I think Annan Athletic will break through in League Two this year, finally breaking through after a few years of coming close. It’s great to see that they have done so well, as they only joined the league six years ago but have become a strong side in that time. East Fife and Arbroath are two other big sides in League Two, and I think this might be a good title race, but I think that Annan will do enough to win.
Another exciting feature for me about this year’s SPFL is the introduction of relegation from League Two. I’ve called for a pyramid system for years, and now we finally get to see the top teams from non-league football really having something to play for rather than just a cup giant-kill. I think East Stirling will be the rightful winners of the wooden spoon who will have to play for their right to stay in league football. After all, this rule has been brought about in part due to their finishing last in seven of the last twelve seasons, and finishing 9th in two of those as well.
Brora Rangers were Highland League winners at a canter last year, and they will be favourites again to lift the title and challenge the Lowland League winners and the worst league side in the country for the honour of going up. This is all assuming they choose to compete, as their chairman has already announced that should they win the league they will give fans the chance to decide whether they want to take the step up – which will mean reconstruction work to their ground and the prospect of far longer journeys away from home for the Brora Red Ultras.
So before the football kicks-off for another roller-coaster year, here’s my predictions for all four of Scotland’s leagues, with it’s “accuracy” becoming increasingly muddled as you reach mid-table in each of the four divisions.
Premiership
1. Celtic
2. Aberdeen
3. Motherwell
4. Dundee United
5. St. Johnstone
6. Dundee
7. Ross County
8. Inverness CT
9. Hamilton
10. Partick Thistle
11. Kilmarnock
12. St. Mirren
Championship
1. Rangers
2. Hibernian
3. Hearts
4. Falkirk
5. Queen of the South
6. Alloa Athletic
7. Raith Rovers
8. Livingston
9. Dumbarton
10. Cowdenbeath
League One
1. Dunfermline Athletic
2. Ayr United
3. Greenock Morton
4. Stenhousemuir
5. Peterhead
6. Forfar Athletic
7. Stranraer
8. Brechin City
9. Airdrieonians
10. Stirling Albion
League Two
1. Annan Athletic
2. Arbroath
3. East Fife
4. Clyde
5. Queen’s Park
6. Elgin City
7. Montrose
8. Berwick Rangers
9. Albion Rovers
10. East Stirling
Highland League
– Brora Rangers
Lowland League
– Spartans