Having failed to save York from relegation from the National League (or Conference if you will) last season, there's pressure on Gary Mills to get them back up at the first time of asking. He has got previous, having won the Conference North with Tamworth in 2008/09 before leaving for his first stint at York a year later.
It won't be easy though, as there is still quite a lot of money swilling around this division, even after the departure of Fylde to the top division, with Salford and Harrogate both chucking it about. There are also some strong former Football League clubs such as Stockport, Darlington and Kidderminster who will all be expected to be challenging for the top spot. Chorley will be up there again as well, but I'm not so confident about Tamworth's chances of challenging for the play-offs following top scorer Danny Newton's move to Stevenage. Boston and Nuneaton could and should have better seasons than last, and may also be up there. I've no idea how Blyth and Spennymoor will do after their promotion from the Northern Prem, but at least they help the division start to live up to it's name. As for the rest I expect mid-table obscurity or relegation struggles.
My prediction:
Kiddy to win, though they have been known to blow up and have a mid-season fire sale in the past if it starts to go wrong.
Stockport to beat Salford in the play-off final (my feelings about the ownership of the latter may have influenced this).
Gainsborough, Southport and Telford to go down.
It won't be easy though, as there is still quite a lot of money swilling around this division, even after the departure of Fylde to the top division, with Salford and Harrogate both chucking it about. There are also some strong former Football League clubs such as Stockport, Darlington and Kidderminster who will all be expected to be challenging for the top spot. Chorley will be up there again as well, but I'm not so confident about Tamworth's chances of challenging for the play-offs following top scorer Danny Newton's move to Stevenage. Boston and Nuneaton could and should have better seasons than last, and may also be up there. I've no idea how Blyth and Spennymoor will do after their promotion from the Northern Prem, but at least they help the division start to live up to it's name. As for the rest I expect mid-table obscurity or relegation struggles.
My prediction:
Kiddy to win, though they have been known to blow up and have a mid-season fire sale in the past if it starts to go wrong.
Stockport to beat Salford in the play-off final (my feelings about the ownership of the latter may have influenced this).
Gainsborough, Southport and Telford to go down.
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