EVEN in a normal year, the First Division is the most unpredictable, fluctuating league with the capacity to shock at every turn.

So, what are we to make of the forthcoming season's contest in this, the most abnormal of years?

There is no Fulham who can buy success; nor is there a team who stand out, like Manchester City 12 months ago or Sunderland this time in 1998.

But while only the brave or foolhardy would show more than a little confidence in backing the Division One winners in past seasons, even the boldest of backers must be shying away from staking their reputation in this year's race for the Premiership.

Do you tip the clubs who went down in May? It's usually a safe investment, but Leicester City and Derby County could cover the pitches in their new stadia with enough money to repay their debts. Ipswich Town have the distraction of Europe and will struggle to keep hold of Matt Holland and Marcus Stewart.

Of the teams who narrowly missed out on the Premiership, have Wolves - who performed the footballing equivalent of a Greg Norman collapse in a Major championship - recovered from last season's trauma?

Even Delia, with all her millions, cannot afford to finance another concerted promotion bid by Norwich City - who lost in the play-off final to Birmingham City on penalties.

And the welter of fallen giants in the division - Coventry City, Nottingham Forest, Sheffield Wednesday and Bradford City among them - are struggling to keep the bank manager happy.

It is a puzzling competition, and one that has the bookmakers delighted. A Coral spokesman said: "The First Division favourites are Ipswich and Wolves at 9-2, which shows what an open field it is.

"We've got a good spread of money coming in for all the top teams, which suits us. There's no hot favourite, like Manchester City last year, or a team at a bigger price that people have put lots of money on.

"We're seeing money for lots of teams - but not even the most ardent Bradford fans are backing Bradford!"

Blackpool manager Steve McMahon claimed this week that promotion from the Second Division was no longer an attractive option, given the huge drop in TV money available to teams in the top echelon of the Nationwide League.

But the prize of a place in the Premiership is an even more attractive one this season after the collapse of ITV Digital.

For clubs like Coventry and Bradford, whose parachute payments end next summer, promotion could mean the difference between life and death.

As Derby continue to pay Fabrizio Ravanelli's £40,000-a-week wage, they will be eyeing an immediate return to the top flight as the easiest way to alleviate their £30m debt.

But it is clubs like Rotherham United and Grimsby Town, the perennial favourites for relegation, who could prosper as football's slump bites.

Rotherham for the Premiership? Maybe not, but don't be surprised if one or two unfamiliar names are following in West Bromwich Albion's footsteps come next May...