League One’s roll call for 2020-21 includes relative giants like Charlton Athletic, Sunderland, Ipswich Town, Portsmouth and Hull City.
It also includes Wigan (currently at least) who amassed 61 points in the Championship last season and clubs who have shown they can overcome limited budgets and small fanbases to succeed in the third tier like Oxford and Fleetwood.
Even two of the three sides promoted from League Two - Northampton and Swindon - have played in the top flight of English football in the past!
A tough ask then for a Posh team who haven’t even reached the play-offs in the last six League One seasons.
But it’s the plight of the clubs relegated into League One which should give Posh, and any other well-financed and well-run club, hope.
The gap between League One and the Championship is huge, but the circumstances next season will be unique.
Charlton, Wigan and Hull have all experienced severe ownership issues with Addicks boss Lee Bowyer particularly vocal on damage caused by uncertainty.
Hull are an absolute mess with fans turning on unpopular owners and manager Grant McCann after an horrific second half of the season and it’s hard to see them pulling it around very quickly.
Wigan have been shafted by owner shenanigans and EFL incompetence, but if they don’t win their appeal today (July 31) they will face the loss of several key men.
Barnsley will replace Wigan in League One if the Latics win their appeal. The result of the appeal is expected next week.
Here is the current state of play as Posh’s League One rivals...
13.
LINCOLN CITY: Former Posh player Michael Bostwick (pictured) was one of 11 players released by ‘The Imps’ before last season had officially been called off! Club staff were also laid off, and although Lincoln have signed a couple of players on free transfers, chief executive Liam Scully admits the club do not currently have enough footballers to put a squad out. “I would love to have kept a couple of the players we released,” manager Michael Appleton said. “But finances dictated everything.” Verdict: Should stay safe.
14.
MK DONS: MK showed terrific improvement once former Posh star Russell Martin (pictured) replaced Paul Tisdale as manager and chairman Pete Winkleman is determined to back his new man in the transfer market. “Last season is definitely a season I want to forget,” Winkleman said. “But one amazing thing happened – hiring Russell Martin. He has delivered everything that I hoped he would. My job now is to get him the players he needs to deliver a dynamic MK Dons side.” Verdict: They’ll be fine.
15.
NORTHAMPTON TOWN: The Cobblers were one of the fortunate clubs to benefit from football closing down as they held on to their play-off place despite a poor run of form. They rampaged through those play-offs though and will take momentum and confidence into the new season, but whether or not that’s enough to compensate for a limited tactical approach is debatable. Boss Keith Curle expects them to be competitive, but they’ve shed several members of that successful squad already. Verdict: Relegation candidates. Photo: Dave Rogers Getty Images.
16.
OXFORD UNITED: What a glorious chance Oxford missed to get into the Championship last season. Failing to overcome a poor Wycombe team in the League One play-off final at Wembley could cause a hangover with manager Karl Robinson braced for offers for some of his key men, offers the club could feel unable to refuse. The permanent signing of forward Matty Taylor suggests otherwise though. Verdict: Should go well again. Photo: Alex Davidson Getty Images.