Alfreton Town head the market for the new Blue Square Bet North season as they try to improve on two successive third place finishes in the section.
A favourable set of circumstances have led to Nicky Law’s side being placed at the top of the betting with a quote of 100/30.
First of all their two main rivals from last season Southport and big spending Fleetwood Town both exited the division via the two promotion places. Secondly the geographical spread of teams relegated from last season’s Blue Square Premier was firmly rooted in the south and consequently no teams have been added from the division above.
That still doesn’t make it a formality for Law’s team but they are the rightful market leaders. Droylsden won the division in the 2006/07 season but only had a brief stay in the top flight of the non-league game.
The Bloods finished bottom of the 2007/08 Blue Square Premier with a tally of just five wins and 24 points to their name.
They enjoyed the ride and chairman-manager Dave Pace no doubt longs for the kind of afternoon witnessed in the October of that season when they beat Oxford United 3-1 at the Butcher’s Arms in front of the live TV cameras.
Pace’s side are priced as the 7/1 second favourites to reclaim the title. Just up the A635 from Droylsden on the way out of Manchester lies Bower Fold the home of 8/1 joint-third favourites Stalybridge Celtic.
The departure of Steve Burr has led to Jim Harvey being handed the reins and it looks like the right appointment as one talented Conference boss replaces another. Harvey can expect an easier ride than in previous roles and hopefully his team will make headlines for the right reasons on the pitch.
Another new manager tasked with improving a club’s fortunes is former Sheffield Wednesday, QPR and Tottenham star Andy Sinton. The incoming AFC Telford United boss will need to hit the ground running as the sleeping non-League giants try to complete their rise back to the top division. The Bucks are 5/1 to achieve promotion and 10/1 for the title.
Corby Town and Eastwood Town both enjoyed their first season at this level during the last campaign. Corby finished just shy of a play-off place but seem well equipped to make amends this year by extending their season at the very least.
They join Stalybridge at 8/1 for the title. Eastwood claimed a respectable 10th spot in last season’s standings after spending a long time looking like genuine challengers for the title. They’ll need increased staying power if they are to better that finish come April.
The Nottinghamshire-based club are 11/1 to win the Blue Square Bet North title.
Gainsborough Trinity are also 11/1 in the market and can boast former Aston Villa manager Brian Little in the dugout.
This will be Little’s first full season in charge at The Northolme and big things are expected after getting a full pre-season under his belt.
Darren Edmondson is a manager at the earlier stages of his career but has already led Workington to a fourth placed finish in the division after taking charge in early November last season.
In fact from that day until the end of the season Edmondson’s team were only a point away from eventual champions Southport’s points tally from that same period. Workington are also 11/1 to win the title.
Hyde have dropped the ‘United’ from their name and at 33/1 are in the middle of a number of outsiders with title quotes ranging from 20/1 to 80/1.
Their link up with Manchester City gives them a better chance than most at a shot for the big time and it was only as recently as 2007 when they narrowly missed out on a play-off berth.
Worcester City will maybe solve the North/South divide question once and for all after their return from a two year stay in the southern section. Improving on a 20th placed finish from last season’s Blue Square South should not prove beyond them even though they receive a 50/1 title quote.
