Here’s our League Two predictions for the upcoming 2025/26 season. How fast has that come around? It’s that time of year again. Where we all think we’ve nailed our predictions for the new campaign. Everyone throwing in their 50p thinking they know best. That’s why we love this time of year. Opinions. Great, aren’t they?
These League Two predictions are based on the end of last seasons form, player transfers, and management stability. League Two predictions can often surprise, but careful analysis leads to informed choices.
1st – MK Dons
The Lower Tiers League Two Predictions 1-24 Predictions Champions. No surprises here. They should be top with the amount of money they’ve spent. A remarkable summer with star-studded incomings has left me with no choice but to place them as title winners.
It goes without saying but Paul Warne is a massive coup for MK. He’s succeeded wherever he’s gone and I don’t think this time will be any different.
He’s a manager used to having a large budget and high expectations. During his time at Derby, he was handed one of the largest budgets in the division which naturally increased expectations of promotion back to the Championship. Warne guided The Rams back the second tier by finishing in second place in the 2023-24 season.
Paul Warne left the club with a 45% win percentage after being sacked last February. A top manager who now has top players.
It’s fair to say that MK Dons have shown intent this summer. They’ve stacked the squad with League One quality but that has obviously come at a big price.
Bolton Wanderers starting striker, Aaron Collins scored 12 goals in 36 League One starts, last term. He’s set MK Dons back a reported £850,000 (Football League World).
Stockport County fans favourite, Will Collar surprisingly dropped down a division to sign for the Dons after scoring eight goals in 36 starts in a campaign that ended in Play-Off heartbreak.
Veteran Nathaniel Mendez-Laing is arguably the stand out signing this summer. On a free and played plenty of Championship football last season. Fantastic business. It reminds me of when Notts County brought in David McGoldrick two years ago. He was the best player in the division by far. These players ooze class.
2nd – Cambridge United
One of the automatic promotion winners in my League Two predictions. I feel like Cambridge will bounce straight back up in their first League Two campaign.
Why? They’ve got a brilliant footballing structure at the club. Ex-manager Mark Bonner was announced as director of football earlier this year and is accompanied by Neil Harris, the current head coach. That’s plenty of EFL experience and football know-how at the top at the U’s. All that’s left to be seen is if they can strike up a partnership together. They’ll certainly benefit from a full summer of recruitment and preparation.
A series of impressive incomings this summer has boosted my expectations of Cambridge. Jake Eastwood is a goalkeeper begging for a chance to be a number one keeper and he’ll take this opportunity with both hands.
They’ve further bolstered their backline with Ben Purrington from Exeter City. He’s a player entering his peak years as a footballer and will suit League Two well.
The additions of Dom Ball and, more recently, Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu gives The U’s perhaps the most solid midfield in League Two. Controlling the midfield in League Two is vital and these two players will do just that.
Shayne Lavery scores goals and, when fit, will score for fun in League Two. Defences beware.
3rd – Chesterfield
Taking up the last automatic promotion places in my League Two predictions is Chesterfield.
Their terrific form at the back end of last season has swayed my decision. The Spireites lost just one game in their last 13 games as they snuck into the League Two Play-Offs.
This may have been a step too far for Paul Cook’s men as out-of-form Walsall turned them over in the semi-finals. Chesterfield will know that they can take confidence from their end to the season into the new one.
Something clicked within the squad and now they’ve added Dilan Markanday to their ranks, permanently. With quality all over the pitch, they’ll be full of hope.
Teams losing in the Play-Offs love to go on and do one better the next season. Two years ago, Stockport County lost in the Play-Off final to Carlisle United and then went on to win the league the season after. Doncaster Rovers were defeated on penalties in their 2023/24 Play-Off campaign but that didn’t get them down as they went on to win the League Two title last season.
By the sounds of it, it seems as if I’ve put Chesterfield two places too low. Time will tell.
4th – Gillingham
Gillingham could finally be on the right tracks under the ownership of Brad Galinson. Their fans were optimistic when he took over with his notable worth being the key selling point.
However, it’s been two seasons of disappointment with 12th and 17th league finishes. This is mainly due to sacking of four managers in that time. Brad Galinson needs to learn a lesson and give his staff time.
Gillingham have an extremely experienced manager in Gareth Ainsworth but he’s proven that he needs time at football clubs to deliver success. 13 years at Wycombe Wanderers saw the club reach the Championship for the first time in its history but that only came eight years into his tenure.
