EFL season kicks off amid hopes and fears

Premier League fans may beg to differ but the English football season really starts today when the 72 EFL teams not in the top flight begin their campaigns with an uncomfortable combination of false hopes and realistic fears that could end in tears.

This is probably the only week of the season when the prospect of relegation is not mentioned by any club. However, a home defeat on the opening day and it won’t be long before that ugly word starts creeping around the terraces.

For some of the clubs in the lower three divisions, survival is the name of the game.

They are not worrying about adding to their paltry trophy cabinet but more concerned over whether they can pay the players wages at the end of…