THE BIG KICK-OFF: One press vote for Posh to get promoted!

The Walsall press love former Posh star Erhun Oztumer. Photo: Joe Dent/theposh.com.

And it wasn’t the Peterborough Telegraph’s Alan Swann.

Rich Sharpe of the Stoke Evening Sentinel was the man with Posh at heart.

He covers Port Vale when regular correspondent Mike Bagguley is absent.

It makes the PT a little guilty about predicting Port Vale will go down, along with AFC Wimbledon, Swindon, and, virtually everyone’s bankers, Oldham Athletic.

Of the 24 League One reporters canvassed for this feature, 17 tipped Oldham to be relegated.

No-one tipped Posh to go down which will please chairman Darragh MacAnthony.

Four journalists tipped Cobblers to get relegated which will please Posh fans.

The PT have predicted Sheffield United, Charlton and Scunthorpe to win promotion. The Blades and the Addicks attracted almost universal support with 20 and 19 votes respectively.

Conversely Scunny, who finished last season in terrfic form, have been tipped to go up and down, as have newlypromoted Bristol Rovers.

The Walsall FC reporter had no hesitation in nominating new signing Erhun Oztumer as their player to watch.

Joe Masi of the Express & Star said of the free transfer capture from Posh: “Erhun may only be 5ft 3in, but the man nicknamed ‘Turkish Messi’ by Peterborough fans looks destined to shine in the number 10 role. Pre-season suggests he will be central to Walsall’s attacking play.”

The League One reporters were also asked to state an unusual fact about their clubs. We haven’t got room to record them here, but Swindon Advertiser man Matt Edwards deserves a nod for his contribution.

Apparently’ Swindon Town are the only team in the Football League who don’t have a letter that appears in the word ‘mackerel’!

Press tips:

TO GO UP

20 Sheffield United, 19 Charlton, 14 Millwall, 5 MK Dons, 4 Bolton, Scunthorpe, 2 Bradford City, Oxford, 1 Bristol Rovers, Posh

TO GO UP: 17 Oldham, 13 AFC Wimbledon, 12 Fleetwood, 11 Port Vale, 10 Shrewsbury, 7 Bury, 6 Rochdale, 5 Chesterfield, 4 Northampton, 3 Scunthorpe, Swindon, 2 Oxford, 1 Bristol Rovers, Gillingham, Southend