Skip to content

League One Guide

As the big kick-off approaches, Sky Sports gives you the lowdown on each and every club in the Sky Bet League One.

Sky Sports' club-by-club guide to the Sky Bet League One as we prepare for the big kick-off.

Sky Bet League One promises to provide its most competitive campaign in years as a host of strong sides, old and new, battle for superiority in 2013/14. Last season, only Doncaster made an immediate return to the Championship following relegation - continuing a trend which has seen no more than one team bounce straight back to the second tier in nine out of the last 10 years. At the other end of the table, none of the four promoted teams from League Two were relegated last term - going against the grain of recent years gone by, also suggesting England's fourth tier is closing the gap in quality. Not only will newcomers Gillingham, Port Vale, Rotherham and Bradford look to hold their own next season but they also boast the potential to compete in the top half of the table. Meanwhile, Wolves, Bristol City and Peterborough are coming down each with genuine ambitions to be right up there among the promotion candidates. Throw in Uwe Rosler's Brentford, sleeping giants Sheffield United and resurgent Swindon - all of who missed out in the play-offs last year - and it makes the 2013/14 campaign one to really excite - with the potential to be even closer than the 10 points which separated first from sixth in 2012/13. Also in the mix are sure to be the likes of MK Dons and Preston, who are heading in the right direction under Karl Robinson and Simon Grayson respectively. The bookmakers have Kenny Jackett's Wolves as title favourites - as they compete in the third tier for the first time since 1989 after back-to-back relegations - closely followed by Peterborough, Sheffield United, Brentford and Bristol City. Coventry have endured a turbulent summer having spent it in administration and under a transfer embargo, while the crisis club have announced they will be groundsharing with Northampton at Sixfields Stadium for at least the next three years from the start of next term. At the wrong end of League One, Colchester, Oldham, Stevenage, Carlisle and Shrewsbury were all involved in a relegation dogfight last year and survived. Yet with the division becoming stronger they may well find themselves down there battling to avoid the drop once more and will be happy to find themselves safely in mid-table next May. And that is where you are sure to find Walsall, minus star forwards Will Grigg and Jamie Paterson, as well as Crewe, who have also lost influential skipper Luke Murphy, along with the likes of Leyton Orient, Crawley, Tranmere and Notts County.

BRADFORD

Manager: Phil Parkinson Position last season: 7th in League Two, play-off winners Nickname: The Bantams Ground: Coral Windows Stadium/Valley Parade Capacity: 25,136 Players in: Jason Kennedy (Rochdale, free), Mark Yeates (Watford, free) Players out: Dean Overson, Steve Williams, Adam Baker, Zavon Hines (all released), Matt Duke Northampton, free), Will Atkinson (Southend, free) Key man: Andrew Davies Chances: Will be looking to maintain their momentum from last season and if they get off to a good start, with their big crowd behind them, Bradford should be looking up the table at a possible play-off challenge

BRENTFORD

Manager: Uwe Rosler Position last season: 3rd Nickname: The Bees Ground: Griffin Park Capacity: 12,300 Players in: Jack Bonham (Watford, free), Jake Bidwell (Everton, undisclosed), George Saville (Chelsea, loan), Alan McCormack (Swindon, free), Will Grigg (Walsall, compensation), Martin Fillo (FC Viktoria Plzen, loan), Javi Venta (Villareal, free), Jack Uttridge (Histon, free) Players out: Antoine Gounet, Stefan Tomasevic, Max Herbert, Joe Maloney, Myles Hippolyte, Sam Griffiths, Leon Redwood (all released), Antonio German (Gillingham, compensation), Harry Forrester (Doncaster, compensation) Key man: Clayton Donaldson Chances: The Bees are determined to put last season's near-miss behind them and, with the squad already looking stronger despite the loss of Harry Forrester, they should be in the promotion mix again come May.

