Michael Hortin
BBC Radio Lincolnshire

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Lincoln City’s stunning run in the second half of last season will have raised expectations for Imps fans this time around. They only lost twice after 1 January, including to champions Portsmouth on the last day of the campaign.

Since then there’s been a lot of change with a host of players leaving including star performers Lasse Sorensen and Lukas Jensen. Ins can be split between young players, signed on long contracts, who are seen to have a high ceiling for development, and a handful of more experienced players.

Ethan Erhahon, for as long as he remains at the club, stands out as one of the existing players to watch. Of the new signings, former Fulham keeper George Wickens and midfielder JJ McKiernan have caught the eye in pre-season.

While this will be head coach Michael Skubala’s first full season in charge, the club will be looking for a season-long campaign around the play-off places. Though looking at the spend of some other clubs in League One, that looks a tougher fight than last year.

Commentary of every Lincoln City game is on BBC Radio Lincolnshire 94.9FM & DAB. Post-match reaction to games can be heard on “Red Imps Club” on BBC Sounds.

Dave Victor
BBC Radio London's Leyton Orient reporter

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Since arriving at Brisbane Road in March 2022, Richie Wellens has transformed expectations.

He turned a struggling side into champions. Leyton Orient’s 11th-placed finish in their first season back in League One was achieved despite significant injuries, which frustrated the manager’s plans throughout the campaign.

Wellens was Orient’s first signing of the summer and without doubt the most important. The 44-year-old committed to a further three years in E10, where he has built on a settled squad, with the emphasis on young, talented players who have a hunger to progress.

If they stay fit, another top-half finish and a push for the play-offs will be the target for Orient’s ambitious manager.

Paul Ogden
Huddersfield Town commentator, BBC Radio Leeds

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A bewildering 2023–24 season ended deservedly in relegation from the Championship and the Terriers’ fresh start in League One can’t come soon enough for fans.

By the end of April, even the players appeared to be suffering from the same Huddersfield-specific syndrome of recent years - New Manager Fatigue.

Three substantial but unsuccessful appointments in Neil Warnock, Darren Moore and Andre Breitenreiter over the past 12 months have threatened to worsen still the Terriers' post-Premier League reputation for instability.

Enter yet another new manager Michael Duff - League One-savvy, and already giving off signs of calm, realistic confidence, and a genuine love of his trade.

Many are excited at what he might be capable of, helped by one of his key Barnsley players, Herbie Kane; high on Duff’s initial wish list, signed without delay, and already influential in pre-season.

Also reassuring is the sight of some very marketable existing squad members (some of international pedigree like Brodie Spencer and Michal Helik) who have stayed against many fans' expectations.

Although a new off-the-peg goalscorer is still being demanded on the message boards, actual summer recruits so far (Lasse Sorensen, Antony Evans and Mickel Miller) offer the common characteristic of League One experience, which will heighten expectations of a push back towards the Championship.

And, whisper it, maybe even the same manager being in charge of Huddersfield Town in May, as started the season back in August, for once.

Brent Pilnick
BBC Sport

The Grecians will hope for less of a rollercoaster campaign this season – having been top of League One in September, they had dropped into the relegation places by New Year’s Day after a run of one win in 16 games.

City picked up in the second half of the season and six wins in their final nine games saw them finish 13th.

Goals were tough to come by at times and Exeter will hope Northern Ireland striker Josh Magennis can plug the hole that was never filled after Sam Nombe left last September.

Elsewhere, Ryan Woods’ permanent signing after a loan spell last season adds experience and guile to a midfield that lost Tom Carroll and Harry Kite over the summer.

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Gary Smith
Crawley Town commentator for BBC Radio Sussex and BBC Radio Surrey

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Let's not put it down as anything else, last season's promotion for Crawley via the play-offs was nothing short of miraculous in its achievement, but now focus has to turn to life in League One for the first time since 2015.

The promotion-winning squad has been decimated, with 11 players leaving. But 14 new signings have so far come through the door and Scott Lindsey has a major rebuilding job on his hands to get the players ready for life in the third tier.

As with last season where they defied the odds, the Red Devils will once again start as relegation favourites but the Crawley boss will happily work under the radar and let his players surprise plenty of teams throughout the campaign ahead.

Home form will be vital. Not too many teams will enjoy visiting the tightly packed Broadfield Stadium and some may well underestimate Crawley, possibly at their own peril.

Off-the-field activities and issues need to be kept off the field and everyone involved with the club needs to make sure they are all pulling in the same direction to ensure the season is successful. In the words of the Crawley boss, The Reds won't just be there to make up the numbers and my prediction for them is that they will finish the season above the relegation zone in 17th place.

