Welcome aboard to League Two for Barnet and Oldham Athletic, the league of generous opportunity, with four available places to reach League One.
Chesterfield and Bromley have set a new benchmark; compete for the play-offs and unsettle the clubs that underestimate your potential. Add to that, League Two top scorer, Bromley’s Michael Cheek provided a whopping 25 of their 64 goals!
To both newly promoted teams, they have laid down the gauntlet, Saturday 2nd August is your first chance to conquer. Can they outperform their predecessors?
Barnet Buzzing Back To League Two
The Bees are consistent performers, finishing second in the National League during 2023/2024 campaign. They then soared to the summit to win promotion with 102 points including a 25 game unbeaten run. Oh, and a ruthless 7-0 drubbing of Tamworth.
Barnet fans have waited patiently since 2018 to return to League Two, and manager Dave Brennan has repaid loyalty with success since taking over the realm in 2021. Brennan has been in the managerial hot-seat at various non-league clubs since 2012. His managerial success prompted interest from Swindon Town in May 2024 but to no avail.
An array of signings have walked through the doors at The Hive, with a defensive pairing moving south from Halifax Town. Strengthening every department through free transfers via League One and League Two offer clues to Brennan’s shrewd business.
Over 1,000 season tickets have now signed up to a stadium with a maximum capacity of 6,500. This includes standing space, and fans will want a reason to be on their feet.
Barnet will kickstart their return at The Hive with a visit from Fleetwood Town, and a Carabao Cup visit from Newport County just 3 days later. Is this an opportunity to assess the team’s resilience?
January offers value for money with four home games out of seven. A date for your diary; Oldham Athletic will visit on Saturday 24th January at 3pm.
Barnet fans will be required to visit The Exercise Stadium to meet Harrogate Town on Saturday 2nd May. From ground to ground, 400 miles. Fans will want League 2 survival to before this journey or anticipated via TV or radio. They have enjoyed two consistent seasons, and I have a feeling consolidation in League 2 is achievable, do you?
Oldham Athletic: Three Years Out, and Ready To Return
Loyal Oldham Athletic fans were rewarded with 73 points across their 46 league campaign in The National League, a hefty 29 points behind winners Barnet. Oldham also managed a tally of 64 goals compared to 97 struck from Barnet. A fifth placed finish allowed their play-off journey to succeed.
Their play-off final determination against Southend United was a match to watch with popcorn for the neutral. It may act as a reminder to the players that they do have the quality to be a force in League Two.
The club have got the ball rolling in the transfer window with a potential focus on experience. They have acquired four players over 30, having all previously played in League Two. Latics fans will hope there is an exciting signing yet to arrive before Saturday 2nd August.
MK Dons will host Oldham to welcome their return to League Two followed by another away trip to Accrington Stanley in the Carabao Cup on the Tuesday.
It does begin to make you question the timing of the Carabao Cup; 3 days after the 1st game of the season? If anything, maybe it should be a full week before akin to the early European qualification matches.
The Boundary Park faithful will welcome two back-to-back home games against Colchester United and Swindon Town. The club had reportedly sold over 4,000 season at the start of June, with a capacity of just over 13,000.
Their Christmas and New Year fixture arrangement appears to be testing. Fixtures include Crawley Town, Chesterfield, Walsall and Notts County while all of these clubs will hold an expectation for promotion.
March and April are also likely to be two months that need the club to find a route to be unbeatable. They chalked up 16 draws in their promotion campaign, possibly this offers insight into Micky Mellon’s tactical approach. It may prove to be a wise move for the season ahead.
Arriving from a fifth placed departure from The National League, all associated with the club will be energised; I expect that to be required in abundance for their League 2 survival mission. Only two clubs are relegated; it might be close.
Can Barnet And Oldham Athletic Succeed In League Two Next Season?
The arrivals of Barnet and Oldham Athletic probes many questions. But can they succeed? Tell us in the comments below.
