Bolton Wanderers are going up! - League Two experts cast their vote

The results were unanimoius, with every single on picking Bolton Wanderers to be playing League One football next season - either via automatic promotion or the play-offs.

Here are the results...

 

NAME/NEWSPAPER: Sportsdesk, The Mail.

CLUB COVERED: Barrow AFC.

SUM UP YOUR CLUB'S SEASON: A challenging and at times discordant first season back in the Football League for 48 years has brought a timely late revival under the campaign's third man in the hot-seat. Rob Kelly has restored stability and inspired dramatic improvement after the short-lived reigns of David Dunn and Michael Jolley.

WHO HAS BEEN THE STAR SO FAR?: Scott Quigley continues to show the value of a reliable finisher even in a struggling side, hitting double figures as Barrow pulled away from the drop zone.

WHAT IS YOUR CLUB'S TARGET? : Survival is the aim, even more so given the Bluebirds' position close to or in the drop zone until recently. If the run under Kelly continues, thoughts can turn to building further in 2021/22.

THREE GOING UP: Bolton, Cheltenham, Cambridge.

PLAY-OFFS: Tranmere, Forest Green, Morecambe, Exeter.

PLAY-OFF WINNER: Tranmere.

TWO GOING DOWN: Grimsby, Southend.

NAME/NEWSPAPER: Simon Parker, Bradford Telegraph & Argus.

CLUB COVERED: Bradford City.

SUM UP YOUR CLUB'S SEASON: Down, up, stalling. A troubling start led to Stuart McCall’s sacking in mid-December and the promotion of academy coaches Mark Trueman and Conor Sellars. They turned the ship round dramatically with a great run and the help of a good January window but results are now dropping away again.

WHO HAS BEEN THE STAR SO FAR?: Callum Cooke’s form in the number 10 role has been crucial in the way City’s two bosses like to set up the team. He links play between the midfield and the lone frontman and has become so much more of an attacking threat – his current injury has hit City hard.

WHAT IS YOUR CLUB'S TARGET?: The remit of the joint bosses was to keep City in League Two which has been achieved comfortably. A play-off shot became a possibility after a remarkable couple of months after Christmas but a top-half finish to build on next year would represent progress from before.

THREE GOING UP: Cheltenham, Forest Green, Bolton.

PLAY-OFFS: Tranmere, Cambridge, Newport, Salford.

PLAY-OFF WINNER: Tranmere.

TWO GOING DOWN: Southend, Grimsby.

NAME/NEWSPAPER: Marc Iles, The Bolton News.

CLUB COVERED: Bolton Wanderers.

SUM UP YOUR CLUB'S SEASON: Manic. Looked like being massive under-achievers for the most part but after some canny business in January and a switch in tactics are playing like world-beaters and getting vignettes on Football Focus.

WHO HAS BEEN THE STAR SO FAR?: Ricardo Santos - A man mountain of a centre back who recovered from a dreadful start as the loose wheel in a back three to Bolton's most consistent and classy performer. All the tools needed to be a very good player indeed.

WHAT IS YOUR CLUB'S TARGET?: Now Wanderers have hit some form and got themselves on the fringes of the automatic promotion places, a top three place looks realistic. I'd take the play-offs at a push, though, especially if they can start serving food at Wembley again.

THREE GOING UP: Cheltenham, Tranmere, Bolton.

PLAY-OFFS: Cambridge, Forest Green, Newport, Exeter.

PLAY-OFF WINNER: Forest Green.

TWO GOING DOWN: Grimsby and Southend.

NAME/NEWSPAPER: Stephen Page, the Cambridge News.

CLUB COVERED: Cambridge United.

SUM UP YOUR CLUB'S SEASON: The U’s have defied expectations to stage a promotion push. A strong start was followed by a drop in form before Christmas, but United are right back on track. Plenty of goals, defensively solid and a real togetherness about this team. Plenty to be proud of however they finish.