You can get regular updates on every game through BBC Radio Sussex and BBC Radio Surrey.

Louis Mendez
BBC Radio London's Charlton reporter

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Charlton fans are hoping this is the year the club finally make a sustained push for promotion from the third tier – their fifth straight season at this level.

Nathan Jones’ arrival in February helped stave off relegation last season as the Addicks lost just twice in the final 16 games – but he only won four in that time.

He’s overhauled the squad this summer, making some big calls that included allowing League One golden boot winner Alfie May to leave for big-spending Birmingham City, while skipper George Dobson departed for Wrexham.

Matt Godden will be the man tasked with replacing May’s goals. Luke Berry will add experience in midfield, as will newly-appointed captain Greg Doherty.

Alex Mitchell will hope to add some steel to a defence that only kept five clean sheets last season – the second-worst return in the division.

And Jones will look to be the architect of a side bursting with intensity as they look to recover from their worst finish in 98 years to make a push for the top six.

Peter Swan
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire sport

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It's a step into the unknown for Cambridge United.

After almost four years out of the game, Garry Monk is back in football and keen to prove a point.

He successfully steered a struggling side to safety after joining the U's at the start of March. For the new season, he's promising better results and a more expansive brand of football.

To that end, the purse strings have been loosened, with the likes of Shayne Lavery (Blackpool), Gary Gardner (Birmingham) and Korey Smith (Derby) arriving on two-year deals.

The U's still look light in attacking areas though and an over-reliance on players with patchy injury records remains a concern.

While performances on the pitch haven’t been great over the past couple of seasons, great strides are being made off it. Home attendances are rising year by year and ambitious plans are in place to redevelop the Abbey Stadium.

So Monk and his players definitely have the platform. Can they go out and deliver?

BBC Radio Cambridgeshire will provide match commentary of every U's game home and away this season on 96FM and DAB.

Dave Fletcher
BBC Radio Derby Sport

How are Burton going to do this season? Well, it’s anyone’s guess really given the massive changes over the summer.

The Brewers will go into the new campaign with new owners, a new head coach and 20 new players.

The Nordic Football Group’s arrival has reinvigorated a club that has struggled, albeit successfully, to beat the drop for several seasons. Optimism is high with an almost completely new squad assembled.

It’s Mark Robinson’s job to mould them into a team and although they only had two public pre-season matches, he is happy with where they are.

Many of the signings are promising young players who will, no doubt, be keen to make their mark. Up front there is more experience with the capture of Billy Bodin, in particular, having caught the eye.

No one really knows how it will pan out – but it should be exciting finding out.

You can hear all Burton Albion matches live on Radio Derby 1116AM.

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Richard Hoskin
BBC Radio Bristol

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It’s been a summer of change at Bristol Rovers – at the time of writing, the club have confirmed 12 new arrivals.

Probably the most eye-catching of all the signings was Promise Omochere – with Rovers spending a club record fee that dated back to 1992.

Taylor Moore, once of Bristol City, has been added to the defence.

Goalkeeper Josh Griffiths and midfielder Jake Garrett have been signed on loan from West Bromwich Albion and Blackburn Rovers respectively.

Rovers have lost Antony Evans to Huddersfield Town – one of many teams in League One with big budgets who Rovers will be up against this season.

They head into the new season with doubts about the fitness of forwards Chris Martin and Ruel Sotiriou – it’s going to be a challenge for Martin to repeat his 16 goals from last season.

At this point I’d love to be able to confidently predict Bristol Rovers' fortunes this season – but the truth is I really don’t know! It’s going to take time for so many new players to gel, with Matt Taylor preparing for his first full season in charge at the Memorial Stadium.

But with changes off the pitch as well as on it – Rovers are clearly ambitious to challenge in the top half of League One this season - with the eventual aim of challenging for Championship football.

Jack Dearden
BBC Radio Manchester commentator

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Despite progress season on season under manager Ian Evatt, this upcoming campaign could prove to be arguably the most important yet.

After looking serious promotion challengers for much of last season they fell at the final hurdle, which means Evatt, his players, and back-room staff will have to revive and reinvigorate his squad, and arguably come up with a different method of playing strategy, or at least tweak his method of play by making some fine adjustments.

New additions, with more to arrive before the deadline will help, but with an average home attendance last season of just over 23,000 the pressure and expectation will once again be high.

They’re more than capable, and I’d be surprised if they’re not among the serious promotion contenders.

Ian Chisnall
BBC Radio Lancashire

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Having missed out on a play-off place on the season's final day, a top-six finish will be the minimum requirement of an expectant Blackpool fanbase.

Poor away form was the root cause of last season's near-miss and Pool must rectify that travel sickness in a division that is widely expected to be stronger than last year.

