Ed Dawes
BBC Radio Derby commentator

The Rams are back in the Championship with head coach Paul Warne again under pressure to perform. His record at this level is three relegations with Rotherham, but at Derby County the expectation amongst the fanbase will be top half and competing.

Pre-season results aren’t anything to gauge a season on despite winning just three of their six matches. It will be interesting to see if changes to Warne’s fitness staff will see fewer injuries and more minutes for those who missed a lot last term.

Recruitment has been steady with six permanent arrivals and two on loan. Ben Osborne has returned to the club after flying the red flag in Nottingham and Sheffield having left Derby’s academy as a youngster. David Ozoh is an exciting young talent on loan from Crystal Palace while Ebou Adams’ permanent arrival is welcomed after a brilliant loan spell last season.

It will be tough for Derby, but they have the experience in the squad to survive despite still being in need of additions before the window closes.

Image source, Rex Features

Rob Gurney
BBC Radio CWR Sport

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The overwhelming sense of optimism is palpable amongst the Sky Blue Army, in itself an unusual feeling.

We’ve been trained over the decades to hope for the best, but expect the worst!

This season, though, there is a genuine feeling that the “promised land” can finally be revisited, for the first time in nearly a quarter of a century.

So why the feel-good factor?

Aesthetics – a huge revamp of the training ground, and the Coventry Building Society Arena, makes it look like a Premier League football club in waiting, and while it’s true that they don’t own any part of the stadium (and aren’t likely to any time soon), Sky Blues branding is now everywhere you look, rather than being an afterthought when Wasps were in town.

Recruitment – in short some extremely shrewd-looking signings.

Jack Rudoni from Huddersfield already looks like an upgrade on the departed Callum O’Hare, with the likes of Ephron Mason-Clark and Brandon Thomas-Asante adding to the exciting options that are already there, in Tatsuhiro Sakamoto, Haji Wright and Ellis Simms.

In fact, keeping everyone in his squad happy may be Mark Robins’ biggest task.

Perceived defensive deficiencies may rear their ugly heads, although the arrival of Swedish goalkeeper Oliver Dovin will hopefully allay some of those fears.

One fan summed it up pretty well recently – it might be a “we’re gonna score one more than you” sort of season!”

There will be live commentary of every Coventry City match, home and away, on BBC CWR – 94.8 & 103.7FM, DAB digital radio and Freeview channel 711.

Rob Phillips
BBC Wales Football Correspondent on BBC Radio Wales

Image source, Rex Features

After an improved Championship campaign last season, followed by protracted negotiations with owner Vincent Tan, Erol Bulut takes charge of his second full season at the helm with a two-year contract in hand.

Part of the negotiations were about Bulut’s desire to be backed on player recruitment.

Manchester City midfielder Alex Robertson is the fifth new recruit of the summer.

His arrival comes hot on the heels of former QPR wide man Chris Willock, ex-Aston Villa and Arsenal defender Callum Chambers, Ivorian loan striker Wilfried Kanga from HSC Bertha and the opportunist addition of Dutch winger Anwar El Ghazi.

The need to bolster the attacking resources was obvious last season. Cardiff were the division’s leading set piece scorers with 21 goals but had the lowest tally from open play with 24.

If Aaron Ramsey could stay fit for the season, Cardiff would be hugely elevated. A breakout season for Rubin Colwill would help. More generally there is greater pace at Bulut’s disposal and fans will expect him to be more adventurous in his approach.

Certainly, the fan base appear optimistic they can improve on last term’s 12th position.

Listen to coverage of Cardiff City across the BBC on Radio Wales, Radio Cymru, online and on Sounds.

Glen Little
Former Burnley winger, BBC Radio Lancashire

Image source, Rex Features

Following their relegation last season, I strongly fancied Burnley to bounce straight back to the Premier League and I am not going to change my mind now.

Upon their return to the Championship, I thought they would be favourites to win the league, but that isn’t the case as Leeds are fancied to take top spot.

With a new manager in Scott Parker and some new signings, I’m sticking with Burnley, however.

So far the squad is pretty much the same with only Arijanet Muric and Charlie Taylor leaving and my only slight worry would be the centre forward position.

