Scunthorpe United have been handed a tough return to third tier football by the fixture computer. CHRIS SUMPTER assesses the Iron's chances of bouncing straight back to the Championship.

THE most eagerly-awaited day of the summer it may have been.

But for Scunthorpe United, the release of the fixtures no doubt also proved pretty sobering.

Only now, eight weeks on from that season-surrendering home defeat against Millwall, when relegation from the Championship was all but mathematically confirmed, can the culture shock of being back in League One really begin to sink in.

Talk of a first-ever meeting with Stevenage was only that until 9am yesterday morning. Now we know that comes on October 1, with a visit to the 7,000-capacity Broadhall Way stadium.

Last season the Iron were rarely watched by less than 9,000 people when on their travels.

In the third tier, they will visit six stadia unable to even host crowds into five-figures.

For a reality check, you need look no further than the opening day of the season – a first visit in six years to Wycombe Wanderers.

Remembering how to get to Adams Park is one thing, forgetting the fact the Iron have never won at the Buckinghamshire venue is another.

The Chairboys are at least a side United boss Alan Knill knows well from League Two, where they finished third to earn automatic promotion last term.

View it how you like, it's a journey that comes in stark contrast to that of the previous two years, when Scunthorpe became the first opponents at the £48-million Cardiff City Stadium and then, 12 months ago, memorably triumphed 2-1 at Reading – the side that ended the campaign just 90 minutes away from a place in the Premier League.

Describing the trip to Adams Park though as 'under-whelming' is as disrespectful to Wycombe as it is foolish. A cliche it may well be, but even in the third tier the Iron will soon discover there are no easy games.

Undoubtedly, in comparison with fixture lists of the past couple of seasons, games against Stevenage and Exeter City do little to whet the appetite.

But living in the past is a dangerous game – often a noose around the neck of those trying desperately to return from whence they came.

Just ask Nottingham Forest and Leeds United about history.

It must not be forgotten either that, as Scunthorpe were keen to point out when battling against the odds in the second tier, teams are where they are on merit.

Not good enough for the level above, the Iron must now prove their quality again in League One.

And if nothing else, trips to the likes of Yeovil Town and Hartlepool United should act as a perfect reminder to what tasty morsels they are missing out on by no longer dining at the Championship table.

Make no mistake though, they will not be the only ones to adopt that approach.

League One has become something of a graveyard for so-called big clubs, desperate to begin the first steps of recovery to what they no doubt believe will end in the restoration of their 'rightful' place in the Premier League.

On that front, season 2011/12 will be no different.

It will be Charlton Athletic's third season in the third tier, while Sheffield rivals United and Wednesday must also mix it with much less illustrious names than they are used to.

Scunthorpe will get an early insight into two of that trio's potential, with trips to The Valley and Hillsborough both coming at the end of a busy, and potentially unforgiving, August.

Huddersfield Town will similarly have sky high ambitions, having spent big and failed gloriously in the play-offs during the past couple of seasons.

A step down League One may be, but it will not prove any less competitive when it comes to the Iron's hopes of realising their aims.

Particularly given as it promises to be a transitional campaign at Glanford Park.

Loyal figures have moved on and more experience has moved in since United were last at this level.

While that's a quality that does have its place in the dressing room, boss Alan Knill has made it clear youth is his preferred way forward.

In that respect, hamstrung by contracts and a stagnant transfer market, shaping a squad good enough to get back into the second tier will take time, even though the United manager insists the Iron exited the Championship with the remnants of 'good players' in their ranks.

The top two may be out of reach, but pushing for the play-offs is an achievable aim.

The bare minimum has to be restoring pride, on the back of some sorry results and even sorrier performances during the second half of last season.

Wins, theoretically, should be easier to come by in League One, where spending is more realistic and the playing field much more even.

But by no means will it be a stroll in the park.

With a relatively new manager, the Iron are very much a work in progress.

No-one should be under any illusions that it will be tough against the likes of beaten play-off semi-finalists Bournemouth and MK Dons, even sides like Exeter and Rochdale.

All are teams who will have watched United's recent experiences with envy, but now have the potential to match the Iron's efforts.

While Scunthorpe strive to rebuild, the foundations for success at places like St James' Park and Spotland are already in place.

But with the right additions to complement the quality of Michael O'Connor and Mark Duffy, Scunthorpe can have a say on the top six.

Players like the latter, and Chris Dagnall and Bobby Grant, will have benefited from having come up against the pace, power and nous of second tier defenders, even if it was a battle they rarely won.

All have the ability to blossom at the lower level and display the quality which first alerted the Iron to them.

Doing so is a must if their side are to ensure Championship football is not looked upon as a flash in the pan in years to come.