Jordan Rhodes, joining permanently after last season's loan spell, is the standout of just five new arrivals and Neil Critchley knows that significant work needs to be done before the end of the summer window.

Key defender Marvin Ekpiteta is yet to be replaced and it is that department as well as midfield where reinforcements are required.

Critchley has a proven record of using the loan market successfully and this area may be crucial to how the campaign plays out.

Richard Wilford
BBC Radio WM commentator

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After finally falling through the trapdoor to League One, the expectation will be that Blues turn their fortunes around pretty quickly, and the backing of owners Knighthead has been very much evident over the summer months.

But this is no exercise in trying to buy promotion, it is a far wider attempt to reboot the playing side of the club while creating a new identity.

That is best demonstrated by the appointment of Chris Davies as manager, a vastly experienced coach but a first-timer in the manager’s hotseat. He is aware that expectations will be high this season, yet acutely conscious that the division will throw up plenty of challenges.

While the final shape of Blues’ squad is unlikely to be known until the start of September, some of last season’s core remain in the guise of Krystian Bielik, Dion Sanderson and Paik Seung-Ho.

They have added a plug-in-and-play goalscorer in Alfie May, Brighton academy products Marc Leonard and Alex Cochrane and two intriguing big bodies from European football – defender Christoph Klarer and attacking midfielder Willum Willumsson.

Davies favours a high press and demands a lot of energy from his players. Pre-season matches have shown a real buy-in from the squad to a more cohesive, possession-based style of play.

There is an optimism about St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park that has not been visible in recent years. Off the field, the owners have achieved a lot in 12 months. Now it’s all about getting things right on the pitch.

Adam Oxley
BBC Radio Sheffield

Could it be a case of third time lucky for Barnsley?

The last two League One campaigns have ended in play-off defeat, and once again, the Reds start a new season with a new man at the helm.

Despite a top-six finish, Neill Collins was sacked on the eve of the play-offs after a poor end to the season.

It took a month, and a few rejections, but former Port Vale and Bristol Rovers boss Darrell Clarke was appointed to replace Collins, and he is still waiting for some key pieces of business to be completed this summer, principally a new striker to replace top scorer Devante Cole.

Former favourites Conor Hourihane and Marc Roberts, two members of the 2016 promotion-winning team, have returned to Oakwell and exciting midfielder Matty Craig has joined on loan from Spurs, having impressed at Doncaster last season, and in pre-season.

Reds fans will expect another top-six push, but with a stronger-looking division this season, the rest of the transfer window will be crucial if Clarke is to get a squad capable of challenging once again.

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

The 72+ Podcast hosts Aaron Paul and Jobi McAnuff are predicting lots of thrills and excitement in League One this season.

Here are their thoughts on some of the big-name clubs involved.

Birmingham:

AP: “It’s a big outlay [what they've spent on players this summer] but they have to go for it. If they didn’t go for it, the fans would be absolutely raging. However, who gets a £20m spending budget in League One?”

JM: “Exactly, but it’s about how you spend that money. There is a question mark over some of these signings because we’re not sure how they’re going to equip themselves to football in this country."

On Alfie May: “He is going to be right up there for top scorer this season.”

AP: “If they’re able to get the Jay Stansfield deal from Fulham over the line, that’s a formidable frontline.”

Bolton:

JM: “After the way the play-off final went, they got done [against Oxford United]. This is the season where Ian Evatt has to get Bolton promoted.

“With the squad they’ve already got that has been successful, it is a case of just adding that bit of quality and making sure they’ve got enough to get over the line.”

Peterborough:

AP: “Back-to-back play-off disappointments for them. Darren Ferguson has said the club is aiming for a top-two finish. But some of the big names, as expected, have left the building."

JM: “It’s been a difficult off-season for them and it might get worse in terms of players going out. I’d still expect them to be at the top end, I don’t think they’ll be challenging for automatic promotion this season but I feel there’s definitely enough in there to get in and around those play-off places."

Wrexham:

AP: “It’s been an interesting summer. Manager Phil Parkinson believes they need to strengthen further if they’re going to complete a historic three promotions in a row.”

JM: “Certainly Wrexham are going to get to a point, which maybe is now, where they’re going to have to think a little bit more long-term, in terms of being able to stay in League One but with one eye on pushing forward."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds here.

Okay, that's League Two done.

Are you feeling more or less confident of your side's chances now?!

Time is ticking so let's move straight on to how the 24 League One clubs might get on...

Richard Wilford
BBC Radio WM commentator

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Last season was progress for the Saddlers with a top-half finish and a slightly wistful flirtation with the play-off places in the closing stages. But arguably the most important step forward under Mat Sadler was the emergence of a style of play and an increase in the entertainment value at the Poundland Bescot Stadium.