He’s recently been sacked by QPR before leaving Shrewsbury Town for the Gills. Ainsworth will be looking to settle in somewhere. Hopefully, for Gillingham’s sake, it’s at Priestfield.
5th – Salford City
The Ammies are on an upward trajectory after their dismal 2023/24 season where they finished 20th. Karl Robinson is building something at Salford City and the board has full support in him.
A summer of smart recruitment is why I think Salford will go one better this season and reach the League Two Play-Offs. Jorge Grant, Kadeem Harris, Mark Howard, Loick Ayina and Adebola Oluwo look like impressive captures when you consider that they’re all free transfers.
A team with experienced pros and budding youthfulness is why I think Salford City will finish inside the Play-Off places. Could they go on to win it?
6th – Grimsby Town
At the moment, the atmosphere at Grimsby Town is the best it’s been for a long time with expressive and passionate manager David Artell at the helm.
Grimsby Town and David Artell seem to be a match made in heaven and success will come their way at some point in the near future. It has to, surely?
He’s another manager who requires time at football clubs to deliver success but the Grimsby board appear to have full faith that he’ll do just that.
Recruitment has, again, been impressive and well structured. Christy Pym (30) and Jamie Walker (32) are both players with League Two automatic promotions on their CV. It’s vital for any club looking to win promotion. It’s the same strategy as Bradford City used last summer. Signings like Antoni Sarcevic are the reason they’re now preparing for a season in League One.
This accompanied with more youthful incomings such as Jayden Sweeney, Reece Staunton and Zak Gilsenan proves that they have the perfect recipe for success this season. Grimsby have been smart this summer and handing David Artell a new deal to keep him at the club until 2029 is further proof of that.
7th – Colchester United
Colchester United are the club occupying the final Play-Off place in my League Two Predictions 1-24. For a club that hit superb, promotion-like form in the second half of last season, you’d think I’d have them higher. I understand the argument but I just feel like the Cowley brothers aren’t up to the same standard that they used to be.
Don’t get me wrong, Colchester have quality in their squad and that’s the reason I still have them as finishing in the Play-Offs places. Can the Cowley brothers get the best out of them? Controversial, but I’m not too sure.
They’ve only really ever had success at one club. Albeit, a lot of success at one football club but were they just a perfect fit for Lincoln City.
Since then, they’ve failed at Huddersfield Town and Portsmouth. Big clubs with huge expectations. The Cowley brothers couldn’t handle it.
A duo once touted as ‘the next big thing’ are now suddenly deemed as being overrated.
8th – Bristol Rovers
After seven years on, Darrell Clarke is back at Bristol Rovers. However, is he still the same manager as he used to be? The same manager that won back-to-back promotions with The Gas in 2015-16.
After looking at his recent record at Cheltenham Town and Barnsley, it looks like he’s lost part of that spark that made him so special all those years ago.
However, Rovers have had a very impressive transfer window so far. Macauley Southam-Hales, signed on a free transfer following his exit from Stockport, is essentially a League One player. The same can be said for Josh McEachran and Jack Sparkes.
But who is going to score the goals? That’s the big question that Darrell Clarke needs to find a solution for either in the transfer window or within their current squad.
9th – Fleetwood Town
Another club just missing out on the Play-Off places in our League Two predictions is Fleetwood Town. Incomings such as James Norwood, Denver Hume and Toby Mullarkey might have you wondering why I’ve put them so low. But they’ve lost two big key players. These are Brendan Wiredu and Phoenix Patterson. Both players with huge potential and promise which was also going to result in them leaving at some point but Fleetwood will certainly miss them both.
As well as this, Pete Wild hasn’t got the greatest track record when it comes to achieving success in League Two. Yes, he undoubtedly gets the best out of what he’s given. That was clear from his time at Barrow but a current 35% win percentage during this tenure at Fleetwood Town doesn’t look like improving anytime soon.
10th – Barnet
A club on the rise. Barnet FC. The Bees are back in League Two after seven long seasons in the National League. Having flirted with relegation to the National League South just four years ago, Bees fans will be on cloud nine following last season.
Accrington Stanley’s position is another aspect shaping league two predictions.
They didn’t just win the league last season. They didn’t just win it in ‘some’ style. They only lost six games and gained 102 points – one of the highest points tallies in National League history.
There has become a common theme of newly promoted clubs from the National League making an instant impact in League Two. Look at Wrexham, Stockport County and, most recently, Chesterfield. Barnet won’t be any different. They’re not here to just make up numbers.
