickname: 'The Bees'
Ground: Griffin Park (12,673)
Position last season: 17th
Manager: Ron Noades
Transfers:
In: Mark McCammon (Charlton, free), Paul Gibbs (Plymouth, free), Olafuv Gottskalksson (Hibernian, free), Danny Cullip (Brighton, free), Phil Warner (Southampton, undisclosed), Paul Smith (Crawley)
Out: Danny Coleman (Farnborough, free), Stephen Jenkins (released)
Title odds: L 20-1, W 28-1
Key men: Paul Gibbs, Paul Evans, Darren Powell
Chances: After getting off to a flying start last season before fading away, the canny Ron Noades is likely to bring about improvements. A top-half finish beckons.
BRISTOL CITY
Nickname: 'The Robins'
Ground: Ashton Gate (21,479)
Position last season: 9th
Manager: Danny Wilson
Transfers:
In: Mark Lever (Grimsby Town, free)
Out: Matt Hewlett (Swindon, free), Mark Shail (Kidderminster, free), Kevin Langen (released)
Title odds: L 12-1, W 12-1
Key men: Tony Thorpe, Peter Beadle, Louis Carey
Chances: City underachieved last season, when they should have at least made the play-offs. The arrival of Wilson should bring fresh ideas to an experienced squad and with Thorpe, who re-discovered his goal-scoring touch last term, in attack they are likely to mount a stern challenge.
BRISTOL ROVERS
Nickname: 'The Pirates'
Ground: The Memorial Stadium (10,861)
Position last season: 7th
Manager: Ian Holloway
Transfers:
In: Che Wilson (Norwich, free), Martin Cameron (Alloa, £100,000), Nick Culkin (Man Utd, loan)
Out: Jason Roberts (West Brom, £2million), Lee Jones (Stockport, £50,000), Michael Kuipers (Brighton, free); Tom White, Stephane Leoni, Gary Penrice, Ray Johnston, Nigel Pierre (all released), Ian Holloway (retired)
Title odds: L 16-1, W 16-1
Key men: Jamie Cureton, Ronnie Mauge
Chances: So unlucky last season, missing out on the play-offs on the final day after leading the way for much of it, they have failed to keep the division's most prolific strike force intact. Cureton will have a hard time without his fellow frontman Roberts.
BURY
Nickname: 'The Shakers'
Ground: Gigg Lane (11,841)
Position last season: 15th
Manager: Andy Preece
Transfers:
In: Glyn Garner (Llanelli, undisclosed)
Out: Kemajl Ardiu (Vasaland, free), Martin Bryan (Rotherham, free); Paul Williams, Paul Challinor, Brian Linighan (all released)
Title odds: L 40-1, W 40-1
Key men: Andy Preece, Adrian Littlejohn, Paddy Kelly
Chances: Financial restraints at Gigg Lane have made it very difficult for player-manager Preece to strengthen his squad. A mid-table finish would be an achievement.
CAMBRIDGE UNITED
Nickname: 'The Us'
Ground: Abbey Stadium (9247)
Position last season: 19th
Manager: Roy McFarland
Transfers:
In: John Dreyer (Bradford, free), Tom Cowan (Burnley, free)
Out: Trevor Benjamin (Leicester City, £1m), Scott Eustace (Lincoln, free), Clive Wilson, Jamie Cassidy, Arjan van Heusden, Michael Kyd, Jason Kavanagh (all released), Ben Chenery (Kettering, free)
Title odds: L 66-1, W 66-1
Key men: John Dreyer, Paul Wanless, Tom Youngs
Chances: Cambridge survived last season, thanks to a glut of goals from Martin Butler (now at Reading) and Benjamin. They had one of the division's most porous defences last season and that could prove to be their Achilles heel this time.
COLCHESTER UNITED
Nickname: 'The Us'
Ground: Layer Road (7556)
Position last season: 18th
Manager: Steve Whitton
Transfers:
In: Alan White (Luton, free), Simon Clark (Leyton Orient, free), Mick Stockwell (Ipswich, free)
Out: David Greene (Cardiff, free)
Title odds: L 50-1, W 66-1
Key men: Lomano Lua-Lua, Stockwell
Chances: United have managed to keep hold of the prolific Lua-Lua and they can do well if they tighten up the leaky defence which dogged them last season.
