League Two 2023/24 Promotion & Relegation Odds

by , 7 July 2023

Continuing our football betting previews for the 2023/24 season, we focus on League Two, the lowest division in the English Football League. Plenty of teams have a realistic chance of gaining promotion to League One, including high-profile teams such as Wrexham, Stockport County and Bradford. We’ll also assess the teams who will be lucky to avoid relegation this season.

League Two Preview

Following on from our guide to betting on promotion from the Championship, and our in-depth guide to betting on League One, next up is League Two.

Football League Two is the fourth division of the English pyramid, following in line with the Premier League, Championship, and League One. It is an exciting competitive division that prepares teams for the intense reality if they are to move to the even harsher levels of English football. It is arguably the most daunting of leagues, as one bad season can see a team drop out of the English Football League (EFL) altogether. It’s this jeopardy that makes betting on League Two popular with football fans.

Leyton Orient won the 2022/23 title to gain promotion to League One.

This League Two preview 23/24 will highlight what is expected to be one of the best seasons we have ever seen, promising a competitive and mouth-watering campaign that brings together great sides that look reasonably even. In this article, we will look at the contenders for the League Two title, the teams that could struggle, and the teams that could be the surprise package.

We then highlight the odds for all the teams regarding promotion and relegation and the young and promising talents in the fourth tier. This Football League Two betting preview puts all past performances into perspective, and we will give you all the necessary details you need to know in anticipation of the 5th August commencement date.

League Two 2023/24 – The Contenders

We look at the five serious contenders with the most favourable Football League Two odds to win the title. It’s interesting that top of the list, we have the recently promoted National League winners. The list highlights Wrexham, Stockport County, Bradford, Mansfield Town and Salford.

Wrexham

Wrexham, the beloved underdogs of football beyond the Premier League, boast the highest odds for Football League Promotion. Their American celebrity owners’ substantial financial support has significantly elevated their profile, making them the most celebrated and supported team in the lower divisions.

After making waves in the National League, they are poised to shake up the Football League, hoping to achieve back-to-back promotions. The Welsh team is the clear frontrunner to clinch the League Two title following their impressive promotion season under Phil Parkinson’s leadership.

We anticipate significant activity during the transfer window as their team draws interest from top-tier players. Even Gareth Bale is rumoured to be considering coming out of retirement to join the Red Dragons. They are expected to dominate League Two, and it would be a remarkable narrative if they could live up to the buzz and secure the division title.

The journey to success was not without its share of nail-biting moments, including a tense late-season showdown with Notts County and a thrilling title race that lasted 45 weeks. Ultimately, the small club that captured the world’s attention had a Hollywood-worthy ending to their season.

Wrexham’s offensive strategy was characterised by attacking overloads and penetrating the opposition’s defensive lines. The team’s performance was closely matched with Notts County throughout the season, from the title race to the competition for the most goals scored and fewest conceded. Wrexham’s success can be attributed to a cohesive game model highlighting their top players’ best attributes.

Their offensive prowess was closely tied to their use of the wings in their 3-5-2 formation. Whether they were aiming to get behind the opposition or overload the wings to create conditions for switching play, Wrexham’s focus on the wings was a defining feature of their strategy. By creating numerical superiority in the wings, they could create imbalances in crucial pitch areas, which they quickly exploited.

Paul Mullin is undoubtedly the team’s star, scoring 38 goals in 46 league appearances. It will be interesting to see if the 28-year-old can perform against higher-quality defences. However, Wrexham are hardly a one-man team, as Ollie Palmer (8 goals, 16 assists), Elliot Lee (11 goals, 12 assists) and Aaron Hayden (11 goals) all chipped in with goal involvements.

Stockport County

The 2021-22 National League Champions Stockport County are set as second favourites despite outsmarting Wrexham when they were in the same division two years ago. The rivalry sets the stage for an interesting League two season, with the Hatters having experience in the division, boasting a fourth-place finish last season, which took them to the play-offs.

