League Two this season feels stronger than ever. Two genuinely brilliant sides, both of whom recorded north of 100 points and secured promotion back to the Football League are now ready to make an impact in the fourth tier. But are Wrexham in particular, surrounded by their Hollywood hype, rightly favourites to win the league? We’ve taken a look at Betfred’s markets to give our best tips and picks.
Wrexham are 7/2 favourites to win League Two with Betfred but that seems like a big ask despite their hefty investment. The team owned by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney will be competitive at the top end of the division but for them to win the league would take some doing. I wouldn’t be backing them at that short price.
I’m keen on Notts County after their promotion, given they’ve signed David McGoldrick and Jodi Jones on permanent deals, however my pick to win the league is Stockport County. Having got promoted from the National League in 2021-22, they are a year ahead of Wrexham and County.
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They came close last term, narrowly losing the play-off final to Carlisle United on penalties having finished fourth and have added star name Nick Powell to an already strong squad. With Dave Challinor at the helm, they shouldn’t suffer the same slow start as they did last term, and the league title ought to be well within sight.
Tip: Stockport County to win League Two at 5/1
Macauley Langstaff scored a ridiculous 42 goals in the National League last season, beating 38-goal Paul Mullin to the Golden Boot. Those two lead the way in the market and they will get goals at this level, but the statement signing of the summer has my vote here. David McGoldrick was outstanding for Derby County in League One last term, scoring 22 league goals as they pushed for the play-offs.
For the 35-year-old to return to his boyhood club at this stage of his career is a huge coup not just for Notts County but for the entire division. Having pinged one in from 35 yards in pre-season, he looks set to make the division his playground. McGoldrick is 8/1 to win the Golden Boot.
We’ve mentioned the major contenders so far, but also in contention for the top three are Gillingham, Salford City, Bradford City and Milton Keynes Dons. Salford only lost to Stockport on penalties in their play-off semi-final and look like they will challenge the top seven again, while Gillingham’s revival in the second half of the season was seriously impressive.
Whether Neil Harris can deliver that consistency over an entire season remains to be seen, but the Gills will certainly be play-off contenders rather than relegation candidates this time around.
However, if we want certainty, we want to back a team that is guaranteed to score goals. A lot of them. If Notts County don’t win the league they should finish in the top three with the duo of Langstaff and McGoldrick able to tear most teams apart.
Tip: Notts County 7/4 to be promoted
Now it’s time to consider the bigger prices. We’ve seen over the years that anybody has a chance of sneaking into the top seven, so the market really is wide open. MK Dons, recently relegated, should be there or thereabouts but the 6/5 on offer isn’t something to get excited about. If you really want to push the boat out, how about considering Barrow, who are currently priced at 9/2 to finish in the top seven.
Only five teams are more likely to be relegated than Barrow according to Betfred, but for me they’ve been completely mis-judged. Manager Pete Wild has shown his class and now looks to have a plan to push on after a ninth-place finish last term. They ended a fair way off the play-offs but their performances should have garnered them more respect with the bookies. It hasn’t.
Wild has all the attributes of an elite manager at this level. This season he could crash into the top seven with Barrow.
Tip: Barrow to finish in the top seven at 9/2
From the magic to the misery, we head to the relegation candidates. There’s no point wasting much time on this, the favourites to get relegated are Crawley Town, and under bizarre owners WAGMI United, the ‘internet’s team’ are heading for turmoil. They spent big last summer to no avail and now they look in danger of dropping out of the EFL.
They only have a handful of players who have proven themselves at this level and the arrival of Liam Kelly is unlikely to be enough to keep them out of danger.
Tip: Crawley Town to get relegated at 5/2
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