The scrap towards the base of League Two looks very tight once again as these teams will hope to have what it takes to avoid the drop.
The battle at the bottom looks to be open as ever as despite off-the-pitch troubles, the experienced Derek Adams is back at Morecambe and Bromley are playing in the EFL for the first time, with no club having ever been relegated in their first season after promotion from the National League, leaving plenty of teams looking nervously over their shoulder.
The Adver spoke to people at every club in the division and asked them five questions to see how each team feel going into next season. This article will take you through the bottom eight by bookmakers’ odds, with the other 16 teams covered in the other two previews.
The questions were: 1) How did last season go for your club? 2) What are the expectations going into this year? 3) Who is the best player you have signed? 4) Which player should every other club be watching out for? 5) Where do you expect to finish?
Crewe Alexandra – Ryan Parker, Crewe Nub News
1. Last season was a memorable one. The team did so well, against the odds, just falling short at the final hurdle, but it was a major achievement regardless of how it ended. Injuries really didn't help Lee Bell in the second half of the season, but there is always next year.
2. There is no reason why Crewe can't go on and do one better in 2024/25 and win promotion. I am confident Lee Bell has picked up the squad from the Wembley heartbreak and has them raring to go for a successful season.
3. The signings have been really encouraging so far, despite losing Luke Offord, Rio Adebisi and Elliott Nevitt. Midfield is where the side seems to have been improved the most. Max Sanders looks like the pick of the bunch. His eye of a needle passes could rip open defences!
4. League Two should be afraid of Jack Lankester. Playing on the wing or attacking midfield, he will put fear into the opposition. He also isn't afraid to try a finesse shot from long range.
5. Many teams struggle the following season after a playoff defeat, although Crewe have changed a significant chunk of the squad. This makes the team fresh for the new season. I believe promotion is achievable, another playoff chase should be a minimum target.
Grimsby Town – Chris Mills, View From The Findus Podcast
1. Last season was one to forget for Grimsby fans. Tipped to be in and around the playoffs by many but in the end only just stayed up with a game to spare. David Artell took over in November, but it took months before improvement began to show by which time it was nearly too late.
2. In fairness to Artell, he inherited a distinctly average squad built to play in Hurst’s vague style of play. This summer the club have had a much clearer recruitment model, one the owners and manager are in agreeance upon. (Yes, another dig at Hurst) All of that should stand us in better stead this season.
3. George McEachran. A stylish attacking midfielder who can link the midfield with attack is exactly the type of player we were missing last season. Icelandic international midfielder Jason Dadi Svanthórsson on paper at least appears exciting and defender Lewis Cass should add strength and know-how at the back.
4. I’d suggest our stand-out player is Curtis Thompson. Having played most of his career higher up, he can take games by the scruff of their neck and dictate the tempo, breaking up play with tough tackling and starting attacks with intelligent passing and awareness.
5. As boring and uninspiring as it seems I’d have to go for mid-table at present. It would be an improvement on last season and a step in the right direction. I don’t think we’ll be anywhere near as bad again but also not good enough to seriously challenge for promotion.
Swindon Town – Joe Acklam, Swindon Advertiser
1. Low expectations going into last season initially seemed to be confounded before slipping and falling head-first into the depths of despair. Characterised by a very porous defence, once the star loanees returned in January, the walls caved in. It was the first time Swindon fans have had to consider their Football League mortality.
2. Promises of change from the top have taken some tentative steps onto the ice with a more coherent recruitment plan led by those with football experience without interference. Mark Kennedy has brought a sense of calm to the club and looks to be building a team that will be more sound than last year.
3. The signings are generally more sensible Bran Flakes than the more fun but less healthy Frosties, but Rosaire Longelo could be a game-changer. In Kennedy’s system that looks to the wing-backs for width and creation, he could become a real danger out on the left.
4. Paul Glatzel, no question. January was a difficult window for Town, but Glatzel was a massive signing as he is a striker who offers pace, creativity, and goals. With the squad at present, he will have to shoulder a lot of the creative responsibility. Cue: a late August sale.
5. I see Swindon as a lower mid-table team this year, which I will absolutely take as I feared the worst at the end of last season. I think the floor of this team is high enough to keep them out of trouble, but more work is needed for a realistic playoff push.
Accrington Stanley – Adam Scarborough, On Stanley On
1. Last season was all about rebuilding after five seasons in League One. We started off quite well but then a crippling injury list and a bad run of form saw us slip down the table. This resulted in long-serving manager John Coleman being sacked, splitting the fan base. To be honest we were glad when the season finally ended!
2. It is difficult to predict at the moment with a lot of new signings (mostly from non-league) and new manager John Doolan about to start his first season in charge. I suppose mid-table safety with a decent FA Cup run would be realistic. I would love us to get to Wembley as we have never played there!