LUTON TOWN
Nickname: 'The Hatters'
Ground: Kenilworth Road (9975)
Position last season: 13th
Manager: Ricky Hill
Transfers:
In: Mark Stein (Bournemouth, free)
Out: Alan White (Colchester, free), Phil Gray (Burnley, free), Michael McIndoe (Hereford, undisclosed) Efe Sodje (Crewe, free)
Title odds: L 33-1, 25-1
Key men: Matthew Spring, Mark Stein, Gavin McGowan
Chances: Unlikely to trouble the division's leading lights as new boss Ricky Hill beds into the job.
MILLWALL
Nickname: 'The Lions'
Ground: The New Den (20,146)
Position last season: 5th
Manager: Keith Stevens
Transfers:
In: None
Out: Paul Shaw (Gillingham, £425,000), Nigel Spink (Forest Green, free), Brian Law (released)
Title odds: L 6-1, W 8-1
Key men: Neil Harris, Lucas Neill, Matt Lawrence
Chances: Stevens has managed to keep hold of most of his young stars, who could well make up for their play-off exit last season. Definitely one of the strongest sides in the division.
NORTHAMPTON TOWN
Nickname: 'The Cobblers'
Ground: Sixfields (7653)
Position last season: 3rd (Div Three)
Manager: Kevin Wilson
Transfers:
In: Marco Gabbiadini (Darlington, free), Jamie Forrester (Walsall, £150,000), Chris Hargreaves (Plymouth, free)
Out: Sean Parrish (Chesterfield, free); Carlo Corazzin, Simon Sturridge, Paul Wilkinson (all released)
Title odds: L 33-1, W 28-1
Key men: Marco Gabbiadini, Jamie Forrester, Steve Howard
Chances: Gabbiadini was the top-scorer in England last season and should have no problems fitting in in Division Two. A prolific partnership with former Leeds starlet Forrester could make the Cobblers surprise challengers for a play-off spot.
NOTTS COUNTY
Nickname: 'The Magpies'
Ground: Meadow Lane (20,300)
Position last season: 8th
Manager: Jocky Scott
Transfers:
In: None
Out: Duane Darby (Rushden & Diamonds, free); Francis Tierney, Clayton Blackmore (both released)
Title odds: L 25-1, W 18-1
Key men: Darren Ward, Paul Stallard, Paul Bolland
Chances: New boss Scott performed wonders on a shoestring at Dundee and might just pull another rabbit out of the hat by leading the Magpies into the play-offs.
OLDHAM ATHLETIC
Nickname: 'The Latics'
Ground: Boundary Park (13,559)
Position last season: 14th
Manager: Andy Ritchie
Transfers:
In: None
Out: Richard Graham (free)
Title odds: L 40-1, W 40-1
Key men: Gary Kelly, John Sheridan, Paul Rickers
Chances: Boss Ritchie has made steady progress at Boundary Park, and expect the upward trend to continue this season.
OXFORD UNITED
Nickname: 'The Us'
Ground: Manor Ground (9572)
Position last season: 20th
Manager: Denis Smith
Transfers:
In: Richard Knight (Derby, free), John Robertson (Ayr, free), Manny Omoyimni (West Ham, free), Ian McGuckin (Fulham, free)
Out: Nigel Jemson (Shrewsbury, free), Les Robinson (Mansfield, free), Phil Whelan (Southend, free), Eddie Newton, Paul Lundin (both released), Steve Davis (Macclesfield, free)
Title odds: L 66-1, W 66-1
Key men: Matt Murphy, Joey Beauchamp, Ian McGuckin
Chances: Despite being short on funds they have the quality, especially in Murphy and Beauchamp, and an experienced manager who can guide them clear of trouble and avoid last season's relegation scrap.
