League One preview: Journalists discuss how their club is shaping up for the new season and predict promotion and relegation

Name: Luke Cawdell

Publication: KentOnline

Key ins: Ben Reeves, Max Ehmer, Dan Phillips, Jamie Cumming, Danny Lloyd

Key outs: Jordan Graham, Jack Bonham, Connor Ogilvie

Reasons for optimism: Steve Evans has already managed a couple of top-10 finishes with Gillingham and can get the best out of a small budget. While some key men have left, they’ve kept big striker Vadaine Oliver and captain Kyle Dempsey. There’s room for some more loan signings and, with Evans’ contacts, there is every reason to hope those extra late additions can make Gillingham a decent outfit.

Reasons for caution: A disrupted pre-season because of Covid means they are probably not as sharp as they should be going into the new campaign, and losing Jordan Graham’s threat from out wide is a blow. They are a little light up top with only Oliver, transfer-listed John Akinde and first-year pro Gerald Sithole as recognised strikers.

Predicted finish: 10th - Anything higher will be a tremendous achievement considering the strength of League One this year.

Three to go up: Ipswich, Rotherham, Sheffield Wednesday

Four to go down: Accrington, Cambridge, Cheltenham, Morecambe

Hope for the season: To be competitive, to cause a few surprises, upset a few of the ‘big teams’ and keep the fight for a play-off spot going for as long as possible.

Name: Andy Warren

Publication: East Anglian Daily Times

Key ins: Lee Evans, Joe Pigott, Rekeem Harper, Scott Fraser, George Edmundson

Key outs: Andre Dozzell, Gwion Edwards, Luke Chambers, James Wilson, Alan Judge

Reasons for optimism: A complete fresh start at Ipswich. New ownership after years of decay, a top-class CEO (Mark Ashton) and a new manager starting his first full season. More than 20 first team players have been let go and a host of signings incoming to create a brand-new squad after two years of failure. Ipswich are shopping in a completely different market now, taking the best players from other League One clubs, rather than just relying on free transfers and loans.

Reasons for caution: Ipswich have taken a high risk, high reward approach when it comes to blowing up last season’s squad and starting again, and there are obviously no guarantees with that approach. Most fans would agree it was both needed and wanted but, in a strong division where nothing’s a given, the fear must be that this new squad takes a little while to gel.

Predicted finish: 3rd - Ipswich simply must be in the thick of the promotion mix this season – I think they will be, but I have this nagging feeling the play-offs may be needed.

Three to go up: Ipswich, Rotherham, Sunderland

Four to go down: AFC Wimbledon, Cambridge, Fleetwood, Morecambe

Hope for the season: A vast improvement on two miserable League One seasons. Ipswich need to be right at the forefront of the promotion race.

Name: Mark Whiley

Publication: Lincolnshire Echo

Key ins. Josh Griffiths, Lewis Fiorini, Chris Maguire, Teddy Bishop, Dan N’Lundulu, Lasse Sorensen, Hakeeb Adelakun

Key outs: Jorge Grant, Harry Anderson, Zack Elbouzedi, Theo Archibald.

Reasons for optimism: A fantastic 2020/21 campaign which almost yielded a place in the second tier for the first time in 60 years. The team played some fantastic attacking football – it was just a shame no-one was in the grounds to see it live. An excellent manager in Michael Appleton, who remains at the helm after being strongly linked with West Brom in the summer. Appleton is also back at work after undergoing treatment for testicular cancer which is great to see.

Reasons for caution: With teams like Ipswich and Wigan set to be much improved, and the relegated trio of Rotherham, Wednesday and Wycombe looking strong, competition will be much tougher this time around. With that in mind, I hope there isn’t too much expectation on the team. Losing last season’s star man, Jorge Grant, was a blow too but the recruitment, on paper at least, looks impressive. There are a few injuries heading into the season which is a slight concern.

Predicted finish: 6th - a play-off finish this season would be just as impressive as last season given the increased competition.

Three to go up: Ipswich, Rotherham, Wycombe

Four to go down: Cambridge, Fleetwood, MK Dons, Morecambe

Hope for the season: Better home form for what I hope will be regular 10,000 crowds at Sincil Bank.

Name: Toby Lock

Publication: Milton Keynes Citizen

Key ins: Mo Eisa, Max Watters, Scott Twine, Ethan Robson, Josh Martin

Key outs: Cameron Jerome, Scott Fraser, Lee Nicholls, Andrew Surman, Matthew Sorinola

Reasons for optimism: After a strong second half to the season, Dons have recruited extremely well once again to bolster the squad. Losing the likes of Fraser and Jerome, the two top-scorers last season, could have spelt disaster, but replacements are already in the building and with a stable and reliable defensive unit, Dons could be a hard team to break down this season.

