The new League 1 season gets started on Saturday and there are a host of teams expected to be in the battle to avoid dropping down the English football pyramid.

Reading, Blackpool and Wigan Athletic will all be looking to secure an instant return to the Championship after dropping down into the third tier, although it looks like it could be a tricky time for the trio.

As for Leyton Orient, Stevenage, Northampton Town and Carlisle United, they are all preparing for life in League 1 after coming up from League 2 and there could be mixed emotions for the quartet.

It promises to be another fascinating campaign in the lower echelons of English football and we have taken a closer look at the relegation battle.

Port Vale to be relegated @ 11/4

After earning promotion via the play-offs in 2022, Port Vale managed to preserve their League 1 status after finishing 18th last season, just four points clear of the bottom four.

However, the way The Valiants ended that campaign has created huge worries going into the 2023/24 term, as they won just three of their final 22 matches which saw them plummet down the standings.

Vale parted ways with Darrell Clarke in April and his replacement, Andy Crosby, lost three of his four matches in charge and that has done little to suggest he can turn things around.

This is Crosby’s first permanent managerial position and it remains to be seen whether he has the skillset to turn things around at Vale Park.

Carlisle United to be relegated @ 6/4

Another side set to struggle in League 1 is Carlisle United, who earned promotion via the playoffs last season but may find it difficult to stop themselves from dropping straight back down.

The Cumbrians have seen top-scorer Kristian Dennis and Omari Patrick, who netted the equaliser in the playoff final, both leave the club on free transfers this summer. The duo accounted for 23 of the club’s 66 regular season goals.

Carlisle have experienced Paul Simpson at the helm, but he will have to work all of his magic to ensure his side don’t end up back in the fourth tier once again and it may be one bridge too far for him.

A few more additions at Brunton Park from now until the transfer window shuts and the picture could look a lot different, but failure to strengthen the squad in key areas could end up being disastrous.