With the start of the 2010/2011 League One campaign almost upon us, there is no better time to look ahead to May and make an attempt at trying to predict the final league positions.

Many national news outlets have hardly considered Town as possible promotion candidate so far. BBC 5Live decided to completely overlook Town in favour of the usual suspects in their Football League programme a few nights ago. Truth is that I don’t really care what anyone else thinks of us. All of us Town fans know we are improving year on year and we are back stronger than last year. Yes I know… stronger, even without Paynter and Greer.

Since May many have said League One will be ‘easier’ in 2010/2011 as Norwich, Leeds and Millwall have been promoted. I don’t see this as the case as it was only Norwich who were really a class apart and now there are more teams who are able to fight for the top 6. Replacing them, clearly Sheffield Wednesday are no mugs and have brought in several Championship class players, also Plymouth is a difficult place to go and Peterborough have retained the majority of their squad which won League One in 2008/2009 and they now have (apparent) stability under Gary Johnson. Add to these three coming down from the Championship, we have Southampton starting on an equal footing without the minus 10 point deduction, Huddersfield bolstering a group of promising youngsters with much needed experience, Brighton spending money to secure promotion in their last season at the Withdean, as well as beaten semi-finalists Charlton and League Two Champions Notts County also in the hunt.

So then, after much thought, here are my predictions for the season ahead….

1. Sheffield Wednesday
2. Southampton
3. Swindon Town
4. Huddersfield Town
5. Peterborough United
6. Brighton & Hove Albion
7. Brentford
8. Charlton Athletic
9. Plymouth Argyle
10. Notts County
11. Bristol Rovers
12. Exeter City
13. Colchester United
14. Leyton Orient
15. MK Dons
16. Walsall
17. Tranmere Rovers
18. AFC Bournemouth
19. Carlisle United
20. Rochdale
21. Yeovil Town
22. Hartlepool United
23. Oldham Athletic
24. Dagenham & Redbridge

I can’t look past Wednesday and Southampton for the top two. Maybe we will get second, although I would settle for a realistic 3rd place. As for the other play-off positions Huddersfield, Peterborough and Brighton look good bets, although I’m tipping Brentford as the surprise package who could be in the mix or thereabouts.

Perhaps Charlton and Plymouth will struggle and should look beyond this season and start rebuilding.

Of the new boys from League Two that were promoted I’m tipping Notts County to make it to the top 10, Bournemouth and Rochdale to pull of a shock and just stay up, whereas Dagenham & Redbridge to finish bottom. Going down will be Yeovil, Hartlepool and Oldham Athletic.

So then, that’s what I think may unfold. Do you agree? What can you see happening?