They were on course to back-to-back promotion, but after 120 minutes of relentless running in the final, they couldn’t find a winner. Holy’s crucial save during the penalty shootout sealed the victory, and Carlisle displayed exceptional composure from the spot sealing a 5-4 win against Stockport. Taylor Charters scored the winning penalty, sparking celebration among the Carlisle United fans.

The team made several transfers during last season, with notable inclusions being Joe Lewis from Torquay United, Fraser Horsfall from Northampton Town, and Connor Lemonheigh-Evans also from Torquay United. Notable departures included Scott Holding to Watford, Millenic Alli to FC Halifax Town, and Liam Hogan to Oldham Athletic. This season they have picked up Ibou Touray (left-back) and striker Billy Chadwick from Hull. The 21-year-old has played most of his football in the National League North, scoring 11 in 20 games.

We expect them to be motivated and driven to push for a top-three spot that guarantees automatic promotion to avoid last season’s disappointment.

Bradford

The promotion play-offs semi-finalists lost to Carlisle but gave a convincing performance to excite the fans about the prospect of the coming season. They finished sixth and are among the favourites to finish in the top seven this campaign. They lost two of their last sixteen games, seven being draws. Of all the teams in the top ten, the Bantams had the highest number of home draws. They have to figure out a way to kill off games to put themselves in a better position to achieve automatic promotion and avoid the play-offs disappointments of like last season. Although Bradford City considers the Championship their natural home, it has been 19 years since they last competed at that level. They have been confined to the lower divisions for nearly two decades.

Andy Cook was the team’s standout performer, scoring 28 goals and assisting eight. The decision to rest him when he appeared jaded mid-season proved to be a wise choice. Bradford does appear lightweight without him, with only Jame Walker (five) and Scott Banks (six) scoring five goals or more.

The club have been busy in the free transfer market, signing Kevin McDonald (Defensive Midfield), Tyler Smith (Centre-Forward), Clarke Oduor (Left-Back), Alex Pattison (Central Midfield) and Ash Taylor (Centre-Back).

Mansfield Town

Talking about play-off disappointment, it doesn’t get better than The Stags, who missed out on the play-offs by a mere goal difference of just one.

They conceded one more goal than Salford City, which was enough to remove them from the play-offs and potential promotion, meaning they would have to endure the club’s eleventh consecutive season in League Two. They were also the finalists of the 2021-22 play-offs but again lost.

In League Two, they finished 8th. They had a mixed performance with 21 wins, 12 draws, and 13 losses. Their goal difference was +17, with 72 goals for and 55 against. They had a notable winning streak from 24th September to 15th October 2022, winning five consecutive matches.

Hiram Boateng from Milton Keynes Dons, Scott Flinders from Cheltenham Town, and Anthony Hartigan from AFC Wimbledon were important additions to the team’s roster last season. Ryan Burke, Nathan Caine, and Jaden Charles were notable departures for Bohemians, Stafford Rangers, and Nuneaton Borough, respectively.

We anticipate Nigel Clough and his team will come out all guns blazing to stay in the top seven and, this time around, stay safe and score many goals to avoid the probability of coming short by goal difference.

Salford

Salford City Football Club’s 2022/23 season was a record-breaking one in League Two, as they notched up their highest points total and led the league in goals scored. However, the season ended in disappointment with a gut-wrenching penalty shootout loss at Edgeley Park.

The club has employed a new manager each year in the past four seasons, resulting in mediocre finishes of seventh, eighth, and ninth since their promotion in 2019. The club had a change in leadership, with Neil Wood, the under-23 head coach from Manchester United, taking the reins. Wood, who had a history of nurturing young talent, brought in new signings and developed existing players, with Elliot Watt becoming a standout performer.

The club, known as The Ammies, boasts a roster of Manchester United Class of ’92 legends, including David Beckham, Nicky Butt, the Neville brothers, Ryan Giggs, and Paul Scholes. These stars, coupled with the substantial financial backing of Singaporean millionaire Peter Lim, should make them a formidable contender in the upcoming season.

Even with the heartbreak of the semi-final, the season was a success overall, with the team reaching the playoffs for the first time and achieving their best-ever finish. The club now faces a challenging next season, with rivals Stockport, Bradford City, and Mansfield Town all seeking payback. New teams, including Wrexham and Notts County, will also add to the competition. The club must bolster its defence and improve its finishing in the final third to compete effectively.

