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Nationwide Division 1 Season 2002/03 Preview - Part 1

- Relegated from the Premiership last season, Ipswich Town have been installed as 4/1 favourites (sportingodds.com) to bounce straight back as First Division Champions.

The Tractor Boys have lost Titus Bramble to Newcastle, keeper Matteo Sereni has joined Italian side Brescia in an effort to ease the wage bill, whilst Sixto Parelta has returned to Inter Milan after his loan spell expired. However, star players Matt Holland and Marcus Stewart are still at the club and Town have enough talent running through the squad that a quick return to the Premiership could well be on the cards.

- Leicester City, however, are having significant financial problems after their Premiership exit. In a statement to the Stock Exchange the club admitted they were having "short and medium term cash-flow problems" and that they would look to cut playing costs.

Earlier this summer Robbie Savage was sold to Birmingham and Gary Rowett was offloaded to Charlton. Prize asset Muzzy Izzet has been linked with a move away from the club on a number of occasions and it will surely be just a matter of time before he departs. Fellow big-earners Dennis Wise, and Ian Walker could also be on their way.

All of which leaves the Foxes with a relatively inexperienced squad heading into what should be a very competitive division. As has proved the case for many a relegated Premiership team, a year of consolidation looks likely.

- Derby County are among the favourites for Division 1 success, and with John Gregory at the helm, it would be hard to disagree. However, much like Leicester, the Rams are deep in financial trouble, as it has been reported they are losing around £140,000 per week. As such, purchases cannot be made until the wage bill is cut. Robbie Mustoe is waiting to put pen to paper at Pride Park but is simply unable to do so due to the seriousness of County's financial plight.

If the likes of Chris Riggott, Danny Higginbotham and Malcolm Christie are still at the club come August 10, the play-offs are definitely within reach. But as the debts mount by the day, something has to give, and the highly rated youngsters could find themselves with new clubs whether they like it or not.

- After the disappointment of last season's collapse, Wolves supporters will be praying their team can last the distance this term and finally win promotion to the Premiership. Dave Jones has captured Brentford's Player of the Year Ivar Ingimarsson on a Bosman free transfer and has taken a number of players on trial in an effort to go that extra yard next year. It is thought defenders Simon Ford (Grimsby) and Marc Edworthy (Ex. Coventry) will be offered deals, but a fee will be involved for the former.

Wanderers should have won automatic promotion last season, but the pressure got to everyone at the club and the players let themselves and the fans down. The determining factor on Wolves' season could just be how they react to last season's trauma. In 1998, Sunderland lost the First Division Play-off final on penalties, but righted that wrong the next season by demolishing all who stood in their path on the way to winning the league title. Do Wolves have the mental strength to put last season behind them? Or will they wallow in self-pity? We can only wait and see.

- Last season's surprise Play-off finalists, Norwich, are optimistic for the new season. Boss Nigel Worthington believes he has a very strong squad and has added highly rated defender Paul Heckingbottom to the ranks this summer. Canary supporters were delighted at just reaching the play-offs last season, and will be hoping for another top 6 finish come May.

- Millwall's first season back in Division 1 was a huge success as they finished in 4th place, only to be beaten in the play-offs by eventual winners Birmingham. And at 16/1 the Lions look a good bet for the 2002/03 First Division title.

As has been the case for many clubs, it has been a quiet summer in the transfer market for Millwall. Squad players Marc Bircham, Christophe Kinet and Sean Dyche have bid farewell to the New Den, whilst young star Tim Cahill has been linked with Aston Villa. The Lions have always been tough to beat, and if the likes of Cahill, Richard Sadlier and Steven Reid can perform to the best of their abilities, Mark McGhee's team should be looking at the play-offs. However, last season's success came on the back of the Division 2 title, a title they won emphatically. Winning can sometimes become a habit and now that Millwall's 'honeymoon' season is behind them, they could come crashing back down to earth.

- After a strong start, Burnley's season ultimately ended in disappointment. The Clarets spent virtually all of last season in the top six, but a gradual decline in form meant they missed the play-offs altogether. Manager Stan Ternent acted quickly by releasing six players, but it seems that was done as a cost-cutting measure rather than to create room for a wealth of new talent.

- Craig Brown will be hoping for success in his first year as Preston boss. In their two seasons back in the First Division, North End have reached the Play-offs and finished in a very respectable 8th place. However, with David Moyes having masterminded both seasons, Brown will have a lot to live up too.

So far the former Scotland manager has signed Man City's young defender Tyrone Mears and Jamaican international Ricardo Fuller. Chairman Derek Shaw has not ruled out the arrival of more new faces - winger Gareth Ainsworth and former Leeds striker Clyde Wijnhard have both been offered deals.

With such a strong division this year, PNE supporters may have be patient as Brown gets to know his players and has his first choice eleven playing the way he sees fit. A top 10 finish would be a good bet.

- Wimbledon are in complete disarray. Many of the Don's loyal supporters have thrown their full support behind the newly formed AFC Wimbledon after the FA gave the go ahead for Dons chairman Charles Koppel to move the club to Milton Kenyes. Koppel has now stated the club will continue to play at Selhurst Park until a viable alternative can be found. And it has since been suggested that crowds at Selhurst could drop below 1,000 for Wimbledon games next season!

Amid the unfortunate chaos, new manager Stuart Murdoch is trying to prepare for the upcoming season. Irish international defender Kenny Cunningham has been sold to Premiership new boys Birmingham and new signings seem unlikely whilst the club's future is still very much up in the air. Murdoch has a decent young squad at his disposal, but his managerial skills will be tested to the limit and a mid-table finish would not be a disgrace.

- Of the newly promoted clubs, Reading look to have the strongest squad with Stoke not far behind. Both but will obviously be very happy just to survive, but mid-table finishes are definitely not beyond their capabilities.

Reading have not signed a player this summer (to date) but, for most of last season, were the best team in the Second Division. Manager Alan Pardew has stated he fully intends to give the players who won promotion their chance at the new level. He will therefore be hoping hotshot strikers Martin Butler, Jamie Cureton and Nicky Forster will fire the Royals up the table.

Meanwhile, last year's Second Division champions, Brighton, have lost Peter Taylor and appointed virtual unknown, Martin Hinshelwood, as the man to lead them into Division 1. With just 21 pros on the books, Brighton do not have strength in depth and with little – if any – money in the bank, they could struggle to hold their own, even with the goals of one Bobby Zamora.

Many believe the England Under-21 international will go on to play at the very highest level, so it will be interesting to see how he adjusts to the step-up in class.

It will also be of interest to see how new Stoke striker Chris Greenacre will fair in the First Division. The highly rated 24-year-old was Mansfield’s top scorer in Division 3 last season; so much will be expected of him at the Britannia Stadium.

Part 2 (where we take a look at last season's Division 1 strugglers and mid-table…ers) is on its way!

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