Baikie sees surprise Forfar win

East Fife ran away with the Third Division title last season

East Fife were runaway winners of Scotland's Division Three last season and manager Dave Baikie is an ideal position to assess those they left behind.

It is going to be quite a tight affair as there is not a massive difference between seven or eight clubs.

My initial reaction two or three weeks ago was that Montrose would emerge as winners because they just missed out last season.

But there must be question marks after they lost 6-0 to Peterhead in the Challenge Cup.

So there could be a surprise in that the team that finished bottom last season - Forfar - will end up as champions.

Dick Campbell has taken over as manager and he has already won five or six titles with various clubs at a variety of levels. The bottom place will be between Albion Rovers, Elgin and Annan Athletic, with the newcomers to the Scottish Football League likely to be the ones to prop up the division.

ALBION ROVERS

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The Coatbridge club struggle a bit because of a lack of finance.

Paul Martin has stepped up following the departure of John McCormack and knows the restictions, but the wages are always going to limit their quality of player.

And I don't see them being able to make the promotion play-offs.

ANNAN ATHLETIC

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I don't know much about Annan apart from the fact they finished seventh in last season's East of Scotland League before winning the vote to replace Gretna in the SFL.

They will need to use the first season as a learning curve for future seasons and will probably finish in the bottom two.

I am sure they will be high in workrate. But, if results don't go their way early on, it could cast a cloud over the club.

However, I know their manager Harry Cairney and his assistant Derek Townsley.

Harry has management experience with Arbroath and knows the senior game and I am sure they will eventually establish themselves in the Third Division.

BERWICK RANGERS

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Sometimes, when a team drops down a division, it takes a while for them to get back on track.

Berwick have a new manager in Alan McGonigal and it will be his first year in senior football.

He has brought in a few players with him from the juniors and I think they will need a season to adjust.

So I see Berwick finishing in mid-table.

COWDENBEATH

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It is Danny Lennon's first time in management, but the early signs are good.

They had a good result in the Challenge Cup against Elgin and then beat Hibs in a friendly.

Danny seems to have got them going and has brought in a few decent players.

So Cowdenbeath may push for a play-off place following their relegation last season.

DUMBARTON

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Jim Chapman is a good manager and, when we played Albion Rovers when he was in charge, they always gave us a difficult game.

He will have Dumbarton well organised and playing as a team.

With Dumbarton, he has better finances and has been able to bring in some decent players.

I can see them among the play-off places.

EAST STIRLINGSHIRE

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East Stirling will make progress from last season, when they finished second bottom.

MY SPORT: DEBATE Who are you tipping for honours this season?

New manager Jim McInally has brought in some decent players and I think they will finish somewhere between the middle and top half of the division.

They have an ambitious chairman and he could be rewarded with a promotion play-off place.

They have moved from Firs Park and will share Ochilview with Stenhousemuir for the first time.

Once they get used to the artificial surface, that could be an advantage to them.

ELGIN CITY

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Elgin always face the dilemma of going for guys living in the area or bringing up a couple of busloads from Glasgow who might train elsewhere during the week.

I think their manager is going more for local guys, which is the right way to go.

They played some good football last season and, although we beat them four times, it was only by the odd goal.

However, I still think they will finish in the bottom half.

FORFAR ATHLETIC

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Forfar finished bottom last season but have brought in a good manager in Dick Campbell who will attract the right kind of player.

He now has good experience down the spine of the team and they are my favourites to win the division.

The likes of Darren Brady and Derek Lilley are players who have played at a higher level and they are not far away from being a very solid side.

MONTROSE

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Montrose did well last season with quite a young team and had a good spirit that carried them through.

They seemed to be going in the right direction and took advantage of their artificial surface.

But they have lost several players who did well for them last season - at one stage they had five players on loan - and it just hasn't been happening for them in pre-season.

I thought they had a chance of the title, but now I am not so sure, although I still think they will be pushing for a play-off place.

STENHOUSEMUIR

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I thought they would push for a play-off place last season, but their home form was not great on their artificial surface.

But John Coughlin has brought in some experienced players and won promotion with Berwick the season before last.

And I think they will be vying with Dumbarton, Montrose, East Stirling and, possibly, Cowdenbeath for a play-off place.

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Dave Baikie was talking to BBC Sport's Clive Lindsay