WHO HAS BEEN THE STAR SO FAR?: Paul Mullin – When you get a stand named after you in your first season at a club, you know you’ve done something right. The league’s top scorer has netted 27 goals in all competitions this season, and is now breaking club records. Outstanding campaign.

WHAT IS YOUR CLUB'S TARGET?: Automatic promotion – U’s fans would have snapped your hand off to be in this position, but after such a good season, it’d be disappointing not to go up. The U’s have been in the top three since January and will be desperate to round off an excellent campaign with promotion.

THREE GOING UP: Bolton Wanderers, Cheltenham Town, Cambridge United.

PLAY-OFFS: Tranmere Rovers, Forest Green Rovers, Morecambe, Newport County.

PLAY-OFF WINNER: Tranmere Rovers.

TWO GOING DOWN: Grimsby Town, Southend United.

NAME/NEWSPAPER: Jon Colman / News & Star.

CLUB COVERED: Carlisle United.

SUM UP YOUR CLUB'S SEASON: An exciting peak followed by an underwhelming trough. Carlisle, after a summer overhaul, looked like a revitalised side under Chris Beech through the autumn and topped the table on January 2. But a prolonged break through Covid and other postponements was followed by a serious decline in form.

WHO HAS BEEN THE STAR SO FAR?: Jon Mellish's 13 goals deserve a mention but his team-mates in midfield, Joe Riley and Callum Guy, have been among Carlisle's more consistent players. Guy looked like one of the best midfielders in the division during the team's best spell.

WHAT IS YOUR CLUB'S TARGET?: Games in hand suggest the play-offs shouldn't be out of reach, so that still has to be the aim, even if the drop-off in form has made it less likely at the time of writing.

THREE GOING UP: Bolton, Cheltenham, Cambridge.

PLAY-OFFS: Tranmere, Forest Green, Morecambe, Exeter.

PLAY-OFF WINNER: Tranmere.

TWO GOING DOWN: Grimsby, Southend.

NAME/NEWSPAPER: Jon Palmer, Gloucestershire Live.

CLUB COVERED: Cheltenham Town.

SUM UP YOUR CLUB'S SEASON: Hugely impressive. Maintained fine form shown towards the end of last season and have bounced back well after play-off semi-final disappointment against Northampton. Particularly strong away and look fully capable of going on to win the title. More than just a long throw-in team, although that's been a deadly weapon.

WHO HAS BEEN THE STAR SO FAR?: Chris Hussey. Liam Sercombe runs him close for his midfield displays, but the left wing-back stands out for his consistency, quality and deliveries into the box. Comfortably the division's best in his position.

WHAT IS YOUR CLUB'S TARGET?: Automatic promotion is the first clear target and if that can be achieved for the first time as a Football League club, they'll be eyeing the title. Sitting on top with 10 games to go, they have put themselves in with a strong chance of making a bit of history. Michael Duff is destined for bigger things.

THREE GOING UP: Cheltenham, Bolton, Cambridge.

PLAY-OFF: Tranmere, Forest Green, Exeter, Morecambe.

PLAY-OFF WINNER: Exeter.

TWO GOING DOWN: Southend, Grimsby.

NAME/NEWSPAPER: Jon Waldron, Colchester Daily Gazette.

CLUB COVERED: Colchester United.

SUM UP YOUR CLUB'S SEASON: After a solid start to the season, Colchester’s form nose-dived just before Christmas and now they find themselves hovering just above the League Two relegation zone. A combination of player departures, injuries and a lack of goals have been the main reasons for their dreadful form so far, in 2021.

WHO HAS BEEN THE STAR SO FAR?: Academy product Noah Chilvers had not started a league game for Colchester, prior to this season. He has shown a maturity beyond his tender years and is now one of their first-team regulars, showing his class in midfield. He’s still only 20, too.

WHAT IS YOUR CLUB'S TARGET?: Survival in League Two is all that matters now, for Colchester. It is imperative that they get enough points to keep them in the division and then they can re-evaluate and analyse just what has gone wrong and start building for the future, as a League Two club.

THREE GOING UP: Cheltenham, Tranmere, Bolton.

