Reid predicts wide open title race

Billy Reid's Hamilton took the title and promotion last term

Billy Reid led unfashionable Hamilton to a comprehensive capture of the First Division title last season, but the Accies manager doesn't think anyone will run away with it this time round.

It wouldn't be fair to stick my neck out and say who will win the title and who will go down.

But I think it will be the most open promotion race in years, with up to five teams vying for the title and a place in the Scottish Premier League.

Signings made before the closure of the present transfer window - and in January - could prove crucial in tipping the balance between one side and the others.

AIRDRIE UNITED

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Airdrie might yet surprise me, but I think it is going to be difficult for them back in Division One.

They only came up thanks to Gretna going out of business and have lost Allan Russell, their top scorer, to Kilmarnock during the summer.

But they are a club renowned for their fighting qualities and you can guarantee that Kenny Black will have them battling for everything.

It is important that they get points early on in the season and I am sure they will consider avoiding relegation at the end of the season a success.

I certainly think, if you offered them that now, they would take it.

CLYDE

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Many people have tipped Clyde for relegation in recent seasons, so they did fantastically well to stay up via the play-offs last term under their new management team.

Financially, they will again be pretty much at the bottom of the pile and have lost a lot of their more experienced players.

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The likes of Craig McKeown, Dougie Imrie and Craig Bryson have left in recent seasons and players of that quality are difficult to replace.

This summer they have lost Gary Arbuckle and Michael McGowan and the players they have brought in are untested at this level.

Clyde manager John Brown is a fighter, but I think my former club face another difficult season.

DUNDEE

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At the end of last season, I thought that Dundee would be among the strong favourites for the title.

But I think others have strengthened to an extent that they are simply one of several teams capable of winning the league.

Their midfield has been obliterated with the sale of Kevin McDonald, who scored 11 goals from midfield, to Burnley and the exit to Dundee United of Scott Robertson.

They have brought in Colin Cameron and Darren Young, who both have a wealth of experience but don't have the same legs.

However, in Mickael Antoine-Curier and Colin McMenamin, who I expect to finish the league's top scorer, they have guys who will score lots of goals.

DUNFERMLINE ATHLETIC

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These have been challenging times at East End Park with lots of players going out the door as the wage budget is slashed.

It looks like Sol Bamba is likely to be sold to Watford and that might finance a few new faces.

Dunfermline are a big, big club in the First Division and will have been disappointed not to have lived up to their billing as strong favourites last season.

They have a new management team and have a side capable of being up there challenging, but there are no guarantees.

LIVINGSTON

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Livingston gave us a few problems last season, but they have lost quality up front with Graham Dorrans joining West Brom and Robert Snodgrass moving to Leeds.

But they still have good players in the shape of James McPake and Dave Mackay.

I don't know their management team, who they have brought in from Italy, or much about the players they have brought with them.

So Livingston will be surprise packages whatever happens and could end up as challengers - or relegation candidates.

MORTON

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Morton have been throwing a bit of cash about to bring in new players, while their manager Davie Irons has worked his way through the divisions before with Gretna and has brought in a few from his former club.

But, having won promotion the previous season, just staying up was a success for them last term.

And I can see them finishing in the middle of the table at best this time round.

PARTICK THISTLE

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Ian McCall's a good pal of mine and he knows that, once again, expectation levels at Firhill will go through the roof as they have been in the Premier League before.

They have brought in SPL experience in the shape of Ian Maxwell.

And the Thistle boss believes that Liam Buchanan can be a big player for them.

They lost the striker for part of last season through injury and, if they can keep him and the likes of Alan Archibald and Mark Roberts fit, they could challenge.

Otherwise, it is going to be another middle-of-the-table season for them.

QUEEN OF THE SOUTH

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Everybody seemed to be saying to me that Queen of the South can be champions, but I didn't think so.

However, they have added Stewart Kean to the striking options they already had in Sean O'Connor and Stephen Dobbie, while Gary Arbuckle and Michael McGowan have come from Clyde.

So they are a team that could do well this season and one that had already made good progress last season. They are difficult to beat on their own ground and, of course, they had that run to the Scottish Cup final.

If they keep their key players fit - and they could have the finances to strengthen further thanks to their cup run - then Queen of the South will not be far away.

ROSS COUNTY

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Ross County have a young management team and a big squad who will be full of enthusiasm after winning the Second Division championship.

Everybody who travels to Dingwall will know they have been in a game, but I think they will simply be looking to consolidate in Division One as that would be progress for Ross County.

But they have brought in Dyron Daal, who didn't do too well at Dundee last season but is the kind of guy who could score goals at this level if he finds a club that suits him.

And, with the squad they have, County could be surprise packages.

ST JOHNSTONE

All the latest St Johnstone news

It seems we have been saying for the last five years that St Johnstone are one of the favourites for the championship.

So it will have been a major disappointment for them to be so far behind us last season.

Derek McInnes has recognised that he had inherited an ageing squad and has brought in some younger players.

With a good management team, they will again be there or there abouts, but whether they can go the full distance remains to be seen.

Andy Jackson is a real scoring threat, but he now faces competition from Collin Samuel and Derek Holmes as well as Steven Milne and Peter MacDonald.

They are a group of strikers more than capable of piling on the goals, while Liam Craig will be a big influence in midfield.

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Billy Reid was talking to BBC Sport's Clive Lindsay