That's the view of league sponsors and betting firm, Blue Square, who issued their odds this week for 2008/09 to coincide with the release of the campaign's fixtures (SEE PAGE 34).
Town are priced as 33/1 outsiders to win the title. But they are n
ot among the three favourites for relegation.
That dubious honour is bestowed on Vauxhall Motors, who are 66/1, and 40/1 shots Blyth Spartans and Solihull Moors.
Like Town, Vauxhall won a relegation reprieve last term after the demotion of Nuneaton Borough and Boston United for going into financial administration.
They had finished next to bottom, fully nine points below The Yellows. Blyth and Solihull finished just above the drop-zone, ahead of Town by seven and eight points respectively.
The favourites to win the Blue Square North championship next season, at odds of 7/1, are AFC Telford United, who reached the promotion play-offs in 2007/08.
Fellow play-off contenders, Stalybridge Celtic, who are managed by ex-Yellows boss Steve Burr, are 9/1 – one point shorter than one of six new teams in the division, Fleetwood Town, who were promoted as champions of the Unibond League.
The other new sides are Gateshead United , who won the Unibond play-offs, Farsley Celtic, Stafford Rangers and Droylsden, who were all relegated from the Blue Square Premier, and King's Lynn, who were promoted as champions of the Southern League.
BLUE SQUARE ODDS (to win the title) – AFC Telford United 7/1, Harrogate Town 8/1, Stafford Rangers 8/1, Southport 9/1, Stalybridge Celtic 9/1, Farsley Celtic 10/1, Fleetwood Town 10/1, Droylsden 11/1, Hyde United 14/1, Burscough 14/1, Alfreton Town 16/1, Tamworth 18/1, Gainsborough Trinity 22/1, King's Lynn 22/1, Hinckley United 25/1, Workington 33/1, Gateshead United 33/1, Redditch United 33/1, HUCKNALL TOWN 33/1, Solihull Moors 40/1, Blyth Spartans 40/1, Vauxhall Motors 66/1.
The full article contains 345 words and appears in Hucknall Dispatch newspaper.