PLAY-OFFS: Forest Green, Cambridge, Newport, Morecambe.

PLAY-OFF WINNER: Cambridge.

TWO GOING DOWN: Barrow, Grimsby.

NAME/NEWSPAPER: Adam Stenning/The Argus.

CLUB COVERED: Crawley.

SUM UP YOUR CLUB'S SEASON: Up and down! They have gone through good spells and bad spells so far this season. The Reds had gone four game unbeaten prior to their defeat to Barrow.

WHO HAS BEEN THE STAR SO FAR?: Tom Nichols. The striker has been a key man for Crawley up top especially since their top scorer at the time Max Watters left for Cardiff. He has already got ten goals in the League this season and puts a real shift in up top.

WHAT IS YOUR CLUB'S TARGET?: John Yems keeps saying to complete the season given the impact Covid has had on the squad both physically and financially. But if they could finish in the top half they would be very happy. However, a place in the play-off would be considered a great season for them.

THREE GOING UP: Cambridge, Cheltenham, Tranmere.

PLAY-OFFS: Morecambe, Bolton, Forest Green, Newport.

PLAY-OFF WINNER: Bolton.

TWO GOING DOWN: Southend and Grimsby.

NAME/NEWSPAPER: Daniel Clark/Devon Live.

CLUB COVERED: Exeter City.

SUM UP YOUR CLUB'S SEASON: Frustrating. With the youngest side in the league, full of academy products, and attacking football, this season has exceeded expectations of the club. But given we started so well, and recent defeats have been underserved, it feels as if we should be challenging for promotion, not play-offs.

WHO HAS BEEN THE STAR SO FAR?: Josh Key – academy product who looks to be the next to move on to a higher level. Got his chance at right back due to injuries, and has never looked back. Has pace and trickery going forward, is an improved defender, and one of the nicest men in football to boot.

WHAT IS YOUR CLUB'S TARGET?: It has to be play-offs at this stage of the season, with just one extra point needed to overhaul Newport with them still to play. And then to keep the record of never losing play-off semi-finals going, but to finally win a play-off final after three losses in four years.

THREE GOING UP: Bolton Wanderers, Cheltenham Town, Tranmere Rovers.

PLAY-OFFS: Cambridge, Forest Green, Morecambe, Exeter.

PLAY-OFF WINNER: Exeter.

TWO GOING DOWN: Grimsby and Southend.

NAME/NEWSPAPER: Laurie Martin / Gloucestershire Live.

CLUB COVERED: Forest Green Rovers.

SUM UP YOUR CLUB'S SEASON: Rovers have lost the least number of games in the division and have been very consistent. With 16 goals from set-pieces – 10 more than last season’s tally - they are a more well-rounded side compared to previous years, who can play attractive football, but also grind out results.

WHO HAS BEEN THE STAR SO FAR?: Jamille Matt. With 16 goals so far this season, he is the goalscorer that Forest Green have desperately missed since the permanent departure of Christian Doidge in 2019. 20-year-old right-sided defender Udoka Godwin-Malife has also been very impressive, starting every league game in his breakthrough season at the club.

WHAT IS YOUR CLUB'S TARGET?: Having been up there all season and with a game in hand on most teams, automatic promotion has to be the aim. There has been a dip in performance levels over the last six games or so, and Rovers will have to improve to achieve a top three finish.

THREE GOING UP: Cheltenham, Bolton, Forest Green.

PLAY-OFFS: Tranmere, Cambridge, Morecambe, Exeter.

PLAY-OFF WINNERS: Morecambe.

TWO GOING DOWN: Southend, Grimsby.

NAME/NEWSPAPER: James Findlater, Grimsby Telegraph.

CLUB COVERED: Grimsby Town.

SUM UP YOUR CLUB'S SEASON: Where do you start? It’s been an absolute shambles from even before the season began. Turmoil on and off the pitch - Paul Hurst has brought some stability, and imminent new owners will signal a desperately-needed new era, but it looks like it’ll start in non-league.