PETERBOROUGH UNITED
Nickname: 'Posh'
Ground: London Road (15,314)
Position last season: 5th (Div Three, play-off winners)
Manager: Barry Fry
Transfers:
In: None
Out: Jae Martin (Woking, undisclosed), Bart Griemink (Swindon, free), Steve Castle (Leyton Orient, free)
Title odds: L 40-1, W 40-1
Key men: Dave Farrell, Jason Lee
Chances: Fry has admitted he faces a tough task to keep Posh in the division and their lack of movement in the transfer market is likely to see them struggle to avoid the drop. But Fry is the master wheeler-dealer and he may have an ace up his sleeve.
PORT VALE
Nickname: 'Valiants'
Ground: Vale Park (22,356)
Position last season: 23rd (Div One)
Manager: Brian Horton
Transfers:
In: Sinclair le Geyt (Derby, free), Marc Bridge-Wilkinson (Derby, free), Dean Delany (Everton, free)
Out: Stuart Talbot (Rotherham, free), Wayne Corden (Mansfield, free); Mark Snijders, Paul Musselwhite, Kevin Pilkington, Steve Rimmer, Anthony Farr, Stewart Clitheroe, Simon Barker, Chris Gowan (all released)
Title odds: L 16-1, W 16-1
Key men: Tony Rougier, Tommy Widdrington, Matt Carragher
Chances: Should be solid enough defensively, but may struggle to hit the target enough to think about promotion.
READING
Nickname: 'The Royals'
Ground: Madejski Stadium (24,200)
Position last season: 10th
Manager: Alan Pardew
Transfers:
In: Adrian Williams (Wolves, free), Keith Jones (Charlton, free), Adrian Viveash (Walsall, free)
Out: Paul Brayson (Cardiff, free), Martin Williams (Bristol City, free), Philip Hadland, Peter van der Kwaak, Mass Sarr, Neville Stamp, Linvoy Primus, Andy Bernal (all released)
Title odds: L 8-1, W 8-1
Key men: Martin Butler, Adrian Williams, Nicky Forster
Chances: Dark horses for the championship, the Royals finished strongly last season and have recruited well, especially with the return of Welsh international Williams to the defence. Solid in defence and prolific in attack, if they start well they have a great chance of promotion.
ROTHERHAM UNITED
Nickname: 'The Millers'
Ground: Millmoor (11,514)
Position last season: 2nd (Div Three)
Manager: Ronnie Moore
Transfers:
In: Mark Robins (Walsall, free), Stuart Talbot (Port Vale, free), Ian Gray (Stockport, undisclosed), Marvin Bryan (Bury, free)
Out: Mike Pollitt (Chesterfield, free), Lee Glover (Macclesfield, free), Jason White (Cheltenham, free), Steve Thompson (Halifax, free), Gary Martindale (Telford, free); Vance Warner, Jamie Ingledow (both released)
Title odds: L 28-1, W 28-1
Key men: Chris Sedgwick, Leo Fortune-West, Stuart Talbot
Chances: The Millers will lean heavily on the talents of young winger Sedgwick and giant forward Fortune-West, but they are short of quality in depth and likely to struggle. For Moore, a mid-table finish would be a job well done.
STOKE CITY
Nickname: 'The Potters'
Ground: Britannia Stadium (24,054)
Position last season: 6th
Manager: Gudjon Thordarson
Transfers:
In: Tony Dorigo (Derby, free), Wayne Thomas (Torquay, free), Stefan Thordarson (Uerdingen, free)
Out: Stuart Fraser (Exeter, free), Bryan Small, Stephen Melton, Kevin Keen (all released)
Title odds: L 5-1, W 5-1
Key men: James O'Connor, Peter Thorne, Graham Kavanagh
Chances: Went on an amazing run after Thordarson came to the club but could not keep it going as they stumbled in the play-offs. A good bet for a top-three place.
SWANSEA CITY
Nickname: 'The Swans'
Ground: Vetch Field (10,402)
Position last season: 1st (Div Three)
Manager: John Hollins
Transfers:
In: None
Out: Tony Bird (Kidderminster, free), Julian Alsop (Cheltenham, free)
Title odds: L 20-1, W 18-1
Key men: Roger Freestone, Steve Watkin, Julian Alsop
Chances: Hollins has made few changes to his squad since taking over at the Vetch, but the current squad have their work cut out if they are to re-pay the manager's faith this season. With no new signings, Welsh international keeper Freestone could be a busy man.
