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Annan Athletic
Finished last season: 5th
Manager: Jim Chapman
Players in: Blair Currie (Hamilton Accies); Jordan Hart (Celtic); Jamie Watson (Airdrieonians).
Analysis: Jim Chapman is about to start his third full season in charge at Annan in League Two, the current version of the Third Division he won with Dumbarton in 2009. How patient is he going to be for similar success in the league with his current club?
Despite the relatively slow transfer activity at Galabank so far, early signs have been positive. League One Airdrieonians were dispatched from the Petrofac Cup while Championship Queen of the South needed a very late equaliser, and then extra time, in Saturday’s League Cup first round tie. That was also with Annan having gone down to nine men.
However, the league is a nine-month marathon and without much transfer activity having taken place, Annan will need a lot of breaks to be part of the race for the top four. The squad will have to stay fit and results which were difficult to get last season need to be obtained this time around. If that happens they’ll give themselves a chance, but it’s a lot to ask at the moment.
Verdict: 7th
Arbroath
Finished last season: 3rd (lost play-off semi-final to Queen’s Park)
Manager: Todd Lumsden
Players in: Sergio Alvarez (Atletico Victoria); Calum Brodie and Jamie Reid (Dundee); Jamie Clarke (Broughty Athletic); Lewis Coult (Stirling Albion); Allan Fleming (East Fife); David Gold (Berwick Rangers); Martin Grehan (Stenhousemuir); Graham Hay (Formartine United); Kane Hester (Arbroath Vics); Craig Wilson (Linlithgow Rose).
Analysis: It really shouldn’t be humanly possible for a season to fall apart as Arbroath’s did in 2014/15. Coasting to the title at the midway point, lucky to still be in the top four by the end, and chances of promotion through the play-offs ended at the first hurdle.
The Red Lichties’ new-look squad has had a couple of tough assignments in the cup competitions to kick things off. Dunfermline were comprehensive winners in the end in the Petrofac Cup first round but events at Tynecastle last Thursday will give confidence. Indeed, had Arbroath enjoyed the breaks in front of goal, they may have caused a shock against Hearts. That, though, is not their big priority this season.
Lewis Coult and Martin Grehan should score goals at this level, but many signings have come from senior or youth level and it remains to be seen what impression they will make. Arbroath should make the play-offs again, but can do without another mid-season collapse.
Verdict: 4th
Berwick Rangers
Finished last season: 8th
Manager: Colin Cameron
Players in: Kieran Ainslie and Mark Walters (Coldstream); David Banjo and Ross Graham (Montrose); Graeme Beveridge (Elgin City); Dwayne Coultress (Maidenhead Utd); Charlie Denton (Kirkcaldy YM); Finn Graham (Dunfermline Athletic); Calum Helm (Hutchison Vale); Barry Hogg (Tynecastle); Michael McKenna and Kevin Walker (Livingston); Ewan McNeil (Brechin City); David Morris (Dalkeith Thistle); Robert Wilson (Musselburgh Athletic).
Analysis: “A repeat of last season’s form is unacceptable.” The statement issued in June by Berwick chairman Brian Porteous which just about says it all regarding expectations at the club for the coming season. The Shielfield Park club were always going to challenge for promotion the hard way but it does seem rather strange that they reached the Scottish Cup quarter finals yet could only manage eighth place, only ahead of second bottom East Stirlingshire on goal difference.
Manager Cameron certainly can’t be accused of not strengthening the squad numbers-wise over the close season, with 15 new signings checking in. Many of them have come from non-league football and as yet are relative unknowns at senior level, but some have arrived with experience, such as ex-Livingston duo Michael McKenna and Kevin Walker, who were on the fringes of the Almondvale first team last season.
The new-look squad has made a positive start, most notably in Saturday’s League Cup first round tie at home to Alloa. Berwick were 2-0 down at home to the Championship Wasps but rallied to take the game to extra time and then won it 3-2 in the added half hour. Beginners’ luck or something they’re capable of doing on a regular basis? Time will tell, but Berwick should finish higher than last season and, if everything comes together, may be capable of a play-off push. The pressure is on to deliver this time, though.