Last time Burnley won the league, Nathan Tella was top scorer and I am unsure who’s going to replace those goals.

The squad is very strong, however, and you would be disappointed if it is not far too good for the Championship

Ed Hadwin
Commentator on BBC Radio Bristol

Image source, Rex Features

After four seasons of gradual improvement in the Championship this is a big campaign for Liam Manning's team.

Taking over from Nigel Pearson, who was well liked by a lot of the fanbase, was never going to be easy and despite their highest league finish since 2019 there are still plenty waiting to be convinced.

But the building blocks do seem to be there with a very solid looking defence remaining intact, Max Bird should fit nicely into a very competitive central midfield so the big question marks are all up front.

Top scorer Tommy Conway is on his way out of Ashton Gate having decided not to sign a new contract, and City are yet to sign the "number 10" they need.

But they have brought in Frenchman Fally Mayulu, Japan's Yu Hirakawa and Republic of Ireland international Sinclair Armstrong to add some of the pace and power that was missing last year.

How they bed in could play a large part in deciding if City can continue their upward progression.

You can listen to "Sound of the City" every Monday night on BBC Radio Bristol at 6pm.

Adam Cottier
BBC Radio Lancashire commentator

Image source, Rex Features

Uncertainty remains over the future of Sam Szmodics with many fans resigned to seeing last season's top scorer leave before the transfer deadline. His departure would leave a huge void. Szmodics scored 33 goals last season and Rovers only secured survival on the final day.

Long-serving Sam Gallagher has also moved on so there's pressure on new forwards Makhtar Gueye and Yuki Ohashi to hit ground running.

Manager John Eustace had been looking to bring in some experience so the acquisition of Andi Weimann, Danny Batth and the return of Kyle McFadzean will aid that department.

Concerns over the club's ownership also lingers among supporters and a tight budget has meant Rovers have needed to be clever in the market, with their recruitment team having changed too. Improvement on last season and some stability is required, something lacking in recent times.

A battle to survive may be on the cards again.

Aaron Paul and Jobi McAnuff
72+ podcast hosts on BBC Radio 5 Live

Image source, Getty Images

Jobi and Aaron are picking Leeds and Luton for automatic promotion, but how about the play-offs?

Play-off winners:

AP: Middlesbrough

JM: Sheffield United

AP on Sheffield United: "It's going to be another interesting campaign at Brammall Lane. Some people might just hope for a season where they challenge around the play-offs, others will hope that they smash it and go for automatic [promotion]. Some will be worried though, because of the showing of last season – they conceded more than 100 goals last year – it's very, very concerning."

JM: "I don’t share those concerns from a playing point of view.

"I think they've had a really clever window, they've made some really clever signings – Harrison Burrows, so sought after. He's going to be fantastic down that left-hand side. Kieffer Moore, we all know the impact he had when he went on loan at Ipswich.

“Sam McCallum, trusted and tried at this level. Callum O'Hare, to pick him up on a free is a brilliant bit of business.

“In terms of going out, it’s a changing of the guard. The players that they lost were so instrumental in that success – [George] Baldock, [Oli] McBurnie, [Chris] Basham obviously retired, Oli Norwood, John Egan, so it feels like there’ll be a real freshness to Sheffield United.

“Big question is Chris Wilder – is he going to be the man? I think at this level, with what he’s got at his disposal, I think they’re going to have a good season this year.”

AP on Middlesbrough: "I think they're maybe one or two players away from being contenders and really going under the radar.

"They're not one of those teams that are going to go out and shout about what they are doing, they will go under the radar and they have a brilliant head coach [Michael Carrick]."

Jobi is picking a play-off line-up of Coventry, Middlesbrough, Burnley and Sheffield United, while Aaron thinks there will be a place there for Norwich in May.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds here.

Aaron Paul and Jobi McAnuff
72+ podcast hosts on BBC Radio 5 Live

Image source, Getty Images

We've heard from Aaron Paul and Jobi McAnuff on the state of play going into the League One and League Two seasons, now it's time to see what they're predicting from the Championship.

