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

Last play was grim for Luton, culminating successful them suffering a 2nd successive relegation. But location remains plentifulness of value astatine Kenilworth Road. Teden Mengi could easy beryllium playing successful nan apical flight, while Millenic Alli is simply a starring ray of nan caller intake. Most importantly, perhaps, nan manager, Matt Bloomfield, knows this section well. Cardiff were besides relegated from nan Championship past play and will beryllium hoping their caller manager, Brian Barry-Murphy, tin apprehension nan Welsh club’s slide.

Stockport missed retired successful nan playoffs past play aft finishing third. They besides mislaid Isaac Olaofe to Charlton but person invested a club-record interest successful Malik Mothersille from Peterborough to capable nan void. The Hatters will beryllium assured of different promotion push arsenic agelong arsenic they tin clasp connected to nan highly rated Ethan Pye and Lewis Bate, who person attracted Championship liking complete nan summer.

Huddersfield are different who person changed manager, bringing successful Lee Grant for what is nan erstwhile Stoke goalkeeper’s first managerial role. Grant has sought acquisition connected nan pitch, signing Ryan Ledson, Murray Wallace, Lynden Gooch and Alfie May. Tom Cleverley has taken nan reins astatine Plymouth aft their relegation from nan Championship, while Mike Dodds will request Richard Kone to enactment put if Wycombe are to conflict for a spot successful nan Championship.

Playoff hopefuls

Steve Bruce will not want to beryllium known arsenic a League One head for different season. He arrived astatine Blackpool midway done nan past run and has been fixed nan resources to push for a return to nan 2nd tier. Fraser Horsfall and Michael Ihiekwe person been acquired to fortify cardinal defence, and pinch Ashley Fletcher starring nan line, Bruce’s men will beryllium hoping to rustle feathers.

Steve Bruce is nan man astatine nan helm astatine Blackpool. Photograph: Jessica Hornby/PA

Reading did good to decorativeness seventh past play considering nan issues surrounding nan club. Rob Couhig has go nan caller proprietor and a calmer beingness successful nan boardroom could construe connected to nan pitch.

Bolton vanished eighth past play and their manger, Steven Schumacher, will beryllium hoping to amended that this clip around. The indebtedness signings of Teddy Sharman-Lowe and Amario Cozier-Duberry should excite but nan nonaccomplishment of nan captain, George Thomason, to Wrexham will request addressing.

Leyton Orient made it to Wembley but fell conscionable short successful nan playoff final. Ethan Galbraith and nan indebtedness stars Josh Keeley, Charlie Kelman and Jamie Donley person departed but location is plentifulness of excitement astir nan impending presence of nan Manchester United youngster Jack Moorhouse.

Rotherham were expecting to situation nether Steve Evans past play but yet stumbled to 13th. They person subsequently had a clearout of immoderate large earners and allowed Matt Hamshaw to style a much youthful squad. Conor Hourihane has utilized nan indebtedness marketplace wisely to bring Barnsley up to scratch, while Ryan Lowe will beryllium hoping Paul Mullin tin spearhead Wigan’s promotion push. Lincoln and Mansfield person an extracurricular chance of getting into nan playoffs.

Relegation candidates

Doncaster won nan League Two title past play and their manager, Grant McCann, quickly moved to motion Connor O’Riordan arsenic a replacement for Joseph Olowu aft his move to Stockport. Port Vale, who vanished runners-up to Doncaster, person enjoyed a engaged summertime successful nan marketplace arsenic nan manager, Darren Moore, attempts to equilibrium youthful imaginable pinch aged heads. Bradford, nan 3rd squad to beryllium promoted from League Two, whitethorn person half an oculus connected much than consolidation this season. For sure, Ibou Touray and Max Power will supply Graham Alexander’s men pinch plentifulness of knowhow astatine this level.

AFC Wimbledon won nan League Two playoff last successful May. Photograph: John Walton/PA

The League Two playoff winners, AFC Wimbledon, person been present before, playing six consecutive seasons successful nan 3rd tier. Gary Bowyer oversaw nan awesome flight pinch Burton past play and a continuation of that momentum should consequence successful a amended run for them. Exeter, Northampton and Stevenage mightiness beryllium fearful should they not commencement nan play well.

Three to watch

Andre Garcia, Reading, 17 The defender does not move 18 until precocious November but already has 38 League One games nether his belt. Garcia’s performances astatine left-back besides earned him an England Under-18 call-up successful March and plentifulness of scouts are known to beryllium search his progress.

Benony Breki Andrésson, Stockport, 19 Having spent clip successful Bologna’s academy, Andrésson’s profession began successful earnest successful his homeland of Iceland. Stockport were alerted to his imaginable and duly signed nan striker successful January to beryllium portion of their improvement team. He was quickly promoted to nan first squad and repaid nan religion of his manager, Dave Challinor, pinch 4 goals successful 11 games.

Cian Ashford (right) is 1 to watch for Cardiff. Photograph: Danny Lawson/PA

Cian Ashford, Cardiff, 20 The section boy who has risen done nan ranks and go a regular will beryllium looking to push connected this season. The presence of Barry-Murphy arsenic head should thief pinch that fixed nan Irishman has worked pinch immoderate of nan champion talent successful nan state during his clip astatine Manchester City.