Summary

  • Football League/Scottish seasons start this weekend

  • Blackburn and Cardiff kick off the domestic season later (19:45 BST)

  • Celtic back in Champions League as Legia Warsaw are thrown out

  • Arsenal face Besiktas, Celtic to play Maribor in play-offs

  • Europa League play-offs: Spurs face Limassol of Cyprus, Hull away to Lokeren

  • GET INVOLVED: Who is your club's one to watch? #myclubshiddengems

  1. Champions League lifeline for Celticpublished at 10:11 British Summer Time 8 August 2014

    Celtic v Legia WarsawImage source, EPA

    More on the remarkable Champions League reprieve for Celtic. Legia Warsaw won the third qualifying round tie 6-1 on aggregate but brought on Bartosz Bereszynski for the last two minutes of the second leg, while he was supposed to be serving a suspension.

    As a result Celtic were handed a 3-0 'walkover' win for the second leg, taking them through on away goals.

  2. Blackpoolpublished at 10:05 British Summer Time 8 August 2014

    Phil Cunliffe
    BBC Radio Lancashire

    Blackpool manager Jose RigaImage source, Getty Images

    How has your club fared in the transfer market? "It's been mayhem at Bloomfield Road with 27 players heading out, including Tom Ince, and a trickle of incoming deals that turned into a torrent in the days leading up to the opening match at Nottingham Forest."

    How do you expect your team to do this season? "It's impossible to gauge how well the Seasiders will fare but if Jose Riga can get his new players to gel quickly there is no reason why they can't prove the bookies wrong and avoid relegation - something the Belgian achieved at Charlton last season."

    Who is your club's player to watch? "After a non-existent pre-season and the fact that this is a brand new team, Blackpool fans will have few ideas as to who might shine but the former Chelsea midfielder Jacob Mellis looks an astute signing."

    Listen to full match commentary of Nottingham Forest v Blackpool on BBC Radio Nottingham.

  3. BREAKING NEWSpublished at 10:00 British Summer Time 8 August 2014

    Celtic are re-admitted to the Champions League after Legia Warsaw are thrown out of the competition for fielding an ineligible player.

  4. Football League Focuspublished at 09:56 British Summer Time 8 August 2014

    When Championship side Blackpool reported for pre-season training they couldn't even have a game of 5-a-side. Now they can - with a recognised keeper on each team.

    The Tangerines, who had just eight players at the end of last month, sign their second goalkeeper with the addition of Bristol City stopper Elliot Parish on a one-year contract.

  5. World Alternative Gamespublished at 09:53 British Summer Time 8 August 2014

    Here's one that won't be on Sky Sports. Not yet anyway. The World Alternative Games, external begin today in Llanwrtyd Wells, mid-Wales. From bog snorkelling to backward running. From worm charming to wife carrying. From stone skimming to scooter slaloms, it will all take place until 25 August.

  6. Get involvedpublished at 09:46 British Summer Time 8 August 2014

    Jay Unsworth: Charlton have no hidden gems. Nope. Please stay away from us, especially after Diego Poyet...

    Ben: Josh Brownhill and Alan Browne for Preston, great pre season and end to last year.

    Alex Butler: Jordan Obita and Ryan Edwards at Reading FC. Not having huge transfer budget, great time to let youngsters push through.

  7. Blackburn Roverspublished at 09:44 British Summer Time 8 August 2014

    Andy Bayes
    BBC Radio Lancashire

    Blackburn RoversImage source, Getty Images

    How has your club fared in the transfer market? "Rovers have parted company with players who were well out of the picture. The likes of Dickson Etuhu, DJ Campbell, Leon Best and Alex Marrow have left. Coming in, Alex Baptiste plugs the problem right-back position with Luke Varney and Chris Brown adding competition up front to prolific pair Jordan Rhodes and Rudy Gestede."

    How do you expect your team to do this season? "I expect Blackburn to build on the 12-match unbeaten run they ended last season with. Supporters are genuinely optimistic for the first time in a few years. I expect a top-six finish."

    Who is your club's player to watch? "Apart from the obvious goal threat of Jordan Rhodes and Rudy Gestede, I expect Tom Cairney to follow up an excellent first season with the club with playing a very important role this year."

    Listen to full match commentary on BBC Radio 5 live and BBC Radio Lancashire.

  8. Football League Focuspublished at 09:42 British Summer Time 8 August 2014

    League One side Oldham bolster their defence by signing former Wolves man George Elokobi on a one-year deal.

    The beefy left-back was a cult favourite at Molineux, but was not offered a new deal by Kenny Jackett this summer.

  9. Football League Focuspublished at 09:42 British Summer Time 8 August 2014

    Steve Claridge
    BBC Sport

    Andy Awford (Portsmouth) - They finished the season well under Awford, having massively underachieved under Richie Barker. They probably have the best squad in the division.

    Michael Appleton (Oxford) - Appleton has a lot to prove. Blackpool went backwards under him, a run of eight games without a win led to him leaving Blackburn and he was in charge when Portsmouth were relegated from the Championship.

    Gareth Ainsworth (Wycombe) - Gareth kept them up on the final day. Can they now push on?

