League 2 promises to be a fascinating division, with several teams set to challenge at the top and others looking to avoid the relegation play-off place.
Craig Stewart assesses the 10 clubs – four of whom begin the campaign with new managers – ahead of the 2014/15 season.
Albion Rovers
James Ward ended last season signing a new contract with Albion Rovers, re-signing nine players and bringing in six new faces but it will be Darren Young who manages the Coatbridge men in this campaign. The Cliftonhill Board opted for a change in direction and Young will be assisted by the vastly-experienced Sandy Clark.
The early signs have been good, with a penalty-kick success against neighbours Airdrie and a tussle with Livingston that was only lost on spot-kicks. John Gemmell is back at the club for a third time and if he starts banging in the goals then Rovers will climb into the top half.
Annan Athletic
The Galabank side made the play-offs for the second time in their six-year senior history but they went down home and away to a Stirling team that were eventually promoted. Manager Jim Chapman will be hoping his men are stronger for the experience and they surprised a lot of people during the summer when they persuaded sought-after striker Kenny MacKay to stay.
MacKay has been joined by Steven Logan, who returns after leaving Newcastle, and Annan could again be a top-four side, especially if MacKay adds to his reputation with a second strong season following his step up from Greenock Juniors.
Arbroath
Manager Allan Moore and his assistant Todd Lumsden will want to make an impact after disappointing times at Morton and Albion Rovers respectively. The duo know this division well and know each other well, as they work together in their day jobs, but they do not know Arbroath or their players as well after taking charge just over a month ago.
The Red Lichties are a good side going forward but have to be stronger defensively to make an impact. Moore and Lumsden will tighten things up but it will take time and they have to stay in touch with the leaders as they do so.
Berwick Rangers
Berwick player/manager Colin Cameron is delighted to have Lee Currie and Darren Lavery available to him for the new season after the duo attracted plenty of interest in the summer.
Paul Willis, David Gold and Scott Maxwell have all been recruited, with Cameron convinced he has a stronger squad for this season, although the loss of Ross Gray to injury is a blow. Former Scotland player Cameron has also re-signed as the Borderers look to make up for their disappointment in missing out on the play-offs on the final day of last season.
Clyde
Clyde pulled off a massive surprise in recruiting former Rangers and Scotland captain Barry Ferguson to be their new manager. Few would have predicted the move when Jim Duffy left for Morton but Ferguson is in place, with his emphasis appearing to be more on managing than playing.
The Bully Wee brought in Scott Durie, David Gray and David Sinclair, as well as Scott McManus, to boost their ranks but keeping hold of winger Scott Ferguson on a longer contract could be the best piece of transfer business completed over the summer by the Broadwood side.
East Fife
East Fife have reacted to their relegation by making impressive signings in the summer. The capture of Caolan McAleer from Partick Thistle and former St Mirren and Hamilton Accies striker Jon McShane send out a serious message about their plans to do well in League 2.
Gary Naysmith has taken his L plates off after becoming manager halfway through last season and you can expect his enthusiasm and drive to have an effect in this campaign. Play-offs should be seen as the minimum for the Methil men.
East Stirlingshire
Former Shire captain Craig Tully left his coaching role at League 2 champions Peterhead to begin his management career after John Coughlin left. It has not been an easy start, with 11 goals conceded to Falkirk and Ayr United, but Tully’s squad has been overhauled and there is confidence at the club that they will have a good season.
Coughlin had Shire leading the league for the first third of last season and they were play-off contenders for more than half the season but their campaign ran out of energy and they slipped to eighth place. Tully will be out to ensure that Shire are more consistent in this campaign.
Elgin City
Elgin boss Barry Wilson wanted to create a more local feel to his squad when he took the job on earlier this year and he has achieved that, with only two players now training in the west of the country and meeting up with their team-mates on match days.
The quality of local talent has been high, with Michael Fraser coming on board after life in the Premiership with Ross County. Keeping hold of Craig Gunn and Shane Sutherland will ensure that Elgin can score goals and persuading Daniel Moore to return is another indication of Wilson’s powers. Elgin will be outsiders for promotion but with less travelling and more togetherness they may well spring a surprise.
Montrose
Well-respected coach George Shields was appointed to the hot-seat at Links Park ahead of last season drawing to a close. Stuart Garden’s former assistant has brought in the experienced Steven Robb to help him on the pitch as well as six other new faces.
Shields will be hoping that his energetic approach to his job and knowledge of the local market for players will help them this season. Defender Jonathan Crawford is facing six weeks out due to knee surgery and, with only a small pool to choose from, Shields cannot afford too many more injuries.
Queen's Park
After finishing bottom in 2013/14, Gus MacPherson has embarked on an extensive recruitment process, with 12 new players coming on board and only David MacGregor joining from a senior side. The remaining players have stepped up from junior, amateur or juvenile ranks and have a collective hunger to do well.
Look out for Ross McPherson to shine, as the man dubbed ‘Archie’ by his former Clydebank fans looks to be a great goalscoring acquisition. Queen’s Park are unlikely to go for promotion but mid-table respectability may give them the progress they are looking for.
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