National League 2019-20: who will win the title? Best bets for the new season

The fifth tier has been a favourite backers' nightmare with none of the ante-post market leaders winning the division since Chester in 2003-04.

And this season's race looks wide open with Notts County, Chesterfield, Fylde and Wrexham jostling for favouritism.

Strong arguments can be made for each of them but Wrexham hold the most solid claims after adding significant quality to a squad who finished fourth last season.

The main thing holding the Red Dragons back in 2018-19 was a lack of firepower.

Wrexham's 58-goal tally was the lowest among the top eight and their top scorer was centre-back Shaun Pearson with six goals in 41 appearances.

Given the lack of a regular goalscorer and an unwanted managerial change when Sam Ricketts left to join Shrewsbury in December, it was remarkable Wrexham even went close to winning promotion.

Rookie manager Bryan Hughes replaced Ricketts and did a decent job but he has a much better chance of success this season, thanks to the recruitment which has taken place.

Wrexham's attack has been revamped by the arrivals of JJ Hooper and Leighton McIntosh from Grimsby and Airdrieonians and the season-long loan signing of Mark Harris from Cardiff.

Harris has played 11 times for the Welsh Under-21s over the last two years and has been described by Hughes as "an exciting talent".

• National League team rankings

He should get better as the season progresses but an immediate impact can be expected from Hooper and McIntosh.

Hooper sampled National League football while on loan at Bromley last season, scoring 14 goals in 22 games, while McIntosh caught the eye with 15 league goals in his single season at Airdrieonians.

The trio should get plenty of chances to shine in Hughes's 3-4-3 setup and could be key to lifting Wrexham back into the EFL for the first time since 2008.

Notts County find themselves outside the Football League for the first time since its foundation in 1888 and are by no means certain to make a swift return.

• National League relegation candidates

Preparations for the new season have been made extremely difficult by an ongoing financial crisis which contributed to long delays to the payment of player and staff salaries, although there is light at the end of the tunnel after Danish brothers Alexander and Christoffer Reedtz completed their takeover of the club last Friday.

Several players have moved on including veteran striker Jon Stead, who has signed for fifth-tier rivals Harrogate.

However, there are still some quality players in the County dressing room including Kane Hemmings, who top-scored for them with 14 goals last term.

Kane Hemmings is having his second spell at DundeeCredit: Alex Davidson (Getty Images)

If County can do some sensible late business they might be a force but, after so many departures, it will be tough to make a fast start.

A more reliable pick for a lofty finish are AFC Fylde, who have contested the playoffs in each of the last two seasons.

The Coasters have retained prolific striker Danny Rowe (27 league goals last term) and added better support to their talisman by acquiring powerful forward Kurt Willoughby from FC United and wingers Jordan Williams and Mark Yeates from Rochdale and Eastleigh.

They should have another strong season but there will be some big clubs in the mix including Chesterfield, who look ready to mount a challenge.

• National League top-scorer tips

Last season was a slow burner for the Spireites, who did not get going until John Sheridan was appointed in January.

Sheridan inherited a team third from bottom and steered them to 15th with ten wins, three draws and five defeats.

He has been busy in the market, recruiting several players from EFL clubs, and will be pushing them to target first place.

Chesterfield should have a much better season but there are plenty of other ambitious teams, including unfashionable Solihull Moors.

Moors were 100-1 shots in last season's ante-post betting but finished second, one point higher than big-spending Salford.

Tim Flowers: signed a new three-year deal with Solihull MoorsCredit: Matthew Lewis (Getty Images)

They are moving forward on and off the field with manager Tim Flowers and coaches Gary Whild and James Quinn signing new three-year-deals this summer.

On the playing side they look stronger after snapping up left-back Mitch Hancox from MK Dons, highly-rated central defender Callum Howe from Harrogate and striker Paul McCallum from Eastleigh.

McCallum was the division's second-highest scorer last season with 26 league goals and his signing is a massive statement of intent from Moors, who look overpriced to go up.

Recommendations
Wrexham to win promotion
2pts 11-2 Sky Bet
Solihull Moors to win promotion
1pt 10-1 bet365, Sky Bet

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