BRISTOL CITY

Head coach: Sean O'Driscoll Position last season: 24th in Championship Nickname: The Robins Ground: Ashton Gate Capacity: 21,501 Players in: Jordan Wynter (Arsenal, free) Aden Flint (Swindon, undisclosed), Derrick Williams (Aston Villa, free), Frank Fielding (Derby, undisclosed), Jay Emmanuel-Thomas (Ipswich, swap deal), Scott Wagstaff (Charlton, free) Players out: Mark Wilson, Dean Gerken (Ipswich, free), Lewis Carey, Brian Howard, Matthew Bates (all released), Cole Skuse (Ipswich, free), Richard Foster (Rangers, free), Jon Stead (Huddersfield, free), Tom Heaton, (Burnley, free), Lewin Nyatanga (Barnsley, free) Paul Anderson (Ipswich, swap deal) Key man: Jay Emmanuel-Thomas Chances: After a nightmare 2012/13 there is cause for optimism around Ashton Gate. Eleven players may have departed after relegation but their replacements fit the Sean O'Driscoll bill. Expect a stylish, possession-based team to be challenging at the top if the Robins' strikers step up to the mark.

CARLISLE

Manager: Greg Abbott Position last season: 17th Nickname: The Cumbrians Ground: Brunton Park Capacity: 18,202 Players in: David Amoo (Tranmere, free), Josh Gillies (Gateshead, free), Reece James (Manchester United, loan) Players out: Peter Murphy, Rory Loy, Mathieu Manset, Jon-Paul McGovern, Frank Simek, Tony Caig (all released), Andy Welsh (Scunthorpe, free), Adam Collin (Rotherham, free) Key man: Lee Miller Chances: Carlisle under-achieved last season. The Cumbrians are capable of beating anybody, particularly at Brunton Park, and manager Greg Abbott is under pressure to establish a level of consistency needed to challenge in the top half of the table.

COLCHESTER

Manager: Joe Dunne Position last season: 20th Nickname: The U's Ground: Weston Homes Community Stadium Capacity: 10,084 Players in: Craig Eastmond (Arsenal, free), Mason Spence (MK Dons, free), Sanchez Watt, (Arsenal, free), Danie Pappoe (Chelsea, six-month loan), Sam Walker (Chelsea, six-month loan) Players out: Jackson Ramm (released) John White (Southend, free), Jack Compton (Hartlepool, free) Key man: Sanchez Watt Chances: Colchester narrowly survived the drop last term and can expect to be facing another relegation scrap in 2013/14 with eyes hopefully on a mid-table finish.

COVENTRY

Manager: Steven Pressley Position last season: 15th Nickname: Sky Blues Ground: Groundsharing at Northampton's Sixfields Stadium Capacity: 7,653 Players in: Players out: Jordan Stewart, Stephen Elliott, Danny Philliskirk, Shaun Jeffers, Will Roberts, Josh Ruffels, Joe Henderson, David Bell (all released), Cody McDonald (Gillingham, free), Nathan Cameron (Bury, free), Richard Wood (Charlton, free) Key man: Leon Clarke Chances: It has been a turbulent summer having spent it in administration and under a transfer embargo while also announcing a groundshare with Northampton, and a tough season is likely to await the Sky Blues on the pitch.

CRAWLEY

Manager: Richie Barker Position last season: 10th Nickname: The Red Devils Ground: Broadfield Stadium Capacity: 5,996 Players in: Andy Drury (Ipswich, free), James Hurst (West Brom, free) Players out: Shaun Cooper, Lateef Elford-Alliyu (both released), Matt Sparrow (Scunthorpe, free), Richard Brodie (Gateshead, free), David Hunt (Oxford, free), Mustapha Dumbuya (Notts County, free) Key man: Billy Clarke Chances: Fell short of the play-offs last term and, despite their big ambitions, with little in the way of investment over the summer mid-table beckons again for the men from Sussex.

CREWE

Manager: Steve Davis Position last season: 13th Nickname: Alex, the Railwaymen Ground: Gresty Road Capacity: 10,153 Players in: Vadaine Oliver (Lincoln, undisclosed), Thierry Audel (Macclesfield, undisclosed), Lee Molyneux (Accrington, free), Anthony Grant (Stevenage, free) Players out: Andy White, Paris Bateman, Brendon Daniels, Harry Clayton (all released), Luke Murphy (Leeds, undisclosed) Key man: Max Clayton Chances: Lost another of their academy gems when Luke Murphy switched to Leeds but have plenty more promising prospects to keep them away from relegation trouble.