Verdict: 5th
Clyde
Finished last season: 6th
Manager: Barry Ferguson
Players in: Michael Bolochoweckyj and Stephen Brisbane (East Stirlingshire); Archie Campbell and Scott Linton (Dumbarton); John Gibson (Alloa Athletic); David Gormley (Auchinleck Talbot); Sean Higgins (Cowdenbeath); Chris Mitchell (Queen of the South); Chris Smith (Stirling Albion).
Analysis: This is Clyde’s sixth season in the basement division, having been challengers for promotion to the top flight as recently as 2004. Any outsider would be forgiven for thinking that things were in the doldrums at the Cumbernauld outfit. But that may be about to change.
It was with no huge surprise that Scott Linton and Archie Campbell were released from Dumbarton. The former had done a steady job but needed a change of scenery, while the latter’s move 12 months ago just didn’t work out. It was, though, unexpected that they would end up two divisions lower. Campbell, in particular, should thrive in League Two, especially with the experience of Sean Higgins alongside him. The signing of Chris Mitchell from Queen of the South is also a notable one and should add steel to the defence.
After a hit-and-miss first season in charge, Barry Ferguson will surely look to kick on from there and seal at least a play-off place this time around. Consecutive cup ties at Livingston proved too much of an obstacle in the end, although the first did go to extra time. Clyde have signed well, and early, for a promotion push and may have put down a marker as the team to beat.
Verdict: 1st
East Fife
Finished last season: 4th (lost play-off semi-final to Stenhousemuir)
Manager: Gary Naysmith
Players in: Mikey Couser (Alloa Athletic); Ryan Goodfellow, Scott Mercer, Declan O’Kane and Jonathan Page (Dunfermline Athletic); Jason Kerr (St Johnstone, loan); Graeme MacGregor (East Stirlingshire); Craig Murray (Aberdeen); Pat Slattery (Queen of the South); Craig Sutherland (Stenhousemuir); Kyle Wilkie (Nairn County).
Analysis: Early season cup ties don’t always pre-empt how a league season will turn out, but East Fife may just have flexed some muscle ahead of what they will view as another push for promotion.
By all accounts they were very unlucky to lose to Falkirk in the Petrofac Cup first round, and the scoring pattern would suggest that. Until the second last minute the Bairns were going to be forced to settle for extra time, but edged it, eventually securing a 3-1 victory. Then there was Saturday. Having won on each of their last three visits to New Bayview, Dumbarton were frustrated and found the Fifers difficult to break down, eventually going out of the League Cup on penalties.
In striker Nathan Austin, East Fife have a special talent whose quality stood out on Saturday. He also impressed without the suspended Kevin Smith beside him. If those two can continue to produce, and the Fifers can remain difficult to break down, a play-off place should be a certainty. With a bit of luck, there may be more than that to aim for.
Verdict: 3rd
East Stirlingshire
Finished last season: 9th
Manager: Craig Tully
Players in: Jonny Court (Raith Rovers, loan); Darren Dolan (Sauchie Juniors); Reece Donaldson (Peterhead); Kris Faulds (Stenhousemuir); Ally Roy (Hearts, loan).
Analysis: The so-near-and-yet-so-far days of promotion challenges now seem very distant for East Stirlingshire, who in recent seasons have shown signs of slipping back into the worst-team-in-Scotland maelstrom they were in during the early 21st century.
It was said in many quarters that their performances deserved better than the ninth place they got last season. However, key players have left and are being replaced by loanees and players who are largely untried at senior level. The signing of Reece Donaldson, experienced at higher levels with Raith Rovers and Peterhead, is a good one and should strengthen the Shire at the back. And David McKenna, a regular goalscorer in lower league football, has been retained.
Already out of both cup competitions, East Stirlingshire are already free to concentrate on what will be another season of battling hard. They won’t be alone in the mix to avoid the play-off spot for finishing bottom, but their efforts may not be enough.
Verdict: 10th
Elgin City
Finished last season: 7th
Manager: Jim Weir
Players in: Liam Gordon, George Hunter, Mark Hurst (St Johnstone, all loan); Marc McKenzie (Albion Rovers); Kyle MacLeod (Ross County).
Analysis: Season number 16 in Scotland’s basement division beckons for Elgin City. A trip up the A9 to Borough Briggs is firmly part of the staple diet for a League Two club, and relished by most supporters.