Reasons for caution: For a team who finished 13th last season, aiming for the heady heights of a promotion fight might seem a little far-fetched, even for the wildest of dreamers. With the level of competition in League One arguably the highest it has ever been and a lot of clubs fancying their chances this season, Dons might just get out-muscled by some of the bigger hitters this term, of which there are plenty.

Predicted finish: 10th - it would be a solid improvement. Mixing it with the play-off scrap would be a good achievement.

Three to go up: Portsmouth, Rotherham, Wigan

Four to go down: AFC Wimbledon, Cambridge, Cheltenham, Shrewsbury

Hope for the season: Supporters get to come back and watch their teams, appreciating what they have missed and getting behind their clubs for better or worse, through thick and thin.

Name: Gavin Browne

Publication: Morecambe Visitor

Key ins: Wes McDonald, Ryan Cooney, Josh McPake, Alfie McCalmont, Callum Jones

Key outs: Carlos Mendes Gomes, John O’Sullivan, Yann Songo’o, Nat Knight-Percival, Stephen Hendrie

Reasons for optimism: New manager Stephen Robinson certainly brings quite the CV with international and European experience to hand. There was already a feel-good factor around the club after last season’s promotion, which has been added to by the arrivals of players including Callum Jones, Alfie McCalmont and Josh McPake. They can also take inspiration from Accrington Stanley, who were written off after their promotion into League One, but have since consolidated their place in the third tier.

Reasons for caution: If Morecambe were annually tipped for relegation when they were in League Two, it’s wholly unsurprising they’re odds-on this time around. They’ll probably have the smallest budget and attendance, while those players who haven’t featured at this level before will need to hit the ground running. They’ll also need a good haul of points as early as possible given they face Wigan, Oxford, Charlton, Portsmouth and Sunderland in their last eight matches.

Predicted finish: 20th

Three to go up: Charlton, Ipswich, Portsmouth

Four to go down: AFC Wimbledon, Cambridge, Cheltenham, Shrewsbury

Hope for the season: That Morecambe defy the pundits by preserving their record of never having been relegated - and make it a season to remember for the returning fans.

Name: James Roberts

Publication: Oxford Mail

Key ins: Marcus McGuane, Ryan Williams, Billy Bodin, Steve Seddon

Key outs: Josh Ruffels, Rob Atkinson, Sean Clare, Kyran Lofthouse

Reasons for optimism: Two successive play-off finishes show Karl Robinson's United know what is needed to compete at the top end of League One. The four signings to date have all done well in this division before, while some existing players could have big seasons ahead of them - Mark Sykes and Dan Agyei spring to mind. There is no reason to suggest United cannot strengthen in the areas they are light before the end of the transfer window too.

Reasons for caution: The flip side of that last point. United have lost the left-side of last season's defence and, while Steve Seddon looks a decent signing at left back, it would be unfair to expect Luke McNally to continue where Rob Atkinson left off in the middle. At the very least, they need a centre back and another winger. United's Covid outbreak, which left 12 players self-isolating, will not have helped pre-season preparations either and they must start far better than last year - especially with League One looking so strong.

Predicted finish: 9th - Will probably change depending on incomings/outgoings, but feel United will challenge for the play-offs again. There may be too many other decent sides though.

Three to go up: Ipswich, Portsmouth, Wigan

Four to go down: Cambridge, Cheltenham, Crewe, Morecambe

Hope for the season: I'm sure everyone will say this, but simply that grounds stay open with full capacity for the whole season. Will never take it for granted again.

Name: Chris Errington

Publication: Plymouth Live

Key ins: James Wilson, Dan Scarr, Macaulay Gillesphey, Brendan Galloway, Jordan Houghton

Key outs: Will Aimson, Scott Wootton, Ben Reeves, Byron Moore, Frank Nouble

Reasons for optimism: With Simon Hallett so supportive as Argyle's owner and chairman, but also financially astute, the club are well placed off the pitch to build for the future despite all the implications of Covid-19. Ryan Lowe is starting his third season as manager and knows what is required from his team in League One. He retained some key players on new contracts, such as Danny Mayor and player-of-the-year Joe Edwards, and has completely rebuilt his defence.

Reasons for caution: There are a number of 'big hitters' in League One, with Sheffield Wednesday and Bolton Wanderers added to the mix this season. Argyle, realistically, are likely to find it hard to match them. They will have a smaller budget than many but their mantra is to use the money they have more wisely than others. It is important Lowe's revamped defence is a success, otherwise there will be problems for them.

Predicted finish: 12th - That would represent a good improvement on their finish of 18th last season, and build a belief that Argyle could challenge for the play-offs in 2022/23.

