By Nathan Jackson
June 29 2004

Just for a laugh, I am going to predict the Division 3 finishs this season and just to be a bit controversial, I've put in a few suprise predictions, well not that big of a suprise but you get the idea. Boston United have made some impressive pre-season signings with 3 Scottish Premiership Players coming to York Street. Austin McCann, Derek Lilley and Andy Kirk all add to an impressive looking Boston side who, under Steve Evans towards the end of the season, had one of the most impressive forms in the Divison. I feel Boston will do well this season and make the playoffs but fail to get to the final.

Bristol Rovers have made many a signing this summer signing Jamie Forrester, Craig Disley, Craig Disley, Paul Trollope, Stewart Campbell and Steve Elliott and many are tipping them for an impressive season under Ian Atkins. The Imps were the first team to see the new Rovers and they looked impressive, however, they are still very weak in places and that will cost them as they will have a failed playoff bid

Bury are one of the quietest teams in the Division, however, they are a stumbling block for most of the top teams as only 1 team in the top 7 won there and only 1 more even got a point. However, their form is often abysmal and then a prone to shooting themselves in the foot. If they're not careful, the team that has more league points in history than any other League 2 team, could find themselves out of the league, however, they will again prove too good for relegation (just).

Cambridge United were one of the most improved teams in the final few weeks of the season when Claude Le Roy took over and they slowly climbed the table, however, a lack of impressive signings rules out an serious challenge for promotion. Midtable at best.

Cheltenham Town were one of the more inconsistant teams in the Division last year as one minute, they looked like they could beat anyone, but minutes later, it looked like anybody could beat them. Impressive pre-season signings will raise optimism down there but it will all be in vain as another season rolls by for the Robins.

Chester City were conference champs last year and with the pre-season signings they have made this season, I doubt anybody will be ruling them for any less than a top 10 finish. I believe they will have a good season but like Boston, will lose out to stronger opposition in the playoffs.

Darlington have had a nightmare few years. They've gone from title favourites to relegation favourites and with an average ground attenance capacity attendance of 11% (average 3,500 out of 27,500). Their chairman has finally left and I won't pretend to know all the situation with Darlington but from what I've heard, these serious problems now at the club could end up with the club folding, hopefully this won't happen but releation is a very real prospect seeing as their leading scorer for many years has left and a suitable replacement has yet to be found.

Grimsby Town have "fallen the stairs" in recent years and have suffered two relegations in a row and having sold their best players, a bleak season is looming. However, still having a lot of League Championship players means that they should be safe from relegation without ever really threatening the playoffs.

Kidderminster Harriers were another really inconsistant team last season, however, their results dramatically improved under Jan Molby. The only thing I think they will struggle with this season is that they let Bo Henrikson go to Bristol Rovers who then ended up being released. Kiddy are too good to go down but will more than likely have a bad season finishing around 17th or 18th.

Leyton Orient had a suprising turn of year. Martin Ling had taken over and results improved and a possible playoff place looked likely, however, a disastorous run of only 1 win in 16 towards the end of the season saw them finish in their customary lower midtable position. THey have only made 1 decent summer signing in Wayne Carlisle, however that lower midtable position will be all they will be likely to hope for.

Lincoln City have had playoff disappointment in the last two seasons but last season, it looked as though the Imps had pulled off the impossible yet again when within 66 first half minutes in the second leg against Huddersfield, they turned the tie from a 2-1 defeat to a 3-2 lead, however, 2 goals from Huddersfield meant the Imps missed out yet again. The Imps have yet to make any summer signings, however, the majority of the team has stayed with only influential player, Mark Bailey being the only first teamer to leave and the Imps look set to have another fun season and I get a feeling this will be our year.....just by either finishing 3rd on last day with a 93rd minute winner against Yeovil.