GILLINGHAM

Manager: Martin Allen Position last season: 1st in League Two Nickname: The Gills Ground: Priestfield Stadium Capacity: 11,582 Players in: Amine Linganzi (Accrington, free), Antonio German (Brentford, compensation), Adebayo Akinfenwa (Northampton, free), Cody McDonald (Coventry, free) Players out: Lewis Montrose (York, free), Jack Evans (Tamworth, free), Andy Frampton (AFC Wimbledon, free) Key man: Stuart Nelson Chances: Gillingham dominated League Two last term as they scooped the title and will be looking to finish in the top half of League One, with one eye on a potential play-off spot amid a competitive division.

LEYTON ORIENT

Manager: Russell Slade Position last season: 7th Nickname: The O's Ground: Brisbane Road Capacity: 9,271 Players in: Jake Larkins (West Ham, free), Shaun Batt (Millwall, free) Yohann Lasimant (unattached, free) Players out: Lee Butcher, Lee Cook, Charlie MacDonald, Leon McSweeney, Martin Rowlands (all released), Jimmy Smith (Stevenage, free), Michael Symes (Burton, free), Afolabi Obafemi (Dagenham, free), Anthony Griffith (Port Vale, free) Key man: Kevin Lisbie Chances: Flirted with the play-offs last season but that looks an over-achievement. Russell Slade always has a decent first XI but there is little depth with injuries always likely to cost them.

MK DONS

Manager: Karl Robinson Position last season: 8th Nickname: The Dons Ground: stadium:mk Capacity: 22,000 Players in: Patrick Bamford (Chelsea, loan), Ben Reeves (Southampton, free), Jason Banton (Crystal Palace, loan), Lee Hodson (Watford, free) Players out: Mathias Kouo-Doumbe (released), Ryan Lowe (Tranmere, free), Gary MacKenzie (Blackpool, undisclosed), Adam Chicksen (Brighton, compensation) Key man: Stephen Gleeson Chances: Injuries to key players hit the Dons hard last season. If they can avoid such misfortune this time round then expect them to be challenging for promotion.

NOTTS COUNTY

Manager: Chris Kiwomya Position last season: 12th Nickname: The Magpies Ground: Meadow Lane Capacity: 20,229 Players in: Malcolm Melvin (Aston Villa, free), Andy Haworth (Rochdale, free), Mustapha Dumbuya (Crawley, free), David Bell (Coventry, free), Danny Haynes (Charlton, free), Mark Fotheringham (Ross County, free) Players out: Julian Kelly, Neal Bishop, Hamza Bencherif, Liam Mitchell, Jake Wholey (all released), Alan Judge (Blackburn, free), Jeff Hughes (Fleetwood, free) Key man: Danny Haynes Chances: Kiwomya has put his stamp on the squad this summer but it remains to be seen how Notts cope with the loss of key players such as Judge, Bishop and Hughes. Just like last season, the play-offs will probably be just beyond them.

OLDHAM

Manager: Lee Johnson Position last season: 19th Nickname: The Latics Ground: Boundary Park Capacity: 10,638 Players in: Jonson Clarke-Harris (Peterborough, undisclosed), James Dayton, (Kilmarnock, free), Korey Smith (Norwich, free), Charlie MacDonald (Leyton Orient, free), Mark Oxley (Hull, season-long loan), Anton Rodgers (Brighton, free), Edijs Joksts (FC Jurmala, free), Sidney Schmeltz (SC Veendam, free) Players out: Robbie Simpson, Dean Bouzanis, Lee Croft, Alex Cisak, Dan Taylor, Liam Jacob (all released), Connor Hughes (Hyde, free), Matt Smith (Leeds, free), Dean Furman (Doncaster, free) Key man: Jose Baxter Chances: The Football League's youngest manager steered Oldham away from the League One drop zone at the end of last year after their FA Cup heroics. Johnson knows he faces a similar task in his first full season in charge.

