SALFORD, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 20: The official EFL Sky Bet League Two badge and the anti racist slogan "not today or any day" on the sleeve of a Salford City player during the Sky Bet League Two match between Salford City and Southend United at Moor Lane on October 20, 2020 in Salford, England. (Photo by Joe Prior/Visionhaus)
After flirting with relegation once more and just avoiding the drop into the National League, Accrington have undergone a period of change with several key names departing. However, they have failed to replace them and have signed below-par players. They don’t stand much of a chance.
David Hughes faces scrutiny around the club and questions over his ability to keep them up after drifting lower down the table for the last few seasons. He comes into the side having never managed at this level.
Andy Crosby being in charge and keeping Rovers in the division was a job well done, losing only two of his ten matches in charge. But building upon that form will be a difficult task with a thin and ageing squad.
Ethon Archer was playing in Step 4 a couple of seasons ago, and now he has the weight of keeping a football club afloat on his shoulders. Last season he and Jordan Thomas contributed to 38% of the goals scored, and this time around things could get worse.
Having guided the club to the EFL, Simon Weaver is a club legend, having been there for over 15 years. Last term they scored 43 goals, fewer than relegated Carlisle, and that is undoubtedly a cause for concern. However, their defensive stability was crucial in keeping them up.
Simon Weaver manages Harrogate Town during the Sky Bet League 2 match between Chesterfield and Harrogate Town at the SMH Group Stadium in Chesterfield, England, on March 22, 2025. (Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
After a 14th-placed finish last season, the side will look to build on that. However, that is easier said than done, having lost club captain Brendan Wiredu to Plymouth Argyle and Phoenix Paterson, who provided 11 goal contributions last season.
Shrewsbury were relegated out of League One last season. A mix of issues and a poor run of form means Michael Appleton will need to recruit well if they want to make a return to the Football League’s third tier, but for this season, difficult times are ahead.
After being relegated in the last campaign, Cambridge have overseen some major changes at the club. Mark Bonner has been appointed as the new director of football alongside Neil Harris, who will continue his managerial efforts in the upcoming campaign after leading Cambridge to four wins in fifteen. Expect Harris’s side to be demanding and hard to beat, as shown through their hard-fought draws last season.
Oldham stumbled across the finish line in last season’s National League, earning promotion via the play-offs. The squad has changed massively, and the credentials of the players will be tested.
It’s not easy to always build upon the efforts of a previous campaign, and for Crewe that looks unlikely. With the departure of Ryan Cooney alongside other players and limited signings coming in, they seem to be heading in a backward direction.
Since Andy Woodman arrived at the club, every season has been incredible. However, an improvement on last season’s 11th-place finish will be difficult in what was their first season back in the EFL. The Ravens’ frontline isn’t getting younger despite the incredible goal output of Michael Cheek.
The appointment of Andy Whing was a turning point in Barrow’s previous season. They ended really well, remaining unbeaten in the last five matches. If that form is overlaid into the new campaign, Whing’s side is set up for success, having secured 31 points in 22 matches.
Before landing the job at Notts County, Andy Crosby had an array of caretaker roles and a permanent job at Port Vale. Crosby’s record is impressive, with a catalogue of short-term stints being successful, most recently keeping Tranmere Rovers in League Two. However, key players have departed. David McGoldrick will be a big blow, having scored 17 goals in the league last season. Matthew Dennis was signed from Carlisle, and he is under pressure to replicate the scoring form of McGoldrick and possibly star man Alassana Jatta, who has been touted by other clubs.
Perhaps too high for the Gills, but Gareth Ainsworth has proved he is the right man for the job after leaving Shrewsbury Town towards the back end of last season. Ainsworth is still unbeaten in his nine games as manager, being persistent with a three at the back, and it paid off.
Walsall had a fall from grace last time out, ending in a disappointing fourth spot after holding first place for 119 days. The club were 12 points ahead at the start of 2025, but after a heavy drop in form and a Wembley play-off defeat, the disappointment of last season still looms over them.
Another season in League Two for the Ammies, whose celebrity owners will surely push for promotion. Experience has been favoured, with Mark Howard joining from Wrexham and Kadeem Harris, who played 30 times last season. Most noticeably, Adebola Oluwo, who will be crucial at the back, will help drive Salford up the table.
MORECAMBE, ENGLAND – APRIL 21: Yann Songo’o, captain of Morecambe reacts after the final whistle with relegation confirmed during the Sky Bet League Two match between Morecambe and Salford City at Mazuma Stadium on April 21, 2025 in Morecambe, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
Having finished 10th last season, Colchester will look to improve. Danny Cowley improved proceedings in November and launched a late play-off push but just came up short. Cowley knows how to get the best out of his players, and with the signing of Jaden Williams following his release from Tottenham, he will have something to prove.
A ninth-place finish for Grimsby is something they will aim to build upon. The squad is talented. Danny Rose, formerly of Stevenage, scored 14 goals last time out, and with the latest addition being Zak Gilsenan, who played for Liverpool and Barcelona’s academies, they will look to secure further success.
Having been promoted via the play-offs in 2023/24, their stint in the third tier was short-lived. Parachuting back down isn’t always straightforward, with the pressure and expectations. Scott Lindsey, who masterminded the promotion in his first term, returns for the new campaign. However, the departures of Armando Quitirna, Rushian Hepburn-Murphy and Will Swan, who combined for 25 goals last season, will be missed.
Having finally made a return to the EFL, Barnet are looking for excitement and will thrive without the expectation of successive promotion. Idris Kanu has been extraordinary for manager Dean Brennan. Don’t be blindsided by his low goals and assists; Kanu’s dribbling success rate is outstanding and will be one of the most important names on Brennan’s team sheet. Salford City have gained a perfect player from the Bees: Adebola Oluwo, who scored six goals from centre-back last campaign, has left a void at the back.
Darrell Clarke returns for his second spell at the club, having previously secured back-to-back promotions to League One in his first tenure. Experienced defender Macauley Southam-Hales joins the side and more faces are expected to arrive before the season opener. Clarke has brought optimism for the previously relegated side, and a promotion push certainly is within reach.
Having taken time to adjust to life at the club, Ian Holloway ended the season on a high, finishing in 12th place after coming into a side fearing relegation. The Robins won 16 and drew 11 of Holloway’s 37 league matches. They finished eight points off the top six with the third-highest scoring rate. If this form is replicated in the upcoming campaign, Swindon are certainly contenders for the title.
Paul Warne arrives with a highly impressive track record of promoting sides into the Championship. Three of the four promotions achieved were at Rotherham and the other was at Derby County, finishing in second place. Callum Paterson, who was part of the Sheffield Wednesday side that was promoted, and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, who will provide pace and creativity, are two highly rated players within the EFL. With this squad looking more appropriate for the division above, the Dons will have their eyes set on promotion.
Chesterfield’s rise back into the EFL last season was remarkable, with a seventh-place finish just a couple of points off the play-offs. Losing Ashley Palmer will be hard, but the side have been recruiting all over the pitch. Lee Bonis still has something to prove after bagging 11 goals in the Eerste Divisie (the Netherlands’ second tier), alongside Zach Hemming, who will be crucial between the sticks, having played in the Scottish Premiership. Dilan Markanday is returning to the club after stints at Blackburn and Leyton Orient, and they will now hope to use his skill and creativity to get Chesterfield into League One.
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