WHO HAS BEEN THE STAR SO FAR?: I’ll have to pass on that one. Rollin Menayese and Jay Matete have both impressed since joining in January, but there won’t be anyone who comes out of this season with their head held high.

WHAT IS YOUR CLUB'S TARGET?: Survival, whatever it takes. They’ve given themselves a glimmer of hope, but it’s still a monumental task for them to stay in the league. If Paul Hurst pulls it off, it’ll be nothing short of a miracle.

THREE GOING UP: Cheltenham, Tranmere, Cambridge.

PLAY-OFFS: Bolton, Forest Green, Morecambe, Exeter.

PLAY-OFF WINNER: Bolton.

TWO GOING DOWN: Grimsby (hopefully I’m wrong) and Southend.

NAME/NEWSPAPER: Rhys Howell, Harrogate Advertiser/ Yorkshire Post.

CLUB COVERED: Harrogate Town.

SUM UP YOUR CLUB'S SEASON: Very up and down. A really bright start was followed by a worrying slump as a small squad began to tire with winter approaching. January reinforcements sparked an upturn in fortunes, though form has tailed off once again in recent weeks.

WHO HAS BEEN THE STAR SO FAR?: Tough to single just one out. Goalkeeper James Belshaw has kept his standards consistently high throughout, while centre-half Connor Hall and midfielder George Thomson have also stood out.

WHAT IS YOUR CLUB'S TARGET?: Realistically, the play-offs are now out of reach. Survival was always the main aim and with that more-or-less guaranteed, Town want to try and finish in the top half.

THREE GOING UP: Cheltenham, Bolton, Cambridge.

PLAY-OFFS: Tranmere, Forest Green, Exeter, Morecambe.

PLAY-OFF WINNER: Tranmere.

TWO GOING DOWN: Grimsby and Colchester.

NAME/NEWSPAPER: Jacob Ranson, East London Advertiser.

CLUB COVERED: Leyton Orient.

SUM UP YOUR CLUB'S SEASON: A rollercoaster. The O’s started the season brightly, which was slightly derailed by a Covid-19 outbreak, before then finding their feet once again. 2021 started badly for Orient and saw Ross Embleton depart and replaced by Jobi McAnuff who has picked up four wins, two draws and one defeat to get them back in the play-off hunt.

WHO HAS BEEN THE STAR SO FAR?: Lawrence Vigouroux – The most consistent performer. Danny Johnson and Conor Wilkinson has been the danger man. But the shot-stopper has been an ever-present and put in great performances barring the 4-0 defeat away to Exeter City.

WHAT IS YOUR CLUB'S TARGET?: Leyton Orient’s made it clear they wanted to push for the play-offs when sacking Ross Embleton and replacing him with midfielder Jobi McAnuff. That is the clear aim especially after the recent form.

THREE GOING UP: Cheltenham, Tranmere, Bolton.

PLAY-OFFS: Cambridge, Forest Green, Morecambe and Orient.

PLAY-OFF WINNER: Leyton Orient.

TWO GOING DOWN: Grimsby and Barrow.

NAME/NEWSPAPER: Stephen Thirkill/Mansfield Chad.

CLUB COVERED: Mansfield Town.

SUM UP YOUR CLUB'S SEASON: A total failure. Graham Coughlin was sacked after failing to win a game. Mansfield finally won their first league game of the season on 14th November after Nigel Clough’s arrival. Stags built up momentum, winning a club record five in a row in January, before slumping again.

WHO HAS BEEN THE STAR SO FAR?: Stags have largely been bereft of stand-out stars this season with injuries, errors and poor runs of form. Jordan Bowery has been the stand-out since Nigel Clough took over and has 10 goals and five assists so far, with Clough believing he has plenty more to offer.

WHAT IS YOUR CLUB'S TARGET?: The aim is to build up some momentum ready for a proper promotion push next season. Clough will use the final games to blood youngsters, assess his options and eradicate poor defensive errors and game management which has cost too many points.

THREE GOING UP: Cheltenham, Cambridge, Bolton.

