League One preview 2015/16

Airdrieonians

Finished last season: 5th

Manager: Gary Bollan

Players in: David Cox (Peterhead); Sean Crighton (Morton); Alan Lithgow (Stenhousemuir); Caolan McAleer (East Fife); Kevin McBride (Dundee); Taylor Morgan (Ostersunds, loan); Neil Parry (Albion Rovers); Nico Sumsky (Hamilton Accies, loan); David Van Zanten (Dumbarton).

Analysis: Three years on from the unexpected promotion, which brought instant relegation, things just might be starting to look up for Airdrieonians again. After gradually adjusting to life back in the third tier of Scottish football, this might be their time to shine.

Before transfer business even kicked off in this close season, Airdrie had one of the best strike forces in the division in Jim Lister and Bryan Prunty. They have since added David Cox to it, and defensively the signings of Alan Lithgow and David Van Zanten are positive ones. Together with the highly-rated Neil Parry arriving to keep goal, the Diamonds have signed well over the close season.

Gary Bollan is starting his third full season in charge at New Broomfield and some may feel this is the campaign where he has to make them a big part of the promotion race. The early signs are that he is capable of doing that. Dunfermline are the last team to visit Airdrie this season on ordinary league business, on Saturday, April 23, and if the Pars can be kept at arm’s length until then there may be more at stake than just a play-off place. Hopes can rightly be high at Airdrie this season.

Verdict: 2nd

Albion Rovers

Finished last season: 1st in League Two (promoted as champions)

Manager: Darren Young

Players in: Andy Barrowman (Dunfermline Athletic); Mark Ferry (unattached); Scott McBride (Arbroath); Yamikani Misanjo (Rossvale); Paul Willis (Berwick Rangers).

Analysis: In the early part of season 2014/15, it looked for all the world like those who tipped Albion Rovers for the title were wide of the mark. Arbroath were running away with the league – but when all started to go wrong at Gayfield around the halfway point, Rovers were there to take advantage. That all culminated in them clinching the title and being presented with the trophy at their last home game – against Arbroath.

They’re set to start life in League One with largely the same squad, with the Dunlop brothers, Michael and Ross, teaming up again in defence. Big things will be needed from newly-signed striker Andy Barrowman and fellow frontman John Gemmell this season, while two players have joined Rovers after impressing sufficiently in opposition last season. Scott McBride has already performed at this level, while Paul Willis’ ability to do so after a step up remains to be seen. Arguably Rovers’ biggest signing of the close season has been in the dugout, with Billy Stark arriving to assist manager Darren Young.

The Rovers will not make it easy for other teams this season. As has been discovered by many sides over the years, Cliftonhill is an unforgiving place, even for the best teams in the league. However, League One is a totally different prospect for the Coatbridge men than League Two was. It won’t be without a fight, but they may just come up short.

Verdict: 10th

Ayr United

Finished last season: 8th

Manager: Ian McCall

Players in: Jamie Adams (Wigtown and Bladnoch); Pat Boyle and Greg Docherty (Airdrieonians); Ross Caldwell (Morton); Greg Fleming (Stenhousemuir); Gerry McLauchlan and Allan Trouten (Brechin City); Craig Moore (Motherwell, loan).

Analysis: What a difference a year makes. This time in 2014, Ayr United were still scrabbling around for players and were being touted for relegation in many quarters, including this one. In the end, it took a last-day victory at Forfar for all those expectations to be proven wrong.

This time around, under McCall’s experienced management, pre-season transfer activity has improved. The double signing of Gerry McLauchlan and Allan Trouten from Brechin City is a very positive move and in Trouten’s case, should bring goals from midfield. In new signing Pat Boyle and new captain Nicky Devlin, Ayr are also well served in the full back areas while Greg Fleming’s experience at a higher level should be beneficial in goal.

Then you have the signing of Craig Moore on loan from Motherwell, already a regular scorer a division up with Cowdenbeath and a player who many were expecting to get a chance at Fir Park this season. The Steelmen’s loss (until January anyway) is Ayr’s gain, and if all the signings can click straight away, there could be something in this season for the Honest Men – namely a play-off place.

Verdict: 3rd

Brechin City

Finished last season: 4th (lost in play-off semi-final to Alloa Athletic)

Manager: Darren Dods

Players in: Kevin Buchan (Arbroath); James Dale (Forfar Athletic); Craig Johnston (Cowdenbeath); Jamie Montgomery (Dundee United); Ross Perry (Northampton Town); Dene Shields (Zewkij Tigers); Euan Smith (Kilmarnock); Jonathan Tiffoney and David Weatherston (Alloa Athletic).