Both Aaron and Jobi are agreed on who they think will be heading up to the Premier League in the top two come the end of the season, but there's some disagreement over who will join them via the play-offs.

Automatic promotion:

AP & JM: Leeds and Luton

JM on Leeds: "I still fancy them, but there's a bit of an asterisk there for me. I think it will really come down to who they can keep. The likes of [Crysencio] Summerville and [Willy] Gnonto are so, so important for them. Summerville is the big one, I think they've just got enough quality in the squad anyway.

"I just fancy them, the squad's still so strong. And I think with Daniel Farke they've got to be up there as favourites, regardless of maybe losing one or two at the end of the window."

On Luton: "If they can keep Carlton Morris – which I think will be a tough ask, I thought he was fantastic for them last year – but him and [Elijah] Adebayo at that level would be an absolute[ly] monstrous handful.

"I definitely think for Luton, securing the manager [Rob Edwards], who has done a brilliant job there, I think they're going to be really strong contenders this year."

AP: "Carlton Morris is my outside bet for top scorer, he got 20 goals last time they got promoted and I think he's turned into a fantastic player."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds here.

Alright, we've covered all 24 League One sides - now onto the Championship.

Who's dreaming of promotion to the Premier League?

Who's likely to be in a relegation scrap? And what do you think? Let us know by tweeting us on X with #bbefl.

Time for a look at the second tier, starting with a preview from Aaron Paul and Jobi McAnuff.

Sam Avery
BBC Three Counties Radio's Wycombe commentator

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It's been a summer of change for Wycombe, with a new owner and a new training ground. But fans will be hoping it’s not a summer of change on the pitch, having finished last season in good form.

A respectable top-10 finish was achieved, despite things rather looking a little bleak at the end of 2023.

A strong January transfer window followed, alongside key players returning from injury and a change in formation, which was enough to turn fortunes around and, as a result, the Chairboys head into the new season on their longest unbeaten run under manager Matt Bloomfield.

Important loan players from last season will be missed, as will defender Chris Forino, who left to join Bolton over the summer.

But recruitment has been done in the right areas. A new left-back would have been a priority, with Dan Harvie filling that role. Daniel Udoh is another impressive addition, having been a proven League One goalscorer at Shrewsbury Town.

There is also the hope that talented striker Richard Kone, who was playing in the ninth tier of English football this time last year, will have a profitable season in front of goal, having looked fresh in pre-season.

Commentary of every Wycombe Wanderers game can be heard on BBC Three Counties Radio 98FM.

Rob Phillips
BBC Wales Football Correspondent on BBC Radio Wales

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The Hollywood blockbuster which is the rise and rise of Wrexham Football Club shows no signs of reaching a finale!

The stardust sprinkled by Deadpool actor Ryan Reynolds and fellow owner Rob McElhenney has earned the Welsh club global status. And in the case of star striker Paul Mullin – a role in the latest Deadpool & Wolverine film.

The Welcome to Wrexham documentary series has chronicled two successive promotions. You can be sure the producers will be eyeing a third.

The owners inevitably grab the headlines. But, typically, manager Phil Parkinson has again quietly, but astutely, gone about the football business to make seemingly smart acquisitions ready for League One.

Former Arsenal goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo has returned permanently. Lewis Brunt, Seb Revan, Callum Burton, George Dobson and Daniel Scarr have been added. Evergreen James McClean remains hungry, Elliot Lee continues to bring zest and flair. And of course Mullin will again be expected to deliver goals.

The stakes are higher, the opposition is bigger this season. But Wrexham will be backed by sellout crowds at home, a large travelling support away and have momentum.

Oh, yes – and keep an eye out for a Hollywood star or two at a League One ground near you!

Listen to coverage of Wrexham across the BBC on Radio Wales, Radio Cymru, online and on Sounds.

Bill Rice
BBC Radio Manchester

Image source, Rex Features

Wigan’s hopes of promotion were virtually extinguished before a ball was kicked last year, due to an eight-point penalty.

Despite wiping out the deficit quickly and upsetting some of the league’s big teams, their young and relatively inexperienced squad couldn’t quite battle into the top six, although they would have been just six points off it without the deduction.