    Chris Wilder (Northampton) - He has made some decent signings and they will certainly expect to be up there this year.

  10. Arsenal and Liverpool eye Cavanipublished at 09:37 British Summer Time 8 August 2014

    The Evening Standard, external reports that Arsenal and Liverpool have made "proposals" for Paris St-Germain's 27-year-old Uruguay international striker Edinson Cavani, who is said to be keen on a move to England.

  11. Football League Focuspublished at 09:33 British Summer Time 8 August 2014

    Steve Claridge
    BBC Sport

    Accrington and Dagenham & Redbridge - Clubs on smaller budgets like them are always going to find it tough. But then a good manager on a small budget is better than a bad manager on a small budget.

    Exeter - They have gone down the route of the fans taking over. They've got a very young side which is always a bit of a step into the unknown.

    Hartlepool - They struggled at the end of the season, so it will be interesting to see how they start this one.

  12. Football League Focuspublished at 09:32 British Summer Time 8 August 2014

    Steve Claridge
    BBC Sport

    Portsmouth - They did well when boss Andy Awford came in last year and they should never have been in the situation they were in. Paul Robinson is a great signing, as is Danny Hollands.

  13. Football League Focuspublished at 09:31 British Summer Time 8 August 2014

    To help you out, we've asked Football League Show regular Steve Claridge to give his verdict on each of the divisions. So who does he think will be celebrating in League Two when we get to May?

  14. VOTEpublished at 09:31 British Summer Time 8 August 2014

    We might be focusing on the Championship this morning, but we also want to know what you think about the other Football League divisions, starting with League Two. This year it features the likes of Portsmouth - a Premier League side as recently as 2010 - while former top-flight team Luton are back after winning promotion from the Conference.

    But who do you think will win the League Two title? Vote now at the top of this page and we'll reveal how you voted after 11:00 BST. Terms and conditions can be found here.

    We'll have a vote on the Championship at 12:00 BST and League One at 14:30 BST.

  15. Waddle junior joins Worksoppublished at 09:25 British Summer Time 8 August 2014

    Jack WaddleImage source, @worksoptownfc

    Former Tottenham and England winger Chris Waddle's son, Jack, a 20-year-old midfielder, joins Northern Counties East League side Worksop Town.

  16. Football League Focuspublished at 09:24 British Summer Time 8 August 2014

    Millwall boss Ian Holloway confirms defender Alan Dunne will captain the Championship side this season.

    Dunne, 31, led the Lions, who host Leeds on Saturday, during an eight-game unbeaten run last season that secured their second-tier survival.

    "He cares, he wants to win more than anyone, he wants the ball, he can play with his left foot or his right, he and Nicky Bailey in that game at Nottingham Forest were magnificent. That set the tone and we stayed in this division," says Holloway on Millwall's official website., external

  17. Celtic hope for Champions League reprievepublished at 09:16 British Summer Time 8 August 2014

    It's not often you are thinking of the Champions League after losing 6-1 on aggregate, but Celtic will be anxiously monitoring the results of a Uefa investigation into the eligibility of a Legia Warsaw player during their 2-0 defeat by the Polish champions at Murrayfield.

    European football's governing body said a decision in the case was expected before this morning's draws for the Champions League play-offs and Europa League.

  18. Get involvedpublished at 09:14 British Summer Time 8 August 2014

    Harry Ramsey: Reading's U21 team won the Premier League Cup last season and a lot of them set to come into first team.

    Matty Wilkinson: Leeds United's hidden gem could be Rodolph Austin, he is a tank but no one has really heard of him.

    Bradley Cooper: Jazzi Barnum-Bobb, 18-year-old right-back, Cardiff City Development Squad.

    Don't know anything about Jazzi Barnum-Bobb - other than he is surely the greatest named footballer in the Football League...

  19. Birmingham Citypublished at 09:07 British Summer Time 8 August 2014

    Mark Regan
    BBC WM 95.6

    Birmingham boss Lee ClarkImage source, Getty Images

    How has your club fared in the transfer market? "Blues have had to rebuild this summer and they seem to have done it very well and for the most part without spending money. The additions of nine new faces on free transfers, as well as Denny Johnstone from Celtic, have given the squad a new look and in the pre-season they have looked a team in better shape for the changes."

    How do you expect your team to do this season? "There's something of an unknown quantity about Blues this season, largely thanks to the huge changes that have been made to the squad, but I can't see Blues relying on a last-minute goal to keep them up this season. They look organised and I'd be very surprised if they weren't somewhere mid-table come May."

    Who is your club's player to watch? "Damarai Gray is the pick for me. A new version of Nathan Redmond. Pacy and willing to run at defenders to provide crosses, I think he could be a big player going forward for Blues this season; he may not score many but look out for how many assists he provides."

    Listen to full match commentary of Middlesbrough v Birmingham on BBC Radio Tees and BBC Radio WM 95.6.

  20. Football League Focuspublished at 09:05 British Summer Time 8 August 2014

    Is there a better way to start the hour with the first of our Championship previews? I think not. As we told you a few moments ago, we have asked our local reporters for their thoughts about their team's chances over the next nine months.

    First up, in alphabetical order, are Birmingham City who you may remember stayed in the second tier by the skin of their teeth...