Dave Bassett is backing big guns Leeds United and Leicester City to leave the rest of League One in their slipstream – and claim promotion to the Championship.
The 63-year-old, who spent three months as assistant to Dennis Wise at Elland Road last term and has also managed City, says the heavyweights will battle it out for the top two spots – leaving the rest to fight it out in the play-offs for the third p
romotion slot.
Bassett, who left United at the end of January following Wise's departure to Newcastle, said: "I fancy Leeds strongly.
"I think Leeds and Leicester will be the teams to beat and I expect those two to be in first and second place – although I'm not sure what order.
"Sometimes there's no divine right for a football team, because of who you are and what your past history is and your support is. That, along with everything else, doesn't guarantee you are going to go up."
WHAT DO YOU THINK TO DAVE BASSETT'S VIEWS? EMAIL US BY CLICKING HERE. WE'LL PUBLISH THE LOT."But they're two clubs who in my opinion shouldn't be in the division they're in and I expect them to go up.
"They are the two teams everybody will be fearing. Most of the other teams will be probably thinking there's one other (promotion) spot to fight for in the play-offs.
"I know it's not quite as simple as that but if you look at the players Leeds have got, they proved they could be in the top two if they'd had those 15 points and they'd have been promoted.
"Leeds have got a very good chance and I hope they make it."
Meanwhile, striker Anthony Elding is still mulling over a move to Crewe, with the Cheshire outfit having agreed a fee with the Whites.
Hartlepool and Darlington are also in the hunt for the former Stockport striker, who only moved to Elland Road in January.
However, former Newcastle full-back Stephen Carr's agent says there is no truth that Leeds are interested in signing the Republic of Ireland man.
The former Spurs defender is eyeing a return to London, with Charlton among the favourites to sign him.
