I know there was already a thread for the odds to win the league this season but these are the odds for promotion, so basically 1st or through the play-offs.

Bristol Rovers     10/3
Forest Green     3
Eastleigh             5
Grimsby          11/2
Gateshead             6
Wrexham          13/2
Kidderminster     6
Torquay          6
hHalifax             8
Barnet          6
Lincoln          10
Woking          11
Aldershot             12
Chester          16
Braintree Town     18
Alfreton             16
Telford          25
Dover                  33
Altrincham             40
Macclesfield     28
Nuneaton             33
Southport             40
Welling          50
Dartford             66

I know Eastleigh have spending power, but 5's for promotion. Shocked.

Agree for Eastleigh.  Unproven at this level.

Would they be the first ever team to go up again the season after winning promotion from the Conference North/South?

Quoted from WOZOFGRIMSBY

I know Eastleigh have spending power, but 5's for promotion. Shocked.

A few bookies got stung when Crawley went up, there where some very generous odds floating about, even after they spent a chunk on Tubbs. At this level money is a huge factor, the club with the biggest budget has pretty much won the league every year we've been here.

From a risk/reward perspective I can see why it's 5's, the market isn't huge and is relatively poorly researched by the bookies. Also Eastleigh have the potential spending power to add significantly to their team.

Given that set of odds, I'd rather be a bookmaker than a punter!

Eastleigh my bottom!

Quoted from brigg_mariner

I know there was already a thread for the odds to win the league this season but these are the odds for promotion, so basically 1st or through the play-offs.

Bristol Rovers     10/3
Forest Green     3
Eastleigh             5
Grimsby          11/2
Gateshead             6
Wrexham          13/2
Kidderminster     6
Torquay          6
hHalifax             8
Barnet          6
Lincoln          10
Woking          11
Aldershot             12
Chester          16
Braintree Town     18
Alfreton             16
Telford          25
Dover                  33
Altrincham             40
Macclesfield     28
Nuneaton             33
Southport             40
Welling          50
Dartford             66

I think these odds sums up the frustrations on this board at the moment.

How the heck can non-entities like Eastleigh and Forest Green be ahead of us in the bookies eyes for promotion from the 5th tier of English football?

The answer I guess is that they have considered the signings the clubs have made, and have concluded that whereas Town have used their "competitive" budget reasonably well, it is no match for the said non entities desire and ambition to put their clubs on the map with hard cash for the players who will make them title challengers.

I think this is the rub - has Fenty got the money, nous and ambition to take us back into the Football League, or is he perhaps content with the status quo? Big fish in little pond; likely to be play off contenders; lower wages at this level and no one likely to challenge his position with the kudos it brings?

I don't know his mindset, but from his actions you would have to presume that he hopes that for a reasonable budget we can come up with the magic formula. It hasn't worked for the last 4 years though, as there is always one or two clubs who go for it.  

4th pretty much sums up my gut instinct of where we'll finish.

I wouldn't blame Fenty for not chucking money at the club. He has done. Mismanagement not frugality.

Quoted from Marinerdan

A few bookies got stung when Crawley went up, there where some very generous odds floating about, even after they spent a chunk on Tubbs. At this level money is a huge factor, the club with the biggest budget has pretty much won the league every year we've been here.

From a risk/reward perspective I can see why it's 5's, the market isn't huge and is relatively poorly researched by the bookies. Also Eastleigh have the potential spending power to add significantly to their team.

Where did you get the information about budgets from?

Quoted from 137

Given that set of odds, I'd rather be a bookmaker than a punter!

Gateshead is a great price. Think they will be well in the mix because the best manager in this league has a good squad and signed some top players.

I personally think Barnet is a good bet at 6/1 . Good manager and made some decent signings.

I'd be looking to take on the top four teams there, including us.