League Two 2023/24 – The Hopefuls

In a season, there is always the underdog story that usually highlights some romantic fairy tale despite their Football League promotion odds. They don’t occasionally have a beautiful ending, but they give us an excellent ride and exciting matchup to see the small teams given little consideration, outperform themselves. We predict Harrogate Town, Gillingham, and newly promoted Notts County have that potential in them.

Harrogate Town

Harrogate Town, despite having the second poorest defence in the league, only surpassed by Crawley Town, managed to finish a safe four points away from the relegation zone. This was a disappointing performance considering their exceptional scoring ability. They were the highest-scoring team with fifty-nine goals among those not in the top ten. They could have aimed for higher achievements if their defence had been more robust. As they move into the new season, their impressive offensive capabilities make them a team to watch. They will undoubtedly become a formidable competitor if they can bolster their defence.

Gillingham

Last season, Gillingham had a challenging start but managed to secure a solid finish, ending up seventeenth in the League Two table. They were only seven points shy of ninth place, but it required the motivational efforts of their manager, Neil Harris, to extract their best performance, indicating a lack of self-drive and clear objectives. Remarkably, they lost only six out of their last twenty-three games. It remains to be seen whether they will begin the new season on a low note or build upon the resilience demonstrated in the previous season. Their most glaring weakness was their inability to score, with a total of just thirty-six goals throughout the season. They must find inner motivation, as they have shown potential to win the league. However, if they continue to rely on external motivation to reach their goals, they may be in for a difficult season.

Notts County

While Wrexham was the centre of attention in the National League, Notts County managed to surprise everyone with their performance, despite having fewer financial resources and lacking the allure of celebrity endorsement. They brought excitement to the National League; we expect this rivalry to carry over into Football League Two. With Wrexham being the favourites and Notts County being the second-best promoted team, we’re looking forward to an intriguing competition.

The prospect of consecutive promotions makes betting on their Football League Two odds attractive, with a potentially lucrative cash-out at operators such as bet365.

League Two 2023/24 – The Strugglers

The final group of teams we’re focusing on are those that, in our opinion, may face a challenging season ahead. These teams have favourable football League Two betting odds if you are brave enough or a safer bet in the relegation market. We’ll be pointing out their potential vulnerabilities, which could become their ‘Achilles Heel’ in this campaign.

Crawley

Crawley Town spent much of the last season teetering on the edge of relegation, finishing just two points clear of the drop zone. This precarious position makes them a prime candidate for relegation in the Football League. They recorded the fewest away victories in the division, and only Hartlepool, the relegated team, conceded more goals during away matches. Adding to their challenges is a lack of financial resources, which has led to the departure of some of their key players. Their standout midfielder, James Tilley, who scored five goals, has been recruited by AFC Wimbledon, another League Two team. A consistent presence with forty appearances, Jack Powell has transferred to Crewe Alexandra, and the loan periods for Mazeed Ogunbo and Tom Fellows have concluded.

Morecambe

Morecambe, a club with a century-long history, experienced their first relegation. A win in their final match against Exeter City would have ensured their survival, but a loss confirmed their relegation instead. The Shrimps were promoted to League One in 2021 and finished nineteenth in their first season. However, this season they ended up in the relegation zone, in twenty-second place, just two points short of safety. Despite their recent League One status, success in their new division is not guaranteed. They need to put their affairs in order, starting with hiring a new manager after the dismissal of Derek Adams, and bringing in new signings to bolster their chances of a successful campaign.

MK Dons

MK Dons narrowly missed survival in a disappointing season. They were on the verge of promotion to the Championship in the previous season’s playoffs, but fell short in the following season, with a deficit of just one point leading to their relegation. Chairman Pete Winkelman has pledged to break away from the pattern of appointing inexperienced managers, which has led to inconsistent and stagnant progress for the team. We’ve identified them as potential strugglers due to the numerous issues they need to address in a short timeframe before the new season begins. This task is particularly daunting as most other teams have already completed their preparations and are gearing up for the new season.