Since then some big names like Stephen Humphrys, Charlie Wyke and Josh Magennis have departed, with young loanees like Calvin Ramsay and Luke Chambers from Liverpool and Joe Hugill from Manchester United brought in this summer. Matt Smith is expected to have a key role in midfield this season, while Thelo Aasgaard chipping in with some goals will also be important to the club’s chances of success.

Boss Shaun Maloney knows they cannot compete financially with the division’s big teams right now. However, he is hopeful they can fight for a place in the top six, which would give them a shot at going back to the Championship.

Mike Minay
BBC Radio Manchester

Image source, Getty Images

Can you count on County?

I’m really intrigued to see what Stockport County can produce this season. They’re an ambitious club who have sights on the Championship in the very near future, but will it be this season?

There’s virtually a starting XI of new players through the door at Edgeley Park and the big questions will be how quickly can they gel and can they prove themselves?

The re-signing of Louie Barry on a season-long loan from Aston Villa is a real coup. The club made it no secret they wanted him back after a successful spell last season and have fought off the possibility of him going to the Championship as the next step in his career.

The side is set up for success having had two promotions in the last three years and led by a manager who has either finished in the automatic promotion places or the play-offs in 13 of his 14 seasons in the dugout – Dave Challinor.

It’s a big-hitting league this season with some scalps for the taking: Birmingham City, Huddersfield Town, Rotherham United, Bolton Wanderers and Wrexham will be the ones who people are keeping tabs on so it’s whether Stockport can hang on to the tail feathers or be in the mix come the back-end of the season.

I like the way County play, it’s attacking, it’s exciting, it’s front-foot – at least it was in League Two. But League One is a different kettle.

Steve Watkins
BBC Three Counties Radio

A big season lies ahead for Stevenage as they look to continue the form of the last two seasons while under new management after Steve Evans moved to Rotherham with just two games to go last term.

New boss Alex Revell served an apprenticeship as part of Evans' coaching team, and it will be interesting to see what tweaks he will make to stamp his personality on to the side in his second stint in charge.

The majority of last season's squad has remained, and the additions of Lewis Freestone, Louis Appere, Dan Kemp and Tyreece Simpson will all be regarded as upgrades, along with on-loan goalkeeper Murphy Cooper from QPR.

Stevenage dropped away during February last season, just falling short of the play-offs in the end. An upturn in form will be required in what is likely to be a much tougher league.

Anywhere around a mid-table finish would be considered a success for a side looking to cement themselves as a real League One club. But that said, Stevenage do like to upset the formbook.

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Nick Southall
Journalist, BBC Shropshire

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This has been another summer of considerable change in the Shrewsbury playing squad.

Some of Town's high performers like Marko Marosi, Dan Udoh and Chey Dunkley have moved on to pastures new and it's thrown a strong focus on those replacing them.

Initial signs are positive. A good pre-season campaign has pleased the Town faithful and the introductions of Aston Villa youngster Tommi O'Reilly and Bristol Rovers striker John Marquis certainly add quality.

Their aim once again will be to sustain League One football for another year.

There's no doubt the division is more competitive compared with last season but boss Paul Hurst appears to have had a good summer so far and he'll want to maintain that momentum at Stevenage on the opening day.

You can follow every twist and turn on BBC Radio Shropshire with every game live on 96FM.

Rob Staton
BBC Radio Sheffield

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Steve Evans is back at Rotherham United and the club has been given a lift.

The Millers fans had to suffer a dreadful Championship campaign last season as they were relegated.

However, any hangover from that has been blown away by Evans and a flurry of transfers that have revamped the squad.

Now there’s a lot of optimism that Rotherham can do what they’ve typically done in League One and win promotion.

Many of the summer signings have won promotion from the third tier before, including Cam Dawson, Reece James and Sean Raggett — plus Jonson Clarke-Harris will provide goals at this level.

There’s a buzz around the New York Stadium with Evans and chairman Tony Stewart bringing back a bit of the old magic. The manager won two promotions with Rotherham last time, can he add a third this season?

You can listen to commentaries on Rotherham United throughout the season on BBC Radio Sheffield and have your say on your club every weeknight on Football Heaven.