11th – Notts County
From being a club on the verge of League One and on an updwards trajectory. What has happened to Notts County? Only two years ago, The Magpies were neck-and-neck with Wrexham, on and off the pitch. Now, the two sides are two leagues apart. Wrexham have left them for dead.
It doesn’t look like Notts County’s fortunes will change much this season either. The underwhelming appointment of Martin Paterson doesn’t exactly scream ambition from the owners. A 25% win percentage as manager makes the decision to hire him genuinely baffling.
At least Notts County possess a decent squad, though. That will come in handy if Paterson leaves the club during the season but do you trust Notts County Hierarchy to make the right appointment after their last two? I don’t.
12th – Walsall
Another club that have fallen off a cliff in recent times. Every has heard about Walsall’s sudden implosion halfway through last season.
The Saddlers were 12 points clear at the top of League Two at the halfway point. Okay, yes, they lost top scorer Nathan Lowe after being recalled by parent club Stoke City in January. That’s going to be a big loss for any side but the best sides learn to adapt. For example, Bradford City lost Andy Cook at a similar point who was of equal importance to the Bantams as Lowe was to Walsall. The difference? Bradford City adapted well and won promotion at Walsall’s expense.
To put it in to context, they went on a 13 game unbeaten run which ran from February to the end of April. If they were to pick up just one more point in that period, then they’d have got promoted.
It must be ridiculously embarrassing for manager Mat Sadler and his players that are still there. I think it’s a big ask for them to pick themselves up from that. Heads are down and to aggravate the wound from last season, star player Taylor Allen jumped ship to pursue an opportunity in League One and Jamie Jellis has just been charged by the FA for allegedly breaking it’s betting rules which could hand the 24-year-old a lengthy ban.
13th – Shrewsbury Town
I’ve seen various people saying that Shrewsbury Town are favourites for relegation. I personally don’t get it.
Michael Appleton is a good manager for League Two who’s used to taking charge of clubs further up the English football pyramid. A steady 37% career managerial win rate is steady and is a great number for such an experienced manager who’s taken charge of 463 matches.
These next few years will be years of transition for Salop as they look to consolidate in League Two. Their owner, Roland Wycherley has been there since 1996 but it seems as though his time is now coming to an end. The club entered two exclusivity periods with potential owners last season but both ended without a sale. A new owner needs to come sooner rather than later to prevent Shrewsbury languishing in the fourth tier for a while.
14th – Swindon Town
Appointing Ian Holloway last season is probably the best thing Swindon have done for a long-time. He’s restored some hope among the Swindon Town fans in a time of adversity thanks (or no thanks) to owner Clem Morfuni.
Since Holloway’s appointment in October last year, the club turned itself around from flirting with relegation to hitting form any of the automatically promoted teams would’ve been proud of.
Let’s hope Holloway can carry that momentum into the next season. I just think that other teams are a lot stronger currently and despite making some decent incomings such as Billy Bodin. Others, like Jake Tabor, are big risks.
Swindon Town fans deserve better than this and I, like anyone, don’t believe that Clem will be able to ever steer the club back in the right direction.
15th – Crewe Alexandra
I really thought Crewe would’ve kicked on after defeat in the 2023/24 League Two Play-Off final but I think their demise came as a surprise to most people.
After flirting with the top three for the majority of last season, Crewe Alexandra tailed off at the end and finished in 13th.
Lee Bell’s side lost six of their last eight league matches and I’m a big believer in momentum from the end of last season carrying into the start of the next.
However signings such as Josh March (Harrogate Town’s best player by far) and the highly rated Emre Tezgel on loan from Stoke could easily prove me wrong.
16th – Cheltenham Town
With a lack of impressive signings making their way to Gloucestershire this summer. I think they’ll finish in a respectable 16th position.
They currently have a very light squad with just one goalkeeper on their books. Their biggest advantage this season is having Michael Flynn in charge of the club.
Flynn knows League Two inside out having managed 328 matches in the division during stints at Newport County, Walsall, Swindon Town and now Cheltenham Town.
Michael Flynn finishing below 16th would be a real shock to anyone who knows League Two but he’s not giving himself his best chance with the current squad at his disposal.
17th – Oldham Athletic
The Latics are back in the EFL but it’s probably a year too soon before we can start thinking of them as promotion contenders again.
Finishing 5th in the National League last season doesn’t scream success in the next. They’ve had to get rid of a lot of dead wood. Players who found their level in the National League. Oldham have entered a bit of a transition period following their promotion but it had to happen if they want to survive.