The summer was always likely to see top scorer Isaac Hutchinson take a step up a division, but the loss of the pace of the versatile Tom Knowles was arguably less welcome. The return of defender David Okagbue on a permanent deal was a great piece of business, and his eagerness to continue at the club hints at the good atmosphere through the squad.

Young Stoke goalkeeper Tommy Simkin is a quality addition on loan, while midfielder Charlie Lakin could be an impact player in League Two. Questions remain over Sadler’s forward options with Josh Gordon now back full-time to join veteran Jamille Matt. Danny Johnson remains but was out of favour last season.

The wild card could be young midfielder Ronan Maher who excelled on loan at Rushall Olympic last season and may well be ready to take a big leap.

Derek Jones
BBC Radio Merseyside

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Nigel Adkins has revamped his squad while keeping a core of players who had an excellent second half of last season.

A number of injuries means that, what is a smallish squad, will be stretched in the early matches but adaptability and teamwork is a key message from the manager and Adkins expects Rovers to be near the top end of the table.

Defensively, the leadership skills of captain Tom Davies will be important as will the consistency of goalkeeper Luke McGee.

The addition of a proven quality midfielder in Sam Finley is a plus when he returns to fitness and, with all the strikers scoring in pre-season, there is a sharpness up top.

After on injury-hit first season at the club, Luke Norris has something to prove and the acquisition of Josh Davison and Omari Patrick has added pace and variety in the final third.

The squad looks sharp and this trimmed-down group plays football that is pleasing to the eye. Hopes are high and with a little bit of luck along the way this could be a very exciting season.

Andrew Hawes
BBC Sport Wiltshire

The Swindon ship has spent recent years sinking, holed more than once by cannons turned on themselves. Managerial bucket holders have arrived and departed either with regretful speed or curious sloth.

This season’s incumbent, Mark Kennedy, straddles the line between not being a rookie after his spell at Lincoln, but also not having a clearly defined image. This gives him a chance to mould fans’ opinions.

The early signs have suggested a hard-working and more compact team, with defensive experience and structure immediately put in after shipping 99 goals in all competitions last season.

The challenge might be creativity. Striker Paul Glatzel could provide the rare magic that made last year’s bleak campaign more bearable, but then it’s down to relatively untried midfielders Sean McGurk and Joel Cotterill to bring the twinkle-toed stuff.

It’s not an easy vessel to turn.

Listen to live commentary on every Swindon Town game on BBC Radio Wiltshire.

Image source, Rex Features

Robin Grey
BBC Radio Manchester

Last season's 20th placed finish was Salford's lowest since promotion and well below their "Class of '92" owners' hopes.

Little has been done in pre-season to boost fans' optimism.

Top scorer Matt Smith has left, fellow forward Callum Hendry has moved to MK Dons, and star midfielder Elliot Watt and goalkeeper Alex Cairns have also moved on.

It’s Karl Robinson’s first full pre-season. Forward Ben Woodburn from Preston looks to be the marquee signing. Tom Edwards and James Chester will add some experience from higher up the pyramid in defence.

Cole Stockton could be a real asset to the squad if he can find the kind of goal-scoring form he showed at Morecambe.

Stagnation springs to mind when talking about Salford, but Robinson's record elsewhere will give many hope he can guide them up to a level he's best known for success.

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Phil Bowers
BBC Radio Stoke

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If there's anything Port Vale fans have come to expect, it's a rebuild. And here we are with another one, this time spearheaded by Darren Moore.

Only one Vale manager has completed a full season in charge since Rob Page left in 2016, that was Darrell Clarke in 2021-22. Vale fans are well used to seeing someone completely different in the dug-out from the start of the previous season.

A disastrous campaign and relegation demands a quick response. And Moore has done that with his signings - convincing George Byers to drop two levels from Sheffield Wednesday being the most eye-catching.

Paying fees for Lorent Tolaj, Ruari Paton and Jayden Stockley should solve a woeful goal-scoring record, as should getting highly-rated youngster Baylee Dipepa to sign a new deal. Keeping last season's top scorers Ben Garrity and Ethan Chislett is just as important.

That's not to say it's all been plain sailing. There are still question marks at full-back, where Mitch Clark will miss the start of the season, and Sam Hart is the only real left-back on the books. Neither Dan Jones nor Tom Sang are natural replacements.

Pre-season has also been bitty, with defeats by Bath City and Burton Albion characterised by some defensive issues. Some of the forward play has looked good, particularly through Ronan Curtis, but they must tighten up at the back.

On paper, Vale should be in the automatic promotion shake-up and potentially the title race.

But in reality Moore's new look team may take some time to gel, and that could lead to a slow start.