By Nathan Jackson
April 14 2007

When Lincoln City lose in the playoffs they will face the prospect of a local derby with Rotherham United next season. The Millers were relegated after defeat to Carlisle and will join League Two next season, however, it was a good day for Hartlepool and Walsall as both were promoted.

A Richie Barker goal meant that Hartlepool won 1-0 at Wycombe Wanderers and secured promotion back to League One at the first attempt. Having started the season very slowly, just two defeats since the end of October (both to Barnet) have seen Hartlepool climb quickly up the table. They face a battle for the title with Walsall who themselves were promoted today thanks to a win at Notts County. They also return to League One at the first attempt.

12 months ago, Walsall suffered their second relegation in the space of 24 months to go from the 2nd to the 4th tier of English football, and that is something that Rotherham replicated today after a 1-0 home reverse to Carlisle United. It will be the first time that Rotherham play 4th tier football since the 1999-2000 season. Chesterfield could be relegated next Saturday, for that to happen they will need to lose, whilst Orient beat Bradford and Cheltenham get at least a point against Blackpool.

In the Conference, due to Burton having a game in hand on them, Oxford need just one more point from their last two games to confirm their place in the playoffs. The other teams in the playoffs are Morecambe, Exeter and York City.

Lincoln City can now not be promoted automatically, meaning that MK Dons are the only side left that can prevent Swindon going up automatically. MK Dons and Swindon now both have enough points to guarantee that they will be in the playoffs if they don't go up automatically. The Imps will definitely be in the playoffs if they beat Bristol Rovers next Saturday.

Torquay will also be playing Conference football next season, despite being 9 points behind with 3 to play, they can only catch Wrexham or Boston, both on 42 points, 9 points ahead of Torquay. The reason Torquay are down is because Wrexham and Boston still have to play each other, meaning that at least one will finish on at least 43 points, one point above the maximum that Torquay can get.