PETERBOROUGH

Manager: Darren Ferguson Position last season: 22nd in Championship Nickname: The Posh Ground: London Road Capacity: 14,640 Players in: Jack Payne (Gillingham, undisclosed) Players out: Jonson Clarke-Harris (Oldham, undisclosed), George Boyd (Hull, free), Dwight Gayle (Crystal Palace, undisclosed). Key man: Jack Payne Chances: The futures of a handful of players remain undecided but despite that - along with the departures of Boyd and Gayle - Posh should still be too strong for most in League One and an immediate return to the Championship appears a good bet.

PORT VALE

Manager: Micky Adams Position last season: 3rd in League Two Nickname: The Valiants Ground: Vale Park Capacity: 19,052 Players in: Kaid Mohamed (Cheltenham, free), Gavin Tomlin (Southend, free), Chris Robertson, (Preston, free) Anthony Griffith (Leyton Orient, free) Players out: Darren Purse, Clayton McDonald, Kingsley James, Calvin Andrew (all released), John McCombe (Mansfield, free), Sam Morsy (Chesterfield, compensation), Ashley Vincent (Cheltenham, free) Key man: Tom Pope Chances: Adams is still targeting defenders as pre-season injuries grip his squad ahead of the campaign. Vale appear well-equipped in attack and keeping Pope this summer was a must but they still might find the step up a little tough.

PRESTON

Manager: Simon Grayson Position last season: 14th Nickname: The Lilywhites Ground: Deepdale Capacity: 23,408 Players in: Tom Clarke (Huddersfield, free), Chris Humphrey (Motherwell, free), Kevin Davies (Bolton, free) Players out: Luke Foster (released), Chris Robertson (Port Vale, free), Andy Procter (Bury, free), Ben Davies (York, loan) Key man: Nicky Wroe Chances: Fancied by some to be an outside chance for automatic promotion under Simon Grayson, who has led Blackpool, Leeds and Huddersfield in to the second tier, North End will need to score more goals if they are to realise that ambition.

ROTHERHAM

Manager: Steve Evans Position last season: 2nd in League Two Nickname: The Millers Ground: New York Stadium Capacity: 12,000 Players in: Joe Skarz (Bury, free), Richard Brindley (Chesterfield, free), Adam Collin (Carlisle, free), David Worrall (Bury, undisclosed), Danny Hylton (Aldershot, free), Robert Milsom (Aberdeen, free), Michael Tidser (Morton, £50,000) Players out: Andy Warrington, Alec Denton (both released), Ian Sharps (Burton, free), Nicky Hunt (Accrington, free), Dale Tonge (Torquay, free), Johnny Mullins (Oxford, undisclosed) Key man: Michael O'Connor Chances: The Millers will fancy their chances of producing another promotion push after finishing second in League Two. Steve Evans has a healthy budget but expect them to fall short of the play-offs.

SHEFFIELD UNITED

Manager: David Weir Position last season: 5th Nickname: The Blades Ground: Bramall Lane Capacity: 32,702 Players in: Febian Brandy (Walsall, free), Stephen McGinn (Watford, free), Sean McGinty (Manchester United, free), Jasper Johns (Everton, free), Lyle Taylor (Falkirk, undisclosed), Connor Coady (Liverpool, loan) Players out: Barry Robson (Aberdeen, free), Lecsinel Jean-Francois, Matty Harriott, Danny Coyne (all released), Dave Kitson (Oxford, free), Jordan Chapell (Torquay, free) Key man: Kevin McDonald Chances: Blades fans will want to avoid another play-off following two successive failures, but asking new boss David Weir to steer the club to automatic promotion in his first season as a manager and on a limited budget is a tall order.

SHREWSBURY

Manager: Graham Turner Position last season: 16th Nickname: The Shrews Ground: Greenhous Meadow Capacity: 9,875 Players in: Alex McQuade (Bolton, free), Dave Winfield (Wycombe, free), Tamika Mkandawire (Millwall, free), Akwasi Asante (Birmingham, one-month loan), John Marsden (Stoke, free) Players out: Matt Richards, Marvin Morgan (Plymouth, free), Mark Wright, Rob Purdie, Ryan Doble and Jermaine Grandison (all released), Asa Hall (Oxford, six-month loan) Key man: Jon Taylor Chances: Shrewsbury are facing another season of struggle in League One having released some big-name players and failed to really replace them with quality.