Winger Marc McKenzie is a positive signing by the Morayshire club, with extensive experience at this level. Big things will also be expected of on-loan St Johnstone striker George Hunter, who was brought to McDiarmid Park after a phenomenal goalscoring spell with Spartans. If he can replicate that form during his stay at Borough Briggs, the scope may be there for Elgin to challenge for a play-off place.
It’s more likely to be a case of same again, though. Elgin will be the same banana skin team for many of the promotion chasers, but need to do it consistently if they are to improve on last season’s finish.
Verdict: 8th
Montrose
Finished last season: 10th (won play-off against Brora Rangers to avoid relegation)
Manager: Paul Hegarty
Players in: Matty Allan (Dundee, loan); Greg Cameron and Ryan Ferguson (Brechin City); Gary Fraser (Jeanfield Swifts); Ryan Kenneth (St James Ams); Jordan Millar (St Johnstone, loan); Dale Reid and Jordan Reoch (Montrose Roselea); Andrew Steeves (Forfar Athletic);
Analysis: That bit about Elgin City being in the bottom division for some time? Montrose can beat that. It is now 20 years since they were outside of the Third Division/League Two. They nearly weren’t going to be in this league for the 2015/16 season, but not in the way they’d have wanted. Only victory over Brora Rangers in a play-off kept their status in the SPFL’s top divisions.
That close call, and a desire to avoid a repeat scenario, will surely drive Montrose on this time around. But it is still set to be a season battling at the wrong end of the table, although many of their signings are unknown quantities and may be able to prove themselves at a higher level. The cup draws weren’t really kind to the Gable Endies, although Forfar did need to wait until 11 minutes from full time before breaking them down two weeks ago. The proving process starts in earnest this Saturday in the league opener away to Berwick Rangers.
They won’t trouble the promotion play-off race but after last season, it’s all about survival for Montrose.
Verdict: 9th
Queen’s Park
Finished last season: 2nd (lost play-off final to Stenhousemuir)
Manager: Gus MacPherson
Players in: Joe Bradley (Beith); David Galt (Blantyre Vics); Craig McLeish (East Kilbride); Cammy Marlow (Glenafton); Connor O’Boyle (Harestanes Amateurs).
Analysis: So, was last season a flash in the pan for the Spiders, or is there more to come? Thirty-six instalments of league action will tell us.
The 2015/16 campaign hasn’t got off to the best start for Queens, who only edged out Edinburgh City on penalties after a goalless 120 minutes in the Petrofac Cup first round. They were then beaten 2-0 at home by Forfar in a tie where, after the Spiders’ exploits last season, some may have looked for a shock result.
The squad hasn’t had much senior experience added over the close season, with the exception of Craig McLeish, who is returning to the SPFL ranks after a spell with East Kilbride in the Lowland League. Mind you, the number of junior signings was queried by some last season and look what happened there. Gus MacPherson’s experience at a higher level as manager will again be beneficial, but it remains to be seen what this season’s Hampden class can deliver.
Verdict: 6th
Stirling Albion
Finished last season: 10th in League One (automatically relegated)
Manager: Stuart McLaren
Players in: Craig Beattie and Jon Paul McGovern (Ayr United); Sean Dickson (East Fife); Ross McMillan and Chris Smith (Stenhousemuir); Ross Smith (Peterhead); Mark Staunton (Irvine Meadow).
Analysis: Nobody does promotion and relegation quite like Stirling Albion at the moment. Since 2009 they have only had one season (2012/13) where they’ve gone neither up nor down. Unfortunately for them, last season was the latter of those, and in convincing fashion as well.
Needless to say, their aspiration after that will be to bounce straight back up. They have signed well in the form of players like Ross McMillan, Ross Smith and Sean Dickson, all of whom are well versed in football at a higher level. Injury concerns are always going to follow Craig Beattie around, but he’s already got his first goal for the Binos and, if they keep him fit, he may be able to chip in a few goals at this level.
Within 90 minutes this Saturday, fans of Clyde and Stirling Albion will have a better picture of their teams’ title prospects when the sides meet at Forthbank. The Binos should earn a play-off place over the entire season, and could make the title race a close one.
Verdict: 2nd
The Dumbarton Terrace 