We’re in the fourth season since Scunthorpe United last played in the English Football League.
The Iron are hopefully on their way back, however, after a challenging few years in the wilderness.
Relegation from League Two in 2022 was followed by a quick exit from the National League the following campaign.
After failing to earn promotion via the National League North play-offs in the 2023/24 term, Scunthorpe got the job done at the second time of asking earlier this year.
Momentum from that promotion coupled with a strong start to life back in the National League has offered hope of a return to League Two.
But regaining your place in the English Football League is a tricky task.
Despite the National League becoming a more competitive division with every passing season, just two promotion spots to League Two remain up for grabs.
One to the league winners and one from the play-offs featuring the teams that finish second to seventh in the table.
All 72 National League clubs have written to the EFL demanding the introduction of a ‘three up, three down’ system but it is unlikely to be introduced anytime soon.
The latest odds over at FIRST.com suggest Scunthorpe are likely to be competing in the end-of-season play-offs at best as they are a general 7/1 chance to win promotion from the National League.
The early signs are promising, however.
An unbeaten start to the campaign, with four wins and three draws from seven games, has Andy Butler’s side sitting seventh in the fledgling standings.
Forwards Danny Whitehall and Declan Howe have hit the ground running, with five goals each, and maintaining their scoring form will be key.
Despite having games in hand, Scunthorpe are already six points behind the early pacesetters.
Forest Green Rovers, who are unbeaten from their nine matches, are among the promotion favourites at 6/5 as they look to instantly make their back to League Two.
Carlisle, the other team hoping to bounce back at the first time of asking, are major players at 7/4 to earn promotion from the National League.
The Cumbrians – managed by former Wales and Manchester City boss Mark Hughes – also boast a couple of forwards that have started the season in fine form in the shape of Regan Linney and Luke Armstrong.
The bookies clearly believe teams with recent experience of the EFL will be at the sharp end of the promotion race as Rochdale (2/1) and Southend United (5/2) are also prominent in the market.
Crucially, the pair proved their worth in last season’s National League as Dale were fourth and the Shrimpers reached the play-off final after a seventh-place finish.
York, meanwhile, were the best of the rest last term and are a general 1/1 chance to make up for that heartache and go one better this time around.
There are plenty of rivals to overcome, but Scunthorpe could be celebrating come the end of the season.
Life would just be that bit easier if EFL bigwigs handed over another promotion place, though.
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