STEVENAGE

Manager: Graham Westley Position last season: 18th Nickname: Boro Ground: Broadhall Way Capacity: 6,546 Players in: Luke Jones (Mansfield, free), Oumare Tounkara (Bristol Rovers, free), Sam Wedgbury (Macclesfield, free), Simon Heslop (Oxford, free), Jordan Burrow (Morecambe, free), Jimmy Smith (Leyton Orient, free) Players out: Miguel Comminges, Andy Iro, Bondz N'Gala (all released), Patrick Agyemang (Portsmouth, free), Mark Roberts (Fleetwood, free), Anthony Grant (Crewe, free) Key man: James Dunne Chances: Westley has set about rebuilding the squad for his third stint in charge at Broadhall Way, but it is hard to imagine Boro troubling the promotion pack this season.

SWINDON

Manager: To be appointed Position last season: 6th Nickname: The Robins Ground: County Ground Capacity: 15,728 Players in: Jack Barthram (Tottenham, free), Nathan Byrne (Tottenham, free), Alex Pritchard (Tottenham, season-long loan) Alex Smith (Fulham, free), Grant Hall (Tottenham, season-long loan), Massimo Luongo (Tottenham, season-long loan), Ryan Mason (Tottenham, season-long loan), Tijane Reis (GD Chaves, free) Players out: Gary Roberts, (Chesterfield, free) Joe Devera, (Portsmouth, free) Aden Flint, (Bristol City, undisclosed fee), Alan McCormack (Brentford, free) Simon Ferry, Tommy Miller, Raffaele De Vita, Chris Smith (all released) Key man: Nathan Thompson Chances: Shorn of a number of experienced faces, including former captain Alan McCormack, the Robins faithful will be cheering on a far more fresh-faced side this season under new management and they would certainly accept a second successive play-off appearance.

TRANMERE

Manager: Ronnie Moore Position last season: 11th Nickname: Rovers Ground: Prenton Park Capacity: 16,567 Players in: Stephen Foster (Barnsley, free), Evan Horwood (Hartlepool, free), Ryan Lowe (MK Dons, free), Akpo Sodje (Scunthorpe, free), Chris Atkinson (Huddersfield, loan), James Rowe (Forest Green, free) Players out: Paul Black (Mansfield, free), Danny Harrison (Chester FC, free), David Amoo, (Carlisle, free), Michael Kay (Chester FC, free), Zoumana Bakayogo (Leicester, free), Adam McGurk (released) Key man: James Wallace Chances: Tranmere flew out of the blocks last year but Ronnie Moore's small squad struggled to maintain that form as they drifted down into mid-table. Look for Rovers to occupy a similar spot come the end of this term.

WALSALL

Manager: Dean Smith Position last season: 9th Nickname: The Saddlers Ground: Banks's Stadium Capacity: 11,300 Players in: Milan Lalkovic, (Chelsea, six-month loan) Troy Hewitt, (QPR, free), Richard O'Donnell (Chesterfield, free), Romaine Sawyers (West Brom, free) Players out: George Bowerman, Richard Taundry, Aaron Williams, Connor Taylor, Jake Jones (all released), Febian Brandy (Sheffield United, free), Will Grigg (Brentford, compensation), Jamie Paterson (Nottingham Forest, undisclosed) Key man: Milan Lalkovic Chances: The Saddlers have lost 40 of their 71 goals scored last term with the departures of Will Grigg, Jamie Paterson and Febian Brandy, they are lacking goals but will be hoping for another top-half finish.

WOLVES

Manager: Kenny Jackett Position last season: 23rd in Championship Nickname: Wolves Ground: Molineux Capacity: 31,700 Players in: Sam Ricketts (Bolton, free) Players out: Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, Stephen Hunt (both released), Christophe Berra (Ipswich, free), Jody Craddock (retired), Dorus De Vries (Nottingham Forest, free), Karl Henry (QPR, undisclosed) Key man: Leigh Griffiths Chances: In the third tier for the first time since 1989 after back-to-back relegations, Wolves, under experienced boss Kenny Jackett, are the bookies' favourites to win the League One title.

Around Sky