PLAY-OFFS: Forest Green, Tranmere Rovers, Morecambe, Newport.

PLAY-OFF WINNER: Tranmere Rovers.

TWO GOING DOWN: Southend and Grimsby.

NAME/NEWSPAPER: Gavin Browne/Morecambe Visitor.

CLUB COVERED: Morecambe.

SUM UP YOUR CLUB'S SEASON: It's been a terrific season whatever happens. The Shrimps have genuine promotion ambitions for the first time in more than a decade, they reached the FA Cup third round for the first time in almost 20 years and equalled their best League Cup run for good measure.

WHO HAS BEEN THE STAR SO FAR?: Carlos Mendes Gomes. Morecambe are a team full of hard workers who produce honest performances game in game out but Mendes Gomes has flourished since Derek Adams' arrival in November 2019. He was the club's top scorer with 12 goals going into the Easter period.

WHAT IS YOUR CLUB'S TARGET?: Adams said recently their initial target is 74 points, which would be the club's record tally in the EFL. League Two hasn't had a standout side, so I don't see why a top-three challenge should be beyond the Shrimps but they may have to settle for the play-offs.

THREE GOING UP: Cheltenham, Tranmere, Bolton.

PLAY-OFFS: Cambridge, Morecambe, Forest Green, Exeter.

PLAY-OFF WINNER: Morecambe.

TWO GOING DOWN: Grimsby, Southend.

NAME/NEWSPAPER: Chris Kirwan, South Wales Argus.

CLUB COVERED: Newport County AFC.

SUM UP YOUR CLUB'S SEASON: Inconsistent. Made a sensational start and were playing some attractive stuff to set the pace but endured a nightmare winter after losing influential loanees Scott Twine and Brandon Cooper. Still in the mix but need to string together some big results in April with fixtures looming against play-off rivals.

WHO HAS BEEN THE STAR SO FAR?: Matty Dolan. The midfielder was moved back to the heart of a three-man defence by Michael Flynn and has been key to County playing on the deck. Classy on the ball but can also do the dirty stuff.

WHAT IS YOUR CLUB'S TARGET?: Top three isn’t impossible but it would need a repeat of the autumn form, which is unlikely. Missing out on the play-offs would be cruel after being in the top seven for most of the season. Make them and County have shown they can rise to the big occasion.

THREE GOING UP: Cheltenham, Bolton, Cambridge.

PLAY-OFFS: Tranmere, Forest Green, Newport, Exeter.

PLAY-OFF WINNER: Newport.

TWO GOING DOWN: Grimsby and Southend.

NAME/NEWSPAPER: Adam Lord, The Oldham Times.

CLUB COVERED: Oldham Athletic.

SUM UP YOUR CLUB'S SEASON: Here we go again. Another confusing and abrupt managerial change with Keith Curle replacing Harry Kewell with not many games to go leaves Latics fans calling louder than ever for owner Abdallah Lemsagam to go due to major issues on and off the field.

WHO HAS BEEN THE STAR SO FAR?: Conor McAleny – Former Fleetwood and Everton man has scored 16 goals in all competitions in a struggling side. All eyes are on his future in the long term with his contract expiring in the summer. Keeping him looks a tall order.

WHAT IS YOUR CLUB'S TARGET?: Good question. Having chopped and changed managers some hoped Kewell would be the man to buck the trend. Curle is only on a deal until the end of the season and is trying to completely change the style in a short space of time. Season is once again a write off.

THREE GOING UP: Cheltenham, Tranmere, Bolton.

PLAY-OFFS: Cambridge, Forest Green, Morecambe, Salford.

PLAY-OFF WINNER: Cambridge.

TWO GOING DOWN: Grimsby and Southend.

NAME/NEWSPAPER: Mike Baggaley/The Sentinel Newspaper.

CLUB COVERED: Port Vale.

SUM UP YOUR CLUB'S SEASON: Disappointing. Hopes were high after finishing eighth last season but, after climbing to fifth by the end of October, they went on a dreadful run. John Askey lost his job at the start of January and Darrell Clarke came in six weeks later to try to end fears of relegation.

