By Euan Maxwell
Chief reporter
HERE we go again Doonhamers! This is Queens’ fourth season in the third tier of Scottish football. Yes, I’ve predicted the Dumfries outfit to get their hands on the title each year and, shock horror, I’m predicting the same this time round. I do see it being a two-way battle at the top between Queens and Inverness Caley Thistle – who have made some impressive signings (including ex-Palmy favourite Oscar MacIntyre) during the close season. But I’m hedging my bets on Peter Murphy and his troops to get over the line – it’ll go right down to the wire though! You might roll your eyes at my picks but with minimal changes to Queens’ starting line-up during the close season, I think squad stability could be key. [caption id="attachment_61759" align="alignnone" width="175"]
PREDICTIONS . . . chief reporter Euan Maxwell[/caption] Murphy turned Palmerston Park into a fortress last season but their away form – for the majority of the season – was nothing sort of hopeless and in the end cost them the top spot. Let’s hope Queens can find their first win away from Palmy in the opening game of the season and their scoring boots on their travels. As mentioned earlier, Inverness will be the main threat and bookmakers have them as early favourites. Last season the Highlanders endured administration but after Duncan Ferguson flopped and eventually packed his bags, Inverness flourished under Scott Kellacher. They managed to rack up enough points to overturn their 15-point deduction and easily avoided relegation. Inverness will start the campaign on -5 points but will the squad have the same hunger this season for a title charge? Now onto Hamilton Accies, who have massive off the field issues. They have a good – but tiny – squad and can’t add to it due to them being placed on a season-long transfer embargo after Accies failed to settle its tax obligations to HMRC on three occasions. I have put them in fifth place but I’m adding an asterisk to that just due to the unpredictably of their current off-field situation. I’ve been impressed with Alloa and Cove in the League Cup and I think they’ll make up the promotion play-off spots. I think the surprise package of the season will be East Fife. The Fifers haven’t added much to the squad which broke Annan’s heart in the play-offs but with the experienced Dick Campbell at the helm, I think they’ll have a good season back in the third tier settling in the middle of the pack. Montrose were really disappointing last time out and they've not really strengthened much, I'm predicting they'll just about keep out of bother at the wrong end of the table. In my view, it will be a three-way shoot-out between Kelty Hearts, Peterhead and Stenhousemuir to avoid the drop to League Two. Stenny have their money issues but a large bulk of the players who overachieved last term remain at the club. However, the Warriors form in the last quarter was truly awful and I think that could continue. League Two champs Peterhead haven't really impressed during the League Cup and I think they will finish ninth and fight it out in the play-offs. Kelty have lost a chunk of key players – but added ex-Queens defender Jack Brydon – and could face a tough season. I always seem to underestimate the Maroon Machine but I think I've got this spot on to finish bottom of the pile. *** Euan's predicted League One table:
- Queens
- Inverness
- Alloa
- Cove
- Hamilton*
- East Fife
- Montrose
- Stenhousemuir
- Peterhead
- Kelty Hearts