League Two 2023/24 – Bookmaker’s Odds

For sports betting, we’ve prepared a comprehensive table outlining the League Two promotion and relegation odds.

Four teams will be promoted, while only two will face relegation, making the Football League odds a thrilling prospect for intense competition to avoid the relegation zone.

League Two 2023/24 – Bookmaker’s Odds
TEAM PROMOTION ODDS RELEGATION ODDS
Wrexham 5/6 100/1
Stockport 11/8 66/1
Notts County 15/8 50/1
Bradford City 11/4 33/1
Mansfield 11/4 25/1
Gillingham 3/1 28/1
Salford City 7/2 25/1
MK Dons 3/1 25/1
Doncaster 4/1 14/1
Tranmere 5/1 16/1
Swindon 5/1 20/1
Grimsby 11/2 10/1
Walsall 7/2 9/1
Accrington 11/2 10/1
Forest Green 8/1 12/1
Newport County 8/1 13/2
AFC Wimbledon 8/1 7/1
Colchester 12/1 5/1
Morecambe 12/1 7/2
Sutton United 8/1 5/1
Barrow 12/1 11/2
Crewe 12/1 5/1
Crawley 14/1 7/2
Harrogate Town 14/1 10/3

Leading the Football League winning odds is the newly promoted team, Wrexham (5/6), who will reignite their rivalry with Stockport (11/8) and continue their competition against Notts County (15/8).

At the opposite end, Harrogate Town (10/3), Crawley (7/2), and Crewe (5/1) are the teams with the highest Football League relegation odds.

League Two 2023/24 – Youngsters to Watch

The Football League Two is a brewing ground providing valuable minutes for some of the best talents in England and the world. Here are some of the Football League’s two rising stars.

Luke Bolton

The twenty-three-year-old who went through the Manchester City youth system is one of the Football League’s rising stars. He has been consistently on loan since heading to Wycombe, Luton, and Dundee before moving to Salford in early 2022. He had a breakthrough season playing all league forty-six league games, scoring thirteen goal involvements (six goals, seven assists). After the uncertainty of last season, he will be a much-improved player to take on League Two and keep his side’s promotion hopes alive.

Junior Tchamedeu

Five goals and two assists are pretty good numbers for a nineteen old right-back and one of the brightest Football League Two’s young talents. The England and Colchester United defender was an integral part of the team despite their struggles last season and raised eyebrows with his performances.

Kyle Hurst

The twenty-one-year-old attacking midfielder prefers to cut in from the left side to his favourite right foot. He was an ever-present figure in his side, missing just one of the forty-six League Two games last season. He scored six goals and was an impressive performer for Doncaster Rovers as the catalyst of most of his side’s attack. He has the potential to play at the highest level if he keeps up the impressive performances.

League Two 2023/24 – First Round of Fixtures

The first week of fixtures in League Two is set to be an exciting one. Here’s a summary:

  • Accrington Stanley will be playing against Newport County.
  • Colchester United is set to face Swindon Town.
  • Crawley Town will be up against Bradford City.
  • Crewe Alexandra will be taking on Mansfield Town.
  • Doncaster Rovers will be competing against Harrogate Town.
  • Forest Green Rovers will be playing against Salford City.
  • Grimsby Town is set to face AFC Wimbledon.
  • Morecambe will be up against Walsall.
  • Stockport County will be taking on Gillingham.
  • Sutton United will be competing against Notts County.
  • Tranmere Rovers will be playing against Barrow.
  • Wrexham is set to face Milton Keynes Dons.

These matches promise to be thrilling encounters as each team begins their campaign in the League Two season.

The upcoming season in Football League Two promises to be thrilling, with some of the most competitive lower-division teams participating.

The intense rivalry between Wrexham, Stockport, and Notts County for promotion and the title could potentially go down to the wire. Our 2023-24 League Two preview has spotlighted the top contenders, the teams likely to struggle, and those favoured for relegation. We’ve also highlighted some youngsters who have the ability to shine in League Two.

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