Punters will be tipping their caps in Stockport County’s direction when the Hatters build on last season’s progress by winning League Two.
The industrial town is seven miles south of Manchester and in terms of sporting success , Fred Perry and have all eclipsed County’s achievements.
But Stockport may claw back some of the ground on those illustrious residents by serving up a knockout blow to championship rivals like Bradford City, MK Dons, neighbours Salford and newcomers Wrexham and Notts County.
Signing former youngster Nick Powell from Stoke and Billy Chadwick from Hull will boost an attack which suffered through injuries down the stretch last term.
Kyle Wootton, Will Collar and Paddy Madden combined for 34 goals last season as Dave Challinor’s team finished one place out of the three automatic promotion spots last term.
They then lost to Carlisle on penalties in the play-offs final to miss out in the cruellest fashion possible.
So the added firepower should give the Hatters the edge over the opposition as their rock-solid defence conceded just 37 goals, second best in the league to champions Leyton Orient, in the 46-match calendar.
Stockport, who were playing non-league football just a couple of seasons ago, are sandwiched between newly promoted Wrexham and Notts County in the League Two betting but are preferred to both sides because of their experience at this level and can be backed to be champions at 6/1 with bet365, Betfair and Paddy Power.
Bradford, under the management of Mark Hughes, are 7/2 with Sky Bet to be promoted after reaching the play-offs last season.
Bantams striker Andy Cook was the division’s top scorer with 28 goals, six clear of the chasing pack, and he can top the charts again at 12/1 with bet365.
At the other end of the table, AFC Wimbledon finished just five points above Hartlepool, who were relegated with Rochdale, and are good value to drop into the non-league depths at 8/1 with Sky Bet, Bet Victor and William Hill.
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