Micky Mellon is the right man to take them into League Two, however. He’s yet another manager who knows League Two well and understands what it takes to stay up and consolidate in the division.
18th – Tranmere Rovers
It’s evident that Tranmere have enough to stay up in League Two but from what I saw from last season and from what I’ve seen this summer, I can’t see them doing much more.
Yes, Tranmere finished the season well under current manager Andy Crosby which included a shocking 1-0 win away at Bradford which handed City only their second home loss all season. Yes, they’ve signed Bradford City’s Player Of The Season and League Two Team Of The Season Midfielder Richie Smallwood but he’s a player that needs quality around him and I’m not sure if Tranmere have that.
Their form at the end of last season could have easily been a new manager bounce after being oppressed by the leadership of Nigel Adkins since 2023.
19th – Bromley
Second season syndrome isn’t a myth. From my time watching football it’s very much a thing, at every level.
Teams have got used to how Bromley operate which could trouble them. You could sense that towards the end of last season with five wins in their last 11 matches.
The good news for Bromley, though, is that last seasons League Two top scorer, Michael Cheek is still at the club despite rumoured interest from League One side Wigan Athletic.
His presence would be wanted by any League Two side. Bromley are more than lucky to have them. He could be the difference between staying up and going down.
20th – Newport County
Newport County have been on a downward spiral for the past five seasons now and have failed to get back to anywhere near the Play-Offs since 2021.
After a dismal end to last season, I can’t see much changing for the better. They only won two games after the middle of February.
Sadly, I don’t have much hope for Newport County. A relegation to the National League seems to be on the horizon. The appointment of David Hughes was a strange appointment when County were crying out for some League Two experience to carry them out from flirting with relegation.
Appointing an untried youth coach is a big risk. However, it does offer some excitement amongst Newport fans. He could be the next Michael Flynn.
21st – Accrington Stanley
A club that’s been in the football league since 2006. Standing on the shoulders of giants and they’ve established themselves as an EFL club who are here to stay.
Relegation was a possibility last season but they ended up steering themselves clear with big wins against Walsall and Salford City towards the end of last season.
That grit and determination alone makes Accrington Stanley a special club. Fearless and ready to roll their sleeves up when they need to.
They’ve been in this situation plenty of times before and I don’t see their fortunes changing just yet.
22nd – Barrow
Since Pete Wild left the club, it’s been tough being a Barrow fan. From becoming a club punching above its weight with the big boys of the division to falling further and further down the table.
I can see them falling just that bit further next season but still having enough to avoid the drop down to the National League.
Big departures such as Robbie Gotts, Dean Campbell, Kian Spence and Theo Vassell will be hard to replace and a 16th place finish last season could be about to be made to look good this time next year.
23rd – Crawley Town
The first relegation spot of our League Two Predictions goes to Crawley Town. We think they’ll continue to follow the exact same path as Carlisle did and face back-to-back relegations.
There’s been plenty of outgoings and the incomings are, well, risky. Dion Pereira is a very exciting player on his day, Ronaldinho-esque, but that day comes around far too irregularly. Harry McKirdy was one of the best players in the league three years ago. A lot has changed since then and he hasn’t had anywhere near the same impact since. Lastly, Kabongo Tshimanga replaces Will Swan as the clubs starting striker. Sadly, he hasn’t been the same player since his broken leg in 2022.
Departing co-owner Preston Johnson has discussed to the BBC that “As a result, the player recruitment this summer has gone a different direction than the data-driven approach that has powered our success in the last few years.
“I do not believe this shift represents the best path forward for the club, which is why I’ve made the difficult decision to step back and make space for the new leadership to pursue their vision without my involvement.”
This suggests that Crawley are moving away from a transfer strategy that has served them well in the past. Strange decision but that’s WAGMI United for you.
24th – Harrogate Town
At the bottom of our League Two Predictions for the 2025/25 season is Harrogate Town. I think I say that Harrogate will go down every season and they always prove me wrong. So don’t be surprised if I stand corrected again this time next year.
It’s finally time for them to go down. Arguably, their best players left this summer including Josh March, Matty Daly and Dean Cornelius. They’re all big losses and they have replaced them adequately.
Mason Bennett, Lewis Cass and Tom Bradbury are hardly inspiring signings. They’re the only notable additions they’ve made to an already poor squad.
Harrogate Town, it’s been fun (not really) but it’s time to start packing up.
