League Two 2025-26 Preview: The Contenders, Hopefuls And Strugglers

MK Dons vanished 19th past play but Paul Warne is simply a bully head and nan nine person backed him successful nan transportation market. Aaron Collins has arrived from Bolton for £800,000, a immense interest successful nan 4th tier, pinch Will Collar besides joining from Stockport.

Of those that person came down into League Two, Bristol Rovers will possibly beryllium astir optimistic of making theirs a short stay. Their manager, Darrell Clarke, knows nan section good and has originated nan knowhow of Macauley Southam-Hales and Josh McEachran to complement nan talent of Kamil Conteh and nan teen Kofi Shaw.

Chesterfield whitethorn still beryllium reeling from conclusion successful nan playoffs aft winning 8 of nan last 13 matches of nan regular season. On nan agleam broadside John Fleck and Will Grigg are still around, while nan qualities of Armando Dobra and immoderate smart indebtedness deals could make a notable difference. Notts County also endured playoff upset past season, and past besides mislaid a cardinal root of goals via David McGoldrick’s departure to Barnsley. The unit is connected Matthew Dennis to switch him, while nan acquisition of Sonny Aljofree connected indebtedness from Manchester United seems an intelligent move.

Relegation was inevitable for Cambridge, but Neil Harris showed location was ray astatine nan extremity of nan tunnel. He has brought greater building to nan team, and pinch nan signings of Dominic Ball and Ben Knight they look good equipped to situation astatine nan top.

If past play had ended astatine Christmas, Walsall would now beryllium readying for life successful League One, but alternatively their shape fell disconnected a cliff and they yet lost successful nan playoff final. Learning from mistakes will beryllium cardinal for Mat Sadler’s men.

Momentum is each important successful shot and Barnet person it aft steamrolling nan National League. Dean Brennan and his men will not beryllium fearful of anyone successful this division, either.

Neil Harris will look to return Cambridge consecutive backmost up. Photograph: Alan Walter/Shutterstock

Playoff hopefuls

Re-signing Matty Young from Sunderland is simply a immense boost for Salford, particularly aft Curtis Tilt departed to Bradford. Their co-owner Gary Neville wants nan nine successful nan Championship and, while that ambition remans immoderate measurement off, dream is not wholly mislaid while Karl Robinson remains successful charge. Gareth Ainsworth’s way grounds will besides supply Gillingham fans pinch optimism of fighting for a promotion spot, particularly if Bradley Dack tin enactment fresh and Sam Vokes tin rotation backmost nan years.

Crewe are partial to a tally of unspeakable form, seen past play arsenic they won only 3 of their last 20 convention matches to rustle their chances of making nan playoffs. Lee Bell has clung connected to his occupation and added nan seasoned striker Louis Moult to his ranks pinch nan purpose of adding goals, and consistency, to a afloat campaign.

It is difficult to cognize what to expect from Crawley. They went done 5 managers past play earlier ending up pinch nan 1 that started successful nan dugout arsenic they dropped down a division. Plenty of players person been sold complete nan summertime pinch a number of unattached ones coming successful nan different measurement including Kabongo Tshimanga, nan 28-year-old earmarked to supply important firepower.

Finishing 11th was an unthinkable accomplishment for Bromley successful their first play successful nan Football League and replicating that would beryllium arsenic impressive. Grimsby and Colchester conscionable missed retired connected nan playoffs. The erstwhile person shown their assurance successful their manager, David Artell, by handing him a caller three-year deal, while nan second stay nether nan complaint of Danny Cowley who will want his young broadside to proceed their promising evolution.

Relegation candidates

Newport’s determination to play passing shot should beryllium commended but it has proven an unreliable method for nan players there. They besides suffered from group pieces past play and this run will beryllium a large trial for nan erstwhile Manchester United younker coach David Hughes successful his first managerial role.

Harrogate cognize really to support their caput supra h2o and did each of their transportation business very early this summertime to springiness themselves nan champion chance of staying up. Oldham are backmost successful nan Football League and person bought successful a batch of players who person played astatine this level earlier successful a bid to stay successful nan division.

Harrogate punched supra their weight erstwhile much by staying up past season. Photograph: Ian Lyall/ProSports/Shutterstock

Shrewsbury endured a calamitous 2024-25 League One run that yet ended successful relegation. Michael Appleton has attempted to rectify erstwhile mistakes by bringing successful a caller spine successful nan shape of Will Boyle, Tom Anderson and Tom Sang and nan scheme for each concerned should beryllium stopping nan rot, alternatively than looking to execute an contiguous return to League One.

Tranmere person been treading h2o for immoderate clip but acquiring nan midfielders Richie Smallwood and Jason Lowe should supply their manager, Andy Crosby, pinch nan knowhow to support them up. Meanwhile complete astatine nan Wham Stadium, nan communicative is simply a acquainted 1 arsenic Accrington desperately activity wrong their intends aft finishing 8 points and 2 places supra nan driblet area past season. Their only 2 imperishable signings this summertime person travel from non-league and it feels for illustration different difficult run awaits.

Andy Whing has shown committedness arsenic a coach but his Barrow squad looks a small shallow for thing different than survival. The erstwhile Barrow head Pete Wild is now astatine Fleetwood wherever he will request to header pinch nan nonaccomplishment of Phoenix Patterson and Brendan Sarpong-Wiredu. Cheltenham do not animate overmuch assurance either and mightiness beryllium astatine consequence aft a slow summer.

Youngsters to watch

Matus Holicek, Crewe, 20 Thirty-eight convention appearances brought only 1 extremity for nan young Slovakian midfielder past season. Given his talents, that is thing he will want to amended connected this clip around.

Kelly N’Mai, Salford, 21 The Dutch-born winger moved to England arsenic a kid and trialled pinch Manchester City and Manchester United but yet joining Salford. He made his debut successful League Two arsenic a 17-year-old and while it has taken clip for him to flourish he has talent, seen intelligibly during indebtedness spells astatine Warrington Rylands and Chester.

Botan Ameen, Swindon, 18 The Iraq Under-20 world grounded to make nan people astatine QPR, starring to him swapping westbound London for Wiltshire successful hunt of a master career. He quickly settled into his caller surroundings, scoring doubly to nonstop Manchester United retired of nan FA Youth Cup to bring his sanction to wider attention, and nan striker’s progression has not halted since. Ameen, who turned 18 successful April, scored 1 extremity and created 2 much successful 14 games for Ian Holloway’s broadside past season.