Sky Bet League Two: Outright preview, tips and best bets for the 2019/20 season
Sky Bet League Two looks as open as ever this season, although Tom Carnduff thinks that Ryan Lowe can enjoy another promotion.
Recommended bets
3pts Plymouth to win the league title at 12/1
3pts Plymouth to score the most goals at 9/1
3pts Macclesfield to finish bottom at 7/1
For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record
Sky Bet League Two is typically the most open of the three EFL divisions, with Notts County's relegation despite being favourites last season highlighting its unpredictability.
Bradford and Salford share the honours at the top of the betting this season, and both shouldn't have to worry about any relegation trouble.
The Bantams are re-building under Gary Bowyer following relegation last season, with Salford are aiming for another promotion as they aim to continue rising up the football pyramid.
Last season's beaten play-off semi-finalists Mansfield are found among the above duo with some bookmakers, although Newport are huge 33/1 outsiders despite their appearance at Wembley.
Bradford, Mansfield and Salford all have strong cases for finishing top of the pile, but the value is elsewhere and backing a fellow relegated side at 12/1 is the best bet in League Two this season.
It's not often that a promoted manager leaves a club to drop back down a division, but PLYMOUTH ARGYLE have got their appointment spot on by bringing in Ryan Lowe.
They capitalised on Bury's awful financial situation and will certainly reap the rewards of it. The Shakers are 1/7 to drop straight back down, although they are facing potential expulsion from the league altogether at the time of writing.
What we did see from Bury last season though was highly-entertaining, attacking football that produced results. Despite going months without pay, Lowe led his side to automatic promotion.
The 82 goals scored was the highest tally in the division and they finished six points behind winners Lincoln. Considering the circumstances surrounding the club, that outcome was nothing short of exceptional.
Five of that promotion-winning squad have joined Lowe in making the switch to the Pilgrims. Danny Mayor is the stand-out, but he'll be alongside Will Aimson, Dom Telford, Callum McFadzean and Byron Moore.
Given a spine of a team now familiar with working under Lowe, we should see a similar style of football with an outcome that is one better.
Freddie Ladapo may have departed for Rotherham, which does lead to questions about a prolific scorer being absent, but Argyle still have time to bring someone in before the window shuts at the end of the month.
At the opposite end of the table, MACCLESFIELD TOWN defied the odds when they survived at the end of the 2018/19 season.
Sol Campbell's debut in management saw the Silkmen retain their Football League status, but they're unlikely to see a repeat.
Macclesfield are one of a few teams in the North West who have seen financial problems. The players, who threatened to boycott the final game of last season, are suing the club regarding unpaid wages.
'Having exhausted all other options, we feel we have been left with no alternative but to seek legal advice and take action in order to gain payment of wages, for the last 2 months,' the players said in a statement.
That squad who managed to scrape survival last season are weaker now. They've seen 15 leave and only seven come in.
Scott Wilson, who netted eleven goals, has departed for Oldham while Harry Smith, with nine goals last season, is now at Northampton.
Joe Ironside has arrived to try and replace those goals, but relegation is looking more and more like an inevitable outcome for Campbell's side.
More need to come in just to make this squad competitive. Even then, the backdrop of unhappiness both on and off the pitch requires strong characters to remain focused.
There's so much to do still with less than a week until the season starts. Macclesfield aren't in a position to bring in the quality required and 7/1 on a 24th-placed finish is worth backing.
Odds correct at 1425 BST (28/07/19)
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