Analysis: By no means are they alone in having this happen to them in League One, but Brechin, after a successful 2014/15 season, have had the rug pulled from under them. Ultimately they didn’t make the step up to the Championship, but manager Ray McKinnon did, accepting the hot seat at Raith Rovers. Some key players will be back at Glebe Park only twice next season, in opposition, and overall it has been a summer of transition at Brechin.

Ex-Forfar defender Darren Dods, another whose promotion ambitions were thwarted by Alloa, is now in the hot seat for his first managerial gig. While hopes may be high for another tilt at the play-offs, Brechin’s expectations may have to be tempered. Much of their squad building was done late in the day due to the process of appointing a new gaffer – their first friendly was undertaken with only six signed players available.

Some of the signings have been good ones while the impression made by others is awaited with interest. David Weatherston is undoubtedly talented at this level but injury upon injury has plagued his career. This season is likely to be one for Dods to adjust to life as a manager, and get things ready for a promotion push in 2016/17.

Verdict: 7th

Cowdenbeath

Finished last season: 10th in Championship (automatically relegated)

Manager: Colin Nish

Players in: Michael Andrews (Berwick Rangers); Luke Armstrong (Birmingham City); Jack Beaumont and Brad Donaldson (Livingston); Cameron Muirhead (Fife Elite Football Academy); Sam Orritt (Limestone College); Greig Spence (Alloa Athletic); Mo Yaqub (St Mirren)

Analysis: After the success of previous years under Danny Lennon and Colin Cameron, it’s all gone a bit stale at Cowdenbeath. And the freefall may not be over yet.

Although only relegated from the Championship on the last day of the season, they were always likely to be in that position. And it was the way they went down in that final clash, away to Alloa, that summed it up. On a day when the sleeves should have been rolled up for a big battle, they limply went down 3-0. Key players from last season have now departed and while some good acquisitions have been made, most notably striker Greig Spence, there isn’t much experience. Neither is there in the dugout, with Colin Nish taking up his first senior managerial role, having hardly had great success as manager of Dumbarton’s under-20s.

‘Play-offs’ will be a key phrase when it comes to Cowdenbeath’s aspirations this season. But which ones? At the moment, rather than bouncing straight back up, it looks more likely to be the ones to avoid a second straight relegation.

Verdict: 9th

Dunfermline Athletic

Finished last season: 7th

Manager: Allan Johnston

Players in: Joe Cardle (Ross County); Callum Fordyce and Jason Talbot (Livingston); David Hutton (Ayr United); Sean Murdoch (Rochester Rhinos); Michael Paton (Queen of the South); Ben Richards-Everton (Partick Thistle);

Analysis: Dunfermline have, of course, been through relegation from the top flight on numerous occasions. However, in terms of disappointing league finishes, last season must rank among the lowest of them. Not even a play-off place.

Many people were predicting silverware for the Pars this time last year only to end up with egg on their faces. This time they have a manager in Allan Johnston who has already won this league at a canter, many signings from a higher level, and a clean slate. The signings of Callum Fordyce and Jason Talbot, already team-mates at Livingston, is a very positive move, along with the return of Joe Cardle who drops two divisions to come back to East End Park.

Progress has been made in both early season cup competitions, with nine goals run in by the Pars so far. All the boxes seem to have been ticked for this season to be a big improvement. Dunfermline surely will not mess it up this time around.

Verdict: 1st

Forfar Athletic

Finished last season: 3rd (lost in play-off final to Alloa Athletic)

Manager: Dick Campbell

Players in: Bryan Hodge (Stenhousemuir); Kevin Nicoll (Arbroath); Thomas O’Brien (Cowdenbeath).

Analysis: The team who looked for all the world like they would be in the second tier for the first time since 1992. Leading Alloa 2-0 on aggregate, they headed for Clackmannanshire in May highly optimistic. And then it all went wrong. Has the opportunity passed them by? Not necessarily, but some rebuilding is still needed.

There are question marks over whether age is catching up with some members of the Forfar squad. As well as the 42-year-old Rab Douglas in goal, Chris Templeman will be 35 in a few weeks’ time. However, 40-year-old Darren Dods is now away to Brechin as player/manager and new signing Thomas O’Brien should fit seamlessly into his place at centre half. All he needs now is somebody to play alongside him there, with Stuart Malcolm away to Stenhousemuir. Others, like Omar Kader and Dale Hilson, are also off elsewhere.

It will be tough for Forfar to challenge as they did last time around as they have struggled to replace some key players. Dick Campbell always has a trick up his sleeve to get his side into the promotion places and it will be interesting to see if he can manage it again. They’ll be closer to the play-offs at the top than the bottom, but another challenge may have to wait another year.