3. We have signed Farrend Rawson from our local rivals Morecambe who had a decent season for them and also worked with new assistant Ged Brannan. We actually had him on loan for a short spell in our promotion-winning season, hopefully, he will prove to be good luck again.
4. I've been really impressed with young defender Connor O'Brien after coming up through the youth team. Having come through the ranks he is now a first-team regular and I believe he has great potential.
5. At this stage I will play it safe and say we will be in mid-table. You never know what to expect with Stanley such as being 0-4 down at home to Swindon and scoring three very late goals...
Newport County – Chris Kirwan, South Wales Argus
1. County were punching above their weight before completely running out of steam last season. The campaign was hindered by two massive injury crises, in the autumn and at the end, but it featured a brilliant FA Cup run that saw them give Manchester United a scare. Add in a win against Wrexham and it was a fun season.
2. Nobody quite knows what to expect in a new era under owner Huw Jenkins. There is a new boss in Nelson Jardim and there have been 11 signings made for a new possession-based style. There is a serious lack of EFL experience and that means many would happily settle for staying well away from trouble.
3. Left-back Anthony Glennon looks really promising after he was brought in from Grimsby. His time there was hit by injury but he’s been sharp so far this summer and looks to be a real threat going forward.
4. Will Evans… if he stays. Other than that, Aaron Wildig could be a key figure in this new style. His passing ability and experience in midfield will be vital, while he will hope to chip in with more assists and goals, hopefully, he can dictate more games in his third year with County.
5. If it clicks then they could push for play-offs but if it’s a bad start then a young group will be under pressure in a VERY tough league. I’d probably take a nice mid-table finish.
Harrogate Town – Hal Boxhall-Dockree, Media Manager
1. We were really pleased with the season we had, it was our highest-ever finish in the EFL and we were in contention for the playoffs late into the season, which wasn’t really expected at the start. This was highlighted with memorable away performances and results at MK Dons and Doncaster, while we saw record attendances at home.
2. To build on last season is the expectation of the club – we’ve only made three signings and kept the majority of our squad from last season in place, so the hope is we can go one further and record a top-half finish if not qualify for the playoffs.
3. Stephen Duke-McKenna is one that has excited the supporters, he’s a young winger capable of scoring goals and exciting the crowd. He’s also a Guyana international and will become the first player to represent their country while at Harrogate Town should he be called up this season.
4. Josh March. The 27-year-old is a proven goalscorer at this level who struggled last season with injury, but with a full pre-season behind him could hit the ground running this time round and help fire Harrogate up the table.
5. Mid-table, hopefully. Another solid season well clear of relegation fears and pushing for a top-half finish would be a strong year.
Bromley – Matt Hall, Head of Football Operations
1. What a season we had! Our target was to finish in the top three, and that's what we did. The Promotion Final was a hugely memorable occasion, particularly for those long-standing supporters who've been with the club through thick and thin.
2. We're entering the EFL for the first time in 132 years, so it's a hugely exciting prospect. We've always been ambitious and have reached the playoffs three times in the last four years, so we had to be ready. There has been some adjustment, but we're all fully committed to the process and look forward to the season ahead.
3. They're all fantastic but if I had to choose, perhaps Lewis Leigh. I think he's up there with the best passers of the ball I've ever seen at the club, and did well for us last season, before spending the second half of the season on loan at Crewe Alexandra.
4. Michael Cheek. He's the all-time leading goalscorer in the National League and has been our top scorer in every season he has been with us. He's scored three times in two Wembley finals for us, helping us to win both. He just has a knack for scoring goals!
5. We never go into a season aiming to simply survive. The manager is a true winner, and we believe we can surprise people (we've seen a few write us off already, before a ball has been kicked). The sky is the limit, and the aim is always to finish as high as possible.
Morecambe – Dave Salmon, Beyond Radio
1. I think on reflection we probably overachieved, given our ongoing troubles off the field. For much of the season, we were either in the playoff places, or just on the fringes, before running out of steam in the final weeks and finishing in mid-table. Overall, the fans were pleased.
2. It’s really difficult to quantify, because the longer it goes until the club is sold, the longer the shadow over us gets. We’ve completely rebuilt the squad, many of those played non-league football last season. But, with Derek Adams back at the helm, we know big things are possible.
3. A few of the signings look exciting, George Ray has come in after being one of Barrow’s, and the division’s, stand-out performers over the last couple of seasons; Callum Jones returns on loan from Hull; and Adam Lewis, who joins from Liverpool, has a good amount of football league experience thanks to his previous loans.
4. Gwion Edwards is going to be an important player having extended his contract this summer after joining midway through last season. The attacker is super quick, scores and creates, and is frankly too good for this level. I’m hoping for big things from him this season.
5. We’re favourites for relegation but that doesn’t bother us. If you offered me a mid-table finish and a nice boring season now, I think most fans would take that. That’s where I think we’ll finish. I don’t anticipate a struggle. But, as I say, with Derek in charge, magic just might happen.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel