It's All Kicking Off Again

Here we are again, the end of another summer (well, nearly) and the start of a new football season. Time for me to make my annual predictions that will come back to haunt me in the coming months. Click the link to read my predictions.

Three new teams in the league this year, whilst another four are starting the season under new management. It could be one of the closest first divisions in years or someone could walk away with it. Here's your guide to the runners and riders and how I think they'll do.

Over the summer Airdrie United have lost several players, including star forwards Owen Coyle and Alan Gow. At present, the only player they have signed to replace them is Brian McPhee. Not exactly confidence inspiring if you're an Airdrie fan I'd have thought. They've signed a few youngsters as well (who I know nothing about) but, as things stand, Airdrie could well struggle. They had a good year in the first division last season but will find it tough going this time around unless they get another striker or two in. Willie McLaren could be a star if he regains the form he had during their second division days.

After a year away, Brechin City return to the first division. The second divison champions had to cope with a change of management in the middle of last season and did so admirably. Over the summer, they've added a few players to their squad, such as Gary Bollan from Clyde, and have kept hold of nearly all of their players, including former Saint Scott Walker. Saints fans won't be looking forward to Brechin's return as it also means the return of Paul Ritchie. The former Saints trialist scores against us nearly every time he plays us and could play a big part in Brechin's season. They should do better than their last season in the first division but that wouldn't be too difficult.

Airdrie fans haven't had the worst summer. That award goes to Clyde by a long, long way. They've appointed former Rangers player Graham Roberts as their new manager with former Celtic player Joe Miller as his assistant. When Roberts arrived, Clyde had just three players signed so he decided to hold some trials. All well and good, until he allegedly received more than 2,500 phone calls because he forgot to advertise for professional players. Idiot. Thanks to Roberts involvement Clyde have received a lot of media coverage over the summer and have even signed a Daily Record journalist. The average age of Clyde's squad is just 21, which includes the rather old Joe Miller. I'm not going to say you don't win anything with kids but taking Miller out of the equation their most experienced players are former Morton striker Alex Williams and former Saints midfielder Paul McHale! When you consider that McHale is one of their best players you know they are in trouble. I'll be surprised if Clyde aren't in the relegation fight, although Williams could bag a few goals for them.

At the start of last week it was finally confirmed that Dundee would, after all, be relegated to the first division despite their best efforts to have Livingston docked points for fielding an illegible player. Since then they have lost top scorer Steve Lovell to Dundee and have replaced him with Simon Lynch, once of Celtic. If he can score goals and link up well with Tam McManus (a player I've always thought well over rated) then Dundee could do well. Another summer signing is former Partick Thistle defender Adrian Madaschi. Partick have been relegated two seasons running yet Jim Duffy decides to sign one of their defenders, great idea. I actually see Dundee struggling a bit this year as many relegated teams do, but if the front two click they might be alright.

The summer months have seen Hamilton Academical sign up most of last season's Clyde team, including manager Billy Reid. This could, once again, lead to the extremely boring style of play that Clyde employed when they played last season. Hamilton have now gone full time and still have their horrible plastic pitch, although several of their home players hate it too. After avoiding relegation on their first division return last season, the Accies have invested a lot of money in their squad. With Ian Harty being one of the many to move from Clyde they have a proven goal scorer and he links up once again with former Clyde team mate Pat Keogh. The Accies will have improved greatly on last season; hopefully Billy Reid can produce some more entertaining football.

Queen of the South have, as usual, been going along quietly over the summer and will no doubt do well in the coming months. Ian Scott did well in his first season in management last year and will be looking to do even better this season. Former Saint John O'Neill has returned to Palmerston after a two-year stint at Love Street, whilst a few youngsters have made the step up to the first team. Their pre-season results have been good and include a 4-0 hammering of SPL side Motherwell, but you don't win things based on pre-season. The influential Steve Bowey will once again be a key player in midfield for them, whilst David McNiven will be expected to score plenty of goals once more. Queen of the South might push for the title but will probably end up mid table again.

A few months ago, every Ross County fan breathed a sigh of relief when Alex Smith was sacked and replaced by John Robertson. Robertson was harshly treated by Hearts and knows exactly what has to be done to win the first division; he did so with Inverness Caledonian Thistle in 2003/04. They have made few summer signings, former Saints and Livingston goalkeeper Ian McCaldon being the main one. Their lack of a striker could be their main problem, although they have been linked with moves for Barry Wilson and Denis Wyness. Should be better than last season but probably won't be in the title running, especially if they are relying on Steven McGarry to score some goals.

A new season and another new manager at St. Johnstone. This time it is Owen Coyle in the Perth hot seat, as he takes his first steps into football management (though he did guide Falkirk to the first division title with John Hughes a few years ago). It's been another summer filled with comings and goings at McDairmid Park as Coyle tries to get a squad sorted. With Kevin James and Mark Campbell signed form champions Falkirk they shouldn't have to worry about losing too many goals, providing they can find a new keeper. Up front, they have signed former Dundee striker Steven Milne from Plymouth Argyle, whilst Stephen Dobbie has signed permanently after his loan from Hibs last season. Thug Peter MacDonald is also still there and Coyle will also play. With the players they have this could well be the year that St. Johnstone get it right.

There haven't been many arrivals at Love Street this summer as St. Mirren prepare for a serious championship challenge. Last year's excellent defence has been improved with the arrivals of John Potter and Ian Maxwell, whilst former Hamilton winger Mark Corcoran will add something in midfield. Our main weakness is up front. We struggled for goals last season when Mixu Paatelainen or Stewart Kean were injured and it could be the same story this season. We struggled last weekend and Kean was fit! Billy Mehmet has signed from Dunfermline but we just missed out on James Grady and Noel Hunt. If Saints are to finish the season as champions we’ll desperately need another striker.

Finally, Stranraer. After being relegated from the second division in 2002/03, they have had a remarkable turnaround and have won promotion two seasons running. That could count against them big time this season and they could find the first division a step too far. However, they have greatly improved their squad in all departments from last season. Goalkeeper Barry John Corr has arrived from Motherwell, whilst former Partick Thistle player Andy Dowie will slot into defence. Former Saints Ian Ross and Scott McLean have also been signed and, overall, Stranraer are looking not too bad. They might just be able to stay up, but it will be a tough task.

As things stand with teams at the moment, here's how the league will look come May, though if last season's predictions are anything to go by it won't look anything like this. Don't place any money based on these predictions, I won't be held responsible if you lose (though I'll gladly take a cut if you win):

1. St. Johnstone
2. St. Mirren
3. Dundee
4. Queen of the South
5. Hamilton Academical
6. Ross County
7. Brechin City
8. Airdrie United
9. Stranraer
10. Clyde

Let battle commence.