#league-two

#league-two

As a new year begins, the race to reach the Premier League is even by the Championship's usual standards absolutely wide open. Coventry remain the clear front-runners, but their blistering early form has slowed in recent weeks; Frank Lampard will seek to start the new year on a high against out-of-form Charlton today. Behind them, Middlesbrough (at Derby), Ipswich (at home to Oxford) and Hull City (at home to Stoke) will look to keep up the chase.

Ian Holloway might have begun his career at hometown club Bristol Rovers but there will be no time for sentiment when he returns on Saturday in the opposition dugout for a competitive fixture for the first time. It was almost 30 years ago in 1996 when Holloway first stepped into the Memorial Stadium as a manager and, while his career since has taken him all across English football, he has never returned with another club until now with Swindon Town.

Starting with the hosts, while MK Dons might open Saturday's fixtures sat just one-point adrift of finding a route into the automatic promotion spots, Paul Warne's men are seeking some recent stability. Last seen settling for a 2-2 stalemate away at Tranmere last weekend, the former Derby boss has seen his squad win just a pair of their previous six appearances across all competitions.

Christian Fuchs has been linked with Newport County, and he is reportedly set to take over the managerial role. Speculation is growing that the former Premier League champion Christian Fuchs could join the Welsh club as their new manager after he was spotted watching Newport County's recent away fixture from the stands, as per The Sun. Christian Fuchs did well for the Foxes

The 2025-26 FA Cup first-round draw takes place on Monday, 13 October from 18:30 BST. It will be held before Worthing face Robbie Savage's Forest Green Rovers in the fourth round of qualifying. All 48 teams from League One and Two will join the 32 non-league teams who have progressed from the qualifying rounds. Premier League and Championship teams enter the FA Cup in the third round. Fixtures from the first round will take place around the weekend of Saturday, 1 November.

I went for the LMA health check in May and they found something with my heart. I've got to have heart surgery this week. It sounds dramatic, but it's a routine thing they do. This has all been planned. Get behind Dobbo and the team, they will be stepping up. I'll be off for a few weeks, and then I'll be back.

It is not going to be a quick fix, like I said last week. I looked at the stats and it seems they gave up a lot of possession to Oxford. Gary Rowett's team has better players now and more ways to hurt the opposition. I always felt it was going to be a tough game. Chris Wilder had success last year being a transition team.

League Two bottom side Cheltenham Town have sacked manager Michael Flynn after they suffered a 3-0 home defeat by Oldham Athletic. The loss was the Robins' ninth in 12 matches across all competitions this season. Only one of those wins have come from nine league matches to date, leaving them at the foot of the English Football League. Flynn had been in charge of Cheltenham since May 2024 and guided them to 15th place in the table last season.

Walsall have signed forward Daniel Kanu on a season-long loan from Championship side Charlton Athletic. Kanu, 20, came through the youth ranks at The Valley. He made his debut in February 2022, and has scored seven goals in 59 league appearances for the Addicks.

Manchester United will travel to League Two Grimsby in the Carabao Cup second round as they attempt to bounce back from one of their worst seasons in recent history.

Woodman described the lengthy delay to replace an injured assistant referee as "embarrassing," emphasizing the unusual situation of needing to recruit from the crowd to continue the match.

Chesterfield have signed Fulham midfielder Matt Dibley-Dias on a season-long loan deal, adding him as the sixth summer signing to their squad.

"Following Crawley's relegation to League Two this season, Jeremy was offered a new contract to further extend his time at the Broadfield Stadium, but has chosen to explore options closer to home."

Walsall holds a 2-0 advantage over Chesterfield as they head into the second leg of the League Two play-offs, aiming to secure a spot in the finals.

"At the start of the season we'd have taken it - finishing fourth - but we all know that's not the situation."

The final day of the season promises to be gripping, with all 12 League Two games kicking off simultaneously as teams fight for promotion.

The League Two play-offs will start on May 11, 2025, featuring semi-finals on specified dates, leading to a final on May 26 hosted at Wembley.

The potential of the team under the ownership of Fahad [Al Ghanim] and the Board is truly limitless, and I'm extremely grateful to be given the opportunity to manage the side over the coming years.