Three to go up: Ipswich, Rotherham, Sheffield Wednesday

Four to go down: Accrington, Cambridge, Cheltenham, Morecambe

Hope for the season: That the fans enjoy being back in the grounds this season. Football without them in 2020/21 was soulless.

Name: Jordan Cross

Publication: Portsmouth News

Key ins: Ryan Tunnicliffe, Shaun Willams, Clark Robertson, Kieron Freeman, Gassan Ahadme

Key outs: Craig MacGillivray, Tom Naylor, Jack Whatmough, Ryan Williams, Andy Cannon

Reasons for optimism: Pompey have got the right man at the helm. Danny Cowley has been a breath of fresh air with his enthusiasm and ideas, after Kenny Jackett’s tenure had turned toxic and saw apathy reign. A trio of Championship regulars in Williams, Tunnicliffe and Robertston look astute recruits and the goals have flowed in pre-season for Moroccan prospect Gassan Ahadme.

Reasons for caution: Pompey have a billionaire owner but operate on a sustainable basis under Michael Eisner, that’s seen the playing budget slightly cut after haemorrhaging £750,000 a month through the Covid pandemic. There’s been a massive turnover of players which was required, but it could be bumpy early on in the season as a result. Senior strikers Ellis Harrison and John Marquis have failed to deliver.

Predicted finish: 5th - A play-off finish has to be the objective in the toughest League One since Leeds, Norwich, Millwall and Southampton were in the third tier over a decade ago.

Three to go up: Ipswich, Portsmouth, Sunderland

Four to go down: AFC Wimbledon, Cambridge, Cheltenham, Morecambe

Hope for the season: If it is to be a top-six finish, a play-off win would be nice - Pompey have failed to do so in eight attempts!

Name: Paul Davis

Publication: Rotherham Advertiser

Key ins: Shane Ferguson

Key outs: Matt Crooks, Clark Robertson, Matt Olosunde

Reasons for optimism: Rotherham have the nucleus of a good squad and still have a number of players who went up from this league two seasons ago. They've been there and done it. The Millers should be competitive again if they can make the right additions. The management and players know what it takes to win promotion.

Reasons for caution: The strength of the division. There are some big clubs spending big money and around 15 sides could consider themselves contenders for the top three. Maybe Rotherham are still feeling the effects of last term's Championship relegation. Manager Paul Warne has been concerned by the mood in the camp during pre-season. New signings would help lift things. The loss of midfielder Matt Crooks, who made the PFA League One Team of the Season two years ago, is a major blow.

Predicted finish: 10th - The Millers have gone up the last twice they've been at this level but are down on numbers heading into the new campaign. More recruitment is vital.

Three to go up: Ipswich, Wigan, Sheffield Wednesday.

Four to go down: AFC Wimbledon, Cambridge, Cheltenham, Morecambe

Hope for the season: A push for the play-offs, but more signings are needed for that to happen.

Name: Alex Miller

Publication: The Star, Sheffield

Key ins: The triple Championship signing of first Jack Hunt, who returns from three years at Bristol City, then Burnley goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell and Boro midfielder Lewis Wing, has stepped optimism up a few notches at S6. Dennis Adeniran, a freebie from Everton, looks a bright young midfielder, and QPR winger Olamide Shodipo looks a real handful.

Key outs: 13 first team players left on a free transfer last season, including long-time goalkeeper Keiren Westwood, influential left winger Adam Reach, record signing forward Jordan Rhodes and - somewhat frustratingly - talented young pair Osaze Urhoghide and Liam Shaw on pre-contract terms to Celtic.

Reasons for optimism: Darren Mark Moore. The Owls boss had his short time at the end of last season smashed up by illness - he was hospitalised with Covid - and there is a sense within the fanbase that he is the right man at the right time to start a new way forward at Wednesday after years of decline and mismanagement. Grab a few early wins, get the Hillsborough crowd back onside and you never know.

Reasons for caution: Wednesday is a tanker trying to turn around very quickly and that's not always easy. The squad is threadbare and there are still off-field issues to iron out here and there, not least if they fail to pay their players on time and are slapped with the six point suspended deduction hanging over them. The biggest worry as it stands? Goals.

Predicted finish: 6th - VERY hard to say until the end of the window, and there's no doubt Wednesday need firepower, but if you can't be optimistic now, when can you be? The play-offs are more fun anyway.

Three to go up: Ipswich, Wigan, Sheffield Wednesday

Four to go down: AFC Wimbledon, Cambridge, Cheltenham, Morecambe

Hope for the season: For Wednesday to reconnect with its fans whether they are vying for promotion or not and for Moore to get things heading in the right direction. And world peace.