2024-25 League Two predictions: McCann's aces can leave Spireites in shade

The side that wins the National League has tended to be among the favourites for League Two promotion, so it is no surprise Chesterfield have returned to the top table with a big reputation and a short price for more heroics.

The Spireites are well-fancied to secure back-to-back promotions and decent odds to mark their return to the basement after six years away by winning the title.

Winners of the National League by an impressive 12-point margin, there is inevitably bags of confidence around the SMH Group Stadium, especially in the knowledge that three of last year's big hitters - Stockport, Wrexham and Mansfield - are out of the way, having themselves moved up to League One.

There is still pedigree in the section in the likes of Bradford, Doncaster and MK Dons, three clubs who feel they've been slumming it in the fourth tier for long enough. And a strong quartet of sides, including Carlisle and Port Vale, have dropped down to add real competition for both the automatic promotion places and the playoff race.

But Paul Cook, the Chesterfield boss, knows better than most what it takes to win league titles having done just that four times in the past decade with three different clubs.

Desperate Dons should be a force again

The Chesterfield manager will surely have marked down MK Dons as potentially the biggest threat which is certainly reflected in the title odds.

They have lost last season's top scorer Max Dean - sold to Belgian side Gent - and were hugely disappointed not just to miss out on the top three but then fold spectacularly against Crawley in the playoffs.

But it's Doncaster who are preferred to go in after last season's remarkable turnaround under Grant McCann.

Rovers, relegation candidates at the turn of the year, reeled off ten straight wins from the start of March to make the playoffs, where the big surprise was that they came unstuck against Crewe, who had finished the season tamely.

They have strengthened again with Grimsby mainstay Billy Clifton hoping to add bite in midfield, Carlisle winger Jordan Gibson striving to revive his career after a mixed season in League One and 38-year-old Billy Sharp thrilled to be back after shining at a higher level.

Go wild for Bluebirds' top-seven hopes

Barrow were another side who tailed off to miss out on the playoffs. That cost Pete Wild his job and gave Stephen Clemence a swift return to management having been sacked by Gillingham just a few weeks earlier.

The Gills, now in the hands of Mark Bonner, are very much fancied again. Barrow, on the other hand, despite ninth and eighth place finishes in the last two campaigns, are tipped to fade.

That seems a little unfair given how solid the Bluebirds have become and they are well worth a look in the Top Seven Finish market.

Of the four relegated clubs, it is Carlisle and Port Vale who are fancied most at this stage to be challenging for a swift return, while Charlie Adam's Fleetwood and Cheltenham, now managed by ex-Newport chief Michael Flynn, also carry interest.

Last season's flops included Bradford, Notts County and Salford, and they will all have hopes of making amends by winning promotion.