Macclesfield Town may prove to be a dark horse. Last year, everyone at Sincil Bank was suprised when Macc, who hadn't score against the Imps in 5 attempts, were going into added on time level at 2-2. The Imps got a last minute winner. Macc eventually got a new manager an results immediatly improved with impressive results against Hull and Lincoln. Macc will have a good season by their standards but just miss out of the playoffs.

Mansfield Town were one of the "one man teams" last season but now, that 1 man has disappeared to Sunderland. The Stags lost the playoff final on penalties but from what Imps fans saw, they didn't even deserve to be there as they were one of the worst teams the Imps had played either home or away. It's hard to see how without Klinsmann 2 how they will be able to have a good season and midtable mediocity reins supreme.

Northampton Town were one of my least favourite teams last season, mainly because over the course of the whole season, they didn't deserve to be in the playoffs but pipped Yeovil, who had challenged for them all season on the last day. Northampton looked like possible relegation candidates but as soon as they lost to Cambridge at home on boxing day, they put together a run that saw a very late surge to the playoffs. Infact, the only time they were in the playoffs all season was the last two weeks. If they keep up that form, they'll probably get automatic promotion but overall, still won't really deserve it due to such un-enthusiastic displays.

Notts County were challenging for the Premiership 10 years ago but in that time, they've been relegated a rather embarrasing 3 times and 1 promotion. Having sold some of their best players during the summer, it'll be a long season but a prosperous one as they will win the playoffs.

Oxford United were a team of two halves last season. The first half of the season was great, having only lost 1 out of their first 23 games, but then, it all went sour as they didn't register another 5 wins all season and after being top for most of the season, ended up finishing bottom of the group chasing the playoffs. Under Graham Rix, they were even worse and a very hard season could very well, end in relegation if they are not very careful.

Rochdale's last season can be described in two words "Alan Buckley". Nothing furthur needs to be said and they are everyone's favourites to go down. The thing they have lacked recently is a proven goal scorer but they have gained that in the form of Paul Tait who rejected the Imps to join Rochdale. However, Dale will have an average season finishing midtable.

Rushden and Diamonds were looking towards a League 1 playoff place until the final few months of the season, their manager went and took several (most/all) of their best players with him leaving the diamonds with a reserve like squad and relegation quickly followed. A similar run could possibly see them as relegation candidates but they'll probably find a way out of it.

Scunthorpe United relied so much on Steve McClean last season, it was the fact that if his goals were taken out, they'd have finished bottom by quite some way. Scunny however, proved very good for the majority of the season and should be safe again but no way near how good they were a few seasons ago and a midtable finish looks likely.

Shrewsbury Town are a team I didn't really know much about last season, I had the occasional look at the conference table and saw they were around the playoff picture and then they won them. However, they were so bad when they went down, that surely they won't be able to maintain that good run and end up in a low league position.

Southend United were another 1 man team. This is proven by the fact that Leon Constantine arrived and all of a sudden, they were on playoff form. However, the other players proved inferior and they eventually finishing near relegation. Now Leon is gone and it's hard to see how Southend will survive this season.

Swansea City were the biggest 1 man team I'd ever seen. It's no coincidence that they failed to win a single game that Trundle didn't play (which was quite a lot). Swansea looked like potential champions but when the IMPS became the first team to get a point there, it all went downhill and they ended up nowhere near the playoffs and midtable looks likely this season.

Wycombe Wanderers are another team I didn't really pay attention to last season, all I know is that they were bottom for a very long time and were the first relegated team in any Division. I don't know enough about them to make a fair assessment so by default, I'll say midtable.

Yeovil Town were the most impressive team I saw last season (other than Torquay) and both games against them were the best I'd seen. They have made some good signings and I have a feeling that they will get automatic promotion.

So, final predictions


Promoted automatically - Yeovil, Lincoln City, Northampton
Promoted via playoffs - Notts County
Other playoff teams - Boston United, Chester City, Bristol Rovers
Relegation - Southend, Darlington