SWINDON TOWN
Nickname: 'The Robins'
Ground: The County Ground (15,728)
Position last season: 24th (Div One)
Manager: Colin Todd
Transfers:
In: Matt Hewlett (Bristol City, free), Martin Williams (Reading, free), Juan Cobian (Aberdeen, free), Keith O'Halloran (St Johnstone, free), Bart Griemink (Peterborough, free)
Out: Lee Collins (Blackpool, free); Frank Talia, Philippe Cuervo, Alan Flanaghan, Scott Leitch (all released)
Title odds: L 20-1, W 18-1
Key men: Gareth Davies, Juan Cobian, Steve Cowe
Chances: With the majority of their financial troubles behind them the arrival of Todd has also brought re-newed confidence to the long-suffering Swindon fans. However, it will take time to repair the damage to a squad that was largely sold off to pay debts last season and a mid-table finish would be respectable.
WALSALL
Nickname: 'The Saddlers'
Ground: Bescot (9,000)
Position last season: 22nd (Div One)
Manager: Ray Graydon
Transfers:
In: Ian Brightwell (Coventry, free), Darren Byfield (Aston Villa, £150,000), Xavier Barraud (Lyon, undisclosed), Brett Angell (Stockport, undisclosed)
Out: Mark Robins (Rotherham, free), Adrian Viveash (Reading, free), Michael Ricketts (Bolton, £400,000) Mihalis Vlachos (Ionikos, free), Jason Brissett (Leyton Orient, free) Gino Padula (Wigan, free)
Title odds: L 16-1, W 16-1
Key men: Ian Roper, Brett Angell, Jim Walker
Chances: Graydon did brilliantly to lead Walsall to promotion in his first season in charge two years ago. The step-up in class to Division One proved too much, but back in familiar surroundings Graydon will be confident he can guide his side to promotion.
WIGAN ATHLETIC
Nickname: 'The Latics'
Ground: JJB Stadium (25,000)
Position last season: 4th
Manager: Bruce Rioch
Transfers:
In: Gino Padula (Walsall, free)
Out: Stuart Barlow (Tranmere, free); Neil Fitzroy, David Lee, Jeff Peron, Michael O'Neill (all released)
Title odds: L 3-1, W 3-1
Key men: Simon Haworth, Roy Carroll, Arjan de Zeeuw
Chances: The loss of the prolific Barlow should not harm their chances too much so expect them to make up for their play-off final defeat by clinching automatic promotion.
WREXHAM
Nickname: 'The Robins'
Ground: The Racecourse Ground (15,500)
Position last season: 11th
Manager: Brian Flynn
Transfers:
In: Lee Roche (Man Utd, loan), Michael Blackwood (Aston Villa, free), Carlos Edwards and Hector Sam (Trinidad & Tobago, £250,000)
Out: Dean Spink (Chester, free), Karl Connolly (QPR, free); Steven Cooper, Deryn Brace, Ian Stevens, Stephen Rishworth, Michael Ryan, Andy Griffiths (all released)
Title odds: L 25-1, W 25-1
Key men: Carlos Edwards, Hector Sam, Darren Ferguson
Chances: The loss of inspirational forward Karl Connolly to QPR has been offset by the arrival of Trinidad starlets Sam and Edwards. The Robins won their last five league games of last season and could be surprise contenders for a play-off spot.
WYCOMBE WANDERERS
Nickname: 'Chairboys'
Ground: Adams Park (10,000)
Position last season: 12th
Manager: Lawrie Sanchez
Transfers:
In: Steve Jones (Bristol City, loan)
Out: Lee Holsgrove, Richard Thompson, Eddie Gray, Nick Leach (all released)
Title odds: L 33-1, W 33-1
Key men: Sean Devine, Martin Taylor, Steve Jones
Top Six
1. Wigan
2. Reading
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3. Walsall
4. Millwall
5. Stoke
6. Bristol City
(Millwall to go up through play-offs)