Early contenders as Newport County ready for unpredictable League Two season

The fact that Crawley are planning for life in League Two has encouraged fourth-tier hopefuls this summer.

The Reds were viewed as a crypto-backed rabble as they approached 2023/24, a team that was anticipated to struggle toward the bottom rather than compete at the top.

Crawley were the fourth side to be promoted, joining heavyweights Stockport, Wrexham, and Mansfield, thanks to a progressive coach in Scott Lindsey and some clever signings.

Crewe were left promising to be driven by their loss in the play-off final at Wembley Stadium, a position that Newport County AFC are familiar with, but they face a fight to return to the top of what is shaping up to be a brutally competitive league.

While making predictions in May before summer recruitment might be problematic, here are some early groups of the 24 clubs that will play in the fourth tier.

UP AT THE TOP

Doncaster missed out on the play-offs, but they rose to fifth place after finishing the season with ten victories and one tie.

Rovers, under Grant McCann, are expected to pick up where they left off, despite the loss of some key loanees. Bradford nearly missed out on the top seven, but they have already underlined their ambition by acquiring Antoni Sarcevic and Neill Byrne from Stockport.

The Milton Keynes Dons finished fourth last season, which was a fair result, but the play-offs are not fair.

They were hammered by Crawley, but their squad has the quality to compete for a top-three berth this season.

Chesterfield hopes to follow in the footsteps of Wrexham by achieving successive promotions – a difficult goal, but one that they will be able to tackle head on – while Carlisle hopes to recover from their slide.

The Cumbrians struggled in League One, but they have the financial resources and talent to compete.

THE HOPEFULS

Notts County were the greatest team the Exiles faced at home and away last season, winning 3-0 at Meadow Lane and 3-1 at Rodney Parade.

If they patch their defensive weaknesses and keep Macauley Langstaff, who has been linked with a Luke Williams reunion in Swansea, they will improve on their 14th-place finish. Barrow were in the play-offs for much of the season, but Pete Wild’s small squad failed to advance.

Gillingham should have been far better than they were previous season; they weren’t visually appealing and failed to produce enough results, ending 12th.

Kent had another change at the top, with Stephen Clemence replaced by Mark Bonner, who is anticipated to spearhead a promotion campaign.

THE UNKNOWNS

As always, the largest group in a tight league where the distance between play-offs and relegation may be narrow, as demonstrated by Doncaster.

The Exiles fall into this category; last season, they were talented enough to be top-seven contenders while the first XI was available, but they were horrible when injured. Crewe were somewhat of a surprise package last season and must respond to their Wembley defeat.

Bromley will face Chesterfield, and County’s FA Cup matches against National League opponents last season demonstrate that they will not be taken lightly. The rigorous 46-game schedule will put them to the test.

Morecambe performed well in 2023/24, but will off-field turmoil and another change of manager have an impact? There are legitimate concerns about what lies ahead for the Shrimps, as the Exiles experienced last season before Huw Jenkins took charge.

There are many teams that, like County, have swung from high to low: Walsall, Wimbledon, and Harrogate. Swindon are a large club at this level, but they struggled after a promising start under Michael Flynn, but Tranmere improved dramatically under Nigel Adkins, but they lost crucial loanee Rob Apter.

Accrington are truly beginning the post-John Coleman era, which may be good or bad.

MUST DO BETTER

Fleetwood, Port Vale, and Cheltenham are three of the demoted teams (Carlisle obviously has to improve, but they have vast funds and high ambitions).  They could be competitors, but the plight of Forest Green serves as a caution.

Colchester and Grimsby will be looking to avoid relegation, while Salford has fallen from play-off semi-finalists to the relegation scrap. Early title odds (with League Two sponsors SkyBet)

Chesterfield 7/1

Carlisle 9/1

MK Dons 9/1

Port Vale 12/1

Gillingham 12/1

Notts County 12/1

Bradford 14/1

Salford 14/1

Doncaster 14/1

AFC Wimbledon 16/1

Cheltenham 20/1

Walsall 20/1

Tranmere 20/1

Crewe 20/1

Fleetwood 25/1

Barrow 25/1

Grimsby 33/1

Swindon 33/1

Colchester 33/1

Accrington 33/1

Newport County 40/1

Harrogate 50/1

Morecambe 66/1

Bromley 66/1