WHO HAS BEEN THE STAR SO FAR?: The experienced Dave Worrall has been consistently excellent on the right wing in a difficult season for the team. But versatile forward Devante Rodney has also impressed in first full season of regular games in the Football League. Rodney, a summer signing from Salford, has become the first Vale player, apart from Tom Pope, in the last nine years to score more than ten league goals.

WHAT IS YOUR CLUB'S TARGET? Ensuring safety in the Football League before a rebuild in the summer and hopefully a campaign at the right end of the table. The club is well run under popular owners Carol and Kevin Shanahan who brought in David Flitcroft as director of football shortly before appointing manager Clarke.

THREE GOING UP: Cheltenham, Tranmere, Bolton.

PLAY-OFFS: Cambridge, Forest Green, Morecambe, Newport.

PLAY-OFF WINNER: Cambridge.

TWO GOING DOWN: Grimsby and Southend.

NAME/NEWSPAPER: Charlie Gregory, Manchester Evening News.

CLUB COVERED: Salford City.

SUM UP YOUR CLUB'S SEASON: Do too many cooks spoil the broth? Graham Alexander, Paul Scholes, Richie Wellens and Gary Bowyer have all been in the dugout. Salford have struggled for an identity and their form has suffered. All will be forgotten however should the club win promotion with the play-offs not out of reach.

WHO HAS BEEN THE STAR SO FAR?: Vaclav Hladky – a goalkeeper followed closely by Rangers and Celtic who joined the Ammies’ ambitious project as their priority recruit of the summer. He’s been the one constant in an inconsistent season, a Wembley shootout hero and Salford would be further away from promotion contention without his regular heroics.

WHAT IS YOUR CLUB'S TARGET?: Play-offs, but firstly a goal. The Ammies haven’t scored in more than eight hours of football in all competitions and need a victory versus Grimsby Town this weekend to reignite their promotion hopes. A cliché, but 10 cup finals remain with Salford currently six points beneath seventh placed Newport County.

THREE GOING UP: Cheltenham, Bolton, Cambridge.

PLAY-OFFS: Tranmere, Exeter, Forest Green, Newport.

PLAY-OFF WINNER: Exeter.

TWO GOING DOWN: Colchester and Grimsby.

NAME/NEWSPAPER: Max Bell – Scunthorpe Telegraph.

CLUB COVERED: Scunthorpe United.

SUM UP YOUR CLUB'S SEASON: After an awful start, many fans understandably feared the very worst. Thankfully the club worked to correct the summer’s huge mistakes with recruitment and mid-season signings Mark Howard, Junior Brown, George Taft and Jem Karacan provided some much-needed experience to help steer The Iron away from trouble.

WHO HAS BEEN THE STAR SO FAR?: Manager Neil Cox is believed to have been just one game away from the sack in January, and deserves huge credit for effectively steering a flawed squad away from a very real relegation battle. Striker Ryan Loft’s goals, assists and unmatched work ethic have been crucial along the way.

WHAT IS YOUR CLUB'S TARGET?: Ensuring mathematical safety as soon as possible, and then rebuilding for next year. Huge reams of the squad are out of contract at the end of the campaign, and it is vital the club learns the mistakes from the last three wasted summers.

THREE GOING UP: Cambridge, Cheltenham, Bolton.

PLAY-OFFS: Tranmere, Forest Green, Morecambe, Leyton Orient.

PLAY-OFF WINNER: Tranmere.

TWO GOING DOWN: Grimsby and Southend.

NAME/NEWSPAPER: Chris Phillips, Southend Echo.

CLUB COVERED: Southend United.

SUM UP YOUR CLUB'S SEASON: Not very good. It seems like a second successive relegation is on the cards for the Shrimpers and the club’s 100 year long stay in the Football League will be coming to an end.

WHO HAS BEEN THE STAR SO FAR?: Very few players have shone for Southend this season but if I had to single one out for praise it would be centre-back Shaun Hobson. The 22-year-old joined from Bournemouth in the summer and has produced some good performances.

WHAT IS YOUR CLUB'S TARGET?: To try and stay up. It doesn’t seem very likely but Southend will be doing all they can to try and close the gap on those above them in their remaining matches.

THREE GOING UP: Cheltenham, Tranmere and Bolton.

PLAY-OFFS: Cambridge, Forest Green, Newport and Exeter.

PLAY-OFF WINNER: Exeter.

TWO GOING DOWN: Grimsby and Southend.

NAME/NEWSPAPER: Neil Metcalfe/The Comet.

CLUB COVERED: Stevenage.

SUM UP YOUR CLUB'S SEASON: A season of two halves. Favourites to go down and couldn't score in October. Not conceding now and have amazingly risen into mid-table, prompting some jokers (me for example) to start mentioning the play-offs. Dean Wilkins appointment massive.

WHO HAS BEEN THE STAR SO FAR?: Some will argue for Elliott List's goals or Jamie Cumming's saves but Terence Vancooten has proved to be a class apart. The centre-half is silky-smooth and oh so consistent. He's been helped by the experience of Scott Cuthbert and Luke Prosser alongside him but has made the position his own.

WHAT IS YOUR CLUB'S TARGET?: They were preparing for the National League in August in so mid-table in League Two come the end of the season is and was unimaginable. This summer will be crucial but their current form is play-off worthy. They’ll settle for top half next year without a doubt though.

THREE GOING UP: Tranmere Rovers, Cheltenham Town, Cambridge United.

PLAY-OFFS: Bolton Wanderers, Forest Green Rovers, Morecambe, Newport County.

PLAY-OFF WINNER: Bolton Wanderers.

TWO GOING DOWN: Southend United, Grimsby Town.

NAME/NEWSPAPER: Richard Garnett / Wirral Globe.

CLUB COVERED: Tranmere Rovers.

SUM UP YOUR CLUB'S SEASON: Rovers bought League One players and started the season performing like a non-league side. Now they look like a League One team in waiting. Keith Hill has got the complete buy-in of his squad and they are well placed for an instant return to the third tier of English football.

WHO HAS BEEN THE STAR SO FAR?: James Vaughan hasn’t just plundered 18 league goals for Tranmere, he’s defended from the front and improved players around him. He’ll miss most of the run-in with a knee injury but big characters like Jay Spearing and Peter Clarke will lead the charge in his absence.

WHAT IS YOUR CLUB'S TARGET?: Promotion by any means, but they will be fully focused on the automatic places, thus avoiding the lottery of the play-offs and a potential face-off with old foes Bolton!

THREE GOING UP: Tranmere, Cheltenham, Forest Green.

PLAY-OFFS: Cambridge, Bolton, Exeter City, Morecambe.

PLAY-OFF WINNER: Bolton.

TWO GOING DOWN: Grimsby, Southend United.

NAME/NEWSPAPER: Liam Keen / Express & Star.

CLUB COVERED: Walsall.

SUM UP YOUR CLUB'S SEASON: Disappointing. It's been a hectic year with important players being sold and manager Darrell Clarke making a surprise switch to Port Vale. Since then, results have been poor and the club has plummeted from play-off hopes to relegations fears.

WHO HAS BEEN THE STAR SO FAR?: Had he stayed for the season it would be Elijah Adebayo, but with him leaving in January it would have to be Liam Kinsella. A hard-working and impressive ball-winning midfielder who wears his heart on his sleeve.

WHAT IS YOUR CLUB'S TARGET?: Right now it is to stay up and salvage some positives from a poor second half of the season. If Walsall can somehow finish 15th or higher they would avoid some unwanted records on their lowest ever football league finish, which was 16th in 1991.

THREE GOING UP: Cheltenham, Cambridge, Bolton.

PLAY-OFFS: Tranmere, Newport, Exeter, Forest Green.

PLAY-OFF WINNER: Tranmere.

TWO GOING DOWN: Grimsby and Southend.