Livingston to Finish Bottom (Scottish Premiership)

Dundee are favourites to finish bottom, but given the pressure that’s already building on manager Steven Pressley before a ball has even been kicked in the league, look to Livingston to struggle on their return to the top-flight.

David Martindale is a manager who tends to extract the most from his teams, but Livingston have a severely constrained budget, and it’s already been evident that they will struggle offensively this season. In the League Cup, they have struggled to break down defences of part-time opponents, and that issue is only likely to escalate in the top-flight.

We’ve been here before. When they were relegated in 2023/24, they netted only 29 goals in 38 games. They are set to face similar issues now.

While Dundee are likely to change manager, which should have a positive impact on their performances, the control that Martindale has around the West Lothian club is almost total, and there appears to be little prospect of him departing should times get tough.

It’s a three-way race to finish bottom between Dundee, Falkirk and Livingston. I’m backing the Lions to finish in 12th due to their lack of firepower and the limitations they will have when it comes to strengthening their options.

East Kilbride to Win (Scottish League Two)

The Lowland League champions are making their League Two debut after earning promotion to the SPFL in May, and they’ve already been named favourites to secure another promotion to League One.

East Kilbride are rumoured to have the biggest budget in League Two, and their summer recruitment reflects it, bringing in 12 new signings, many of whom are proven League One players, let alone League Two calibre.

In the League Cup group stage, they picked up six points to finish 4th, including an impressive 4–2 win over Championship side Raith Rovers and a 4–1 away victory against fellow League Two outfit Elgin City. No other League Two club earned more than six points, with only three managing to match East Kilbride’s total.

Last season, while still in the Lowland League, East Kilbride showed more than enough to suggest they can compete at SPFL level. They reached the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup (the national competition for all clubs outside the Premiership), claiming impressive victories over League One side Cove Rangers and Championship clubs Airdrieonians and Ayr United.

With a squad already packed with quality, the financial means to strengthen further during the season, and strong evidence from their League Cup performances, I wouldn’t back anyone else to win League Two this year.