ACCRINGTON Stanley boss John Coleman is expecting a competitive League Two promotion battle when the new season gets under way in August - but he is hoping his side can be in the mix.

The Reds finished 13th last season after a late surge just failed to carry them into the top seven, while Stanley were beaten in the play-offs by AFC Wimbledon in 2016.

Those two campaigns have given Coleman confidence and with big-budget clubs Portsmouth, Plymouth Argyle and Doncaster Rovers having gone up in May, the door would appear to be open for Stanley to be among the promotion contenders.

But the Reds chief knows it will be a tough campaign with Coventry City, Swindon Town, Chesterfield and Port Vale dropping down from League One and Lincoln City and Forest Green Rovers stepping up from the National League.

Coleman expects all six to be there or thereabouts.

He said: "Coventry can go one way or the other, they could actually be very, very strong.

"Swindon have historically always had the support and the backing to produce good sides and to compete very high budget wise.

"Chesterfield get big crowds and will aways have a good budget.

"Lincoln will always have big crowds and a big budget.

"The six that come into the league could be in the top 10 budget-wise."

Mansfield are the early favourites with the bookmakers, ahead of Luton, Coventry, Lincoln and Swindon.

Stanley, as is often the case, are further down the pecking order but Coleman knows full well his side is capable of upsetting the odds against sides who can attract bigger crowds and offer higher wages.

The Reds chief added: "It is not about budgets because if it was we wouldn't be in this league.

"It is about getting the players who understand the game and who understand what you are trying to do and go and win games. That is what we will be trying to do next season.

"We won't be bothered about the wage bill of whichever team we are playing against."