Tim Dellor
BBC Berkshire sport editor

Image source, Rex Features

Predicting what the weather will be like on the last day of next season is easier right now, than trying to forecast where Reading will finish in League One.

There are too many unknowns. When will the new owner be unveiled? Who will they be? Will they stick with the increasingly popular manager Ruben Selles, or go in a different direction? Has Selles learned from the sluggish start to last season, or will it be another horrible first 20 games? Can the key players stay fit – especially Lewis Wing, Sam Smith, Tyler Bindon and Amadou Mbengue, or will the small squad be found out? Will the new owner arrive in time to sign a couple of new players, or is the current squad expected to do it themselves?

So many imponderables. The best guess is a more comfortable season than last, and probably a top half finish, but that is based more on the fact most fans can’t stomach anything as challenging as last campaign.

Oh, and 3 May, 2025 – expect sunshine and showers.

Peter Swan
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire sport

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Darren Ferguson's long association with Peterborough United becomes ever more remarkable.

Last season, against a backdrop of continued financial constraints, Ferguson guided Posh to fourth in League One and victory over Wycombe in the EFL Trophy final.

Despite losing several star players and largely promoting from within to fill the gaps, Ferguson moulded a dynamic, youthful side that was both easy on the eye and very effective.

This time around, Posh will be attempting to repeat the trick. But can lightning strike twice? Ronnie Edwards, Josh Knight, Harrison Burrows and Ephron Mason-Clark were crucial players last season, but all four have moved on. Ferguson has largely scoured League Two and the National League in search of replacements.

The League One promotion race is shaping up to be very competitive this time around. Posh will hope to have a say, but much will rely on Ferguson once again working his magic out on the training ground.

BBC Radio Cambridgeshire will provide match commentary of every Posh game home and away this season on 95.7FM and DAB.

Jake Sharpe
BBC Radio Northampton sport

The Cobblers kept the bottom four at arm’s length last season, finishing 14th - 16 points clear of the drop zone. That will be the aim again this season but it does not look an easy task.

League One is packed full of fallen giants and financial powerhouses. Realistically, six of the seven new teams in the division, with the possible exception of Crawley, have bigger budgets than the Cobblers and that’s despite the investment by new part-owner Nigel Le Quesne.

Northampton’s success last season was built on continuity. Key players stayed. Key loanees Kieron Bowie and Marc Leonard returned. This summer is a different story. Bowie is back at Fulham. Leonard now at Birmingham City. Key defender Sam Sherring has dropped down a division to sign for MK Dons.

The spine has needed replacing and the Cobblers have gone down a more experienced route. Target man striker Tom Eaves comes in from Rotherham to give Jon Brady’s side a real physical presence up front.

Fan favourite Callum Morton returns on loan from Salford City after his promotion-winning exploits in 2020, while Cameron McGeehan offers the Cobblers a goal threat from midfield.

New players have arrived through the door but more are needed according to Brady.

He said: “It’s probably a bigger mountain to climb this season than last season. I’d say success again, if I’m brutally honest, is maintaining our League One status.”

With Brady at the helm they have every chance of doing so.

Image source, Getty Images

Jake Garner
BBC Radio Nottingham commentator

Image source, gett

It’s obvious to say Mansfield’s aim is to stay in the division. Anything higher is a bonus and an opportunity to build on the quality needed to succeed in there.

Many have said this is the toughest league for some time in terms of quality when you look at the teams coming down from the Championship, combined with the Stags' fellow League Two promotion-winners Stockport and Wrexham.

That said, Mansfield have the quality to stabilise in League One when you look at individual players like Aden Flint, Deji Oshilaja and Lee Gregory, all of whom have experience at the level. Add to that the confidence and energy of last season’s top scorer Davis Keillor-Dunn and new signing Will Evans.

Stags have kept hold of the players that have got them here too. New deals for experienced players Stephen Quinn, Lucas Akins and Stephen McLaughlin could prove to be very useful at this level.

When you have those players and a manager like Nigel Clough, the Stags are equipped to get over that first hurdle of staying in the division.

You can hear full live commentary of every Mansfield Town match on 95.5FM on BBC Radio Nottingham.