Verdict: 6th

Peterhead

Finished last season: 6th

Manager: Jim McInally

Players in: Nathan Blockley (Airdrieonians); Kevin Dzierzawski (Queen of the South); Ally Gilchrist (St Johnstone, loan); Marc Lawrence (Lewis United); Leighton McIntosh (Montrose); Shane Sutherland (Elgin City).

Analysis: There’s obviously a lot of faith in last season’s squad at Peterhead. Of the four permanent signings over the close season, only one has come from a higher division, and he was already on loan at Balmoor in the 2014/15 campaign.

The 3-0 win away to Brechin City in the Petrofac Cup first round offers hope for the season ahead – not an easy result to get by any means. However, the league campaign is drawn out over 36 games and Peterhead will need to go to places like Glebe Park on a regular basis and come away with the points. Of course they have Rory McAllister, set to be among the goals again, and they’ll be a banana skin for many opponents.

But this season is going to be tough for Peterhead. Dunfermline, Ayr United and Stenhousemuir, who all finished below them last season, have all improved for this campaign. The signings from a lower level will really need to hit the ground running in what is set to be a battle to survive. Jim McInally’s experience as a manager may swing it for them ahead of Cowdenbeath and Albion Rovers.

Verdict: 8th

Stenhousemuir

Finished last season: 9th (beat Queen’s Park in play-off final)

Manager: Brown Ferguson

Players in: Jamie Barclay (Clyde); Alan Cook (East Fife); Mark Gilhaney (Dumbarton); Liam Henderson (Hearts, loan); Jon McShane (East Fife); Stuart Malcolm (Forfar Athletic); Euan Murray (Western United); Jon Robertson (Cowdenbeath); Allan Smith (Dunfermline Athletic); Stephen Stirling (Stranraer).

Analysis: It would have been interesting to see what sort of players would be in that above paragraph had Saturday, May 16 not been such a successful day for Stenhousemuir. The Warriors were at the end of a season where the disastrous tenure of Scott Booth as manager was ended in early February. Although they held a 1-0 lead over Queen’s Park from the play-off final first leg, nerves would still have been shredded. When Colin McMenamin put them in an early lead on the day, though, that was realistically that. The Spiders did equalise on the day, but could do no more than that, and Stenny were safe.

This close season, the transfer activity at Ochilview has been impressive for a club who stared League Two in the face for so long. This time around, they should have one of the best midfields in League One – Jon Robertson and Mark Gilhaney have done it for several seasons at a higher level and were part of promotion-winning teams in the division in 2012. At the back, Stuart Malcolm is an expert at defending teams to the play-offs and, if the end product can be delivered by the likes of Allan Smith, there might be something in it for Stenny.

Whisper it, as they struggled last season – but the Warriors might be a team to watch this time.

Verdict: 4th

 

Stranraer

Finished last season: 2nd (lost play-off semi-final to Forfar Athletic)

Manager: Brian Reid

Players in: Connor Brennan (Kilmarnock, loan); Paul Cairney (Kilmarnock); Max Currie (Motherwell); Dale Keenan (Partick Thistle); Peter McGill (Ayr United); Mark McGuigan (Albion Rovers); Lee Mair (Dumbarton); Liam Rowan (Falkirk); Andy Stirling and Ryan Thomson (Dunfermline Athletic).

Analysis: There’s a well-known phrase in football – victims of your own success. Stranraer may not have won any trophies last season but gained a huge amount of attention with their league exploits. Indeed, had they beaten Morton in their final ordinary home match, instead of losing 2-0, chances are they’d have been planning for the Championship, with Stephen Aitken in charge and largely the same team.

Unfortunately for them, Aitken’s achievements have led Dumbarton to appoint him as manager and while only two of his Stair Park squad, Willie Gibson and Grant Gallagher, have joined him, more have gone elsewhere. David Mitchell has gone to Dundee, Frank McKeown has joined Morton and Jackson Longridge is off to Livingston. Aitken did leave a few signed players, including new recruits, for the incoming manager to work with, and the signing of Paul Cairney from Kilmarnock is a real coup for the Stair Park club.

The new gaffer is Brian Reid, and having led Ayr United to promotion through the play-offs in 2009, Stranraer will be anxious to see if he can repeat the feat with them. After so many big names leaving the club, the Blues will do well to finish as high in the table as last time. The play-offs are certainly within reach, but such a huge rebuilding process means it’s not as certain as last year. We’ll see.

Verdict: 5th