City are once again being written off by the bookies.

The first odds for next season have come out just days after the final League One place was booked by Southend in the play-offs - and the Bantams have been listed among the also-rans for promotion.

The prices, produced by Internet firm Bet 365, mark City down as 22/1 outsiders to lift the title next May - well below halfway.

Relegated Nottingham Forest have been installed as early favourites at 9/2 to make an immediate return to the Championship.

A negative verdict from the bookmakers is nothing new for City.

They were tipped to go down last season but confounded the critics with a concerted push for the play-offs.

And boss Colin Todd is

confident they will once again brush aside the predictions of the so-called experts.

Todd, like his players, believes City have the capability to be in the mix again and this time stay there.

"It's not a bad thing to see the bookies ignore us. We'll just prove them wrong again," he said.

"It's good to have other teams' expectations greater than ours. People like Forest are going to have to deal with that pressure.

"But we have plenty of expectation locally, not from other people but ourselves.

"We know what we are expecting and that is to be in a better position than last year."

Midfielder Lee Crooks added: "Everyone will be looking at Forest, but we know we're good enough to be up there."

Tranmere, who finished third but blew it in the play-offs, are seen as Forest's closest rivals at 13/2 followed by Bristol City, Hartlepool, Gillingham and Walsall.

Chesterfield and Southend are viewed as 50/1 no-hopers.