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The Guardian
18 hours ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
League One 2025-26 preview: the contenders, hopefuls and strugglers
Last season was grim for Luton, culminating in them suffering a second successive relegation. But there remains plenty of quality at Kenilworth Road. Teden Mengi could easily be playing in the top flight, while Millenic Alli is a leading light of the recent intake. Most importantly, perhaps, the manager, Matt Bloomfield, knows this division well. Cardiff were also relegated from the Championship last season and will be hoping their new manager, Brian Barry-Murphy, can arrest the Welsh club's slide. Stockport missed out in the playoffs last season after finishing third. They also lost Isaac Olaofe to Charlton but have invested a club-record fee in Malik Mothersille from Peterborough to fill the void. The Hatters will be confident of another promotion push as long as they can hold on to the highly rated Ethan Pye and Lewis Bate, who have attracted Championship interest over the summer. Huddersfield are another who have changed manager, bringing in Lee Grant for what is the former Stoke goalkeeper's first managerial role. Grant has sought experience on the pitch, signing Ryan Ledson, Murray Wallace, Lynden Gooch and Alfie May. Tom Cleverley has taken the reins at Plymouth after their relegation from the Championship, while Mike Dodds will need Richard Kone to stay put if Wycombe are to battle for a spot in the Championship. Steve Bruce will not want to be known as a League One manager for another season. He arrived at Blackpool midway through the last campaign and has been given the resources to push for a return to the second tier. Fraser Horsfall and Michael Ihiekwe have been acquired to strengthen central defence, and with Ashley Fletcher leading the line, Bruce's men will be hoping to rustle feathers. Reading did well to finish seventh last season considering the issues surrounding the club. Rob Couhig has become the new owner and a calmer presence in the boardroom could translate on to the pitch. Bolton finished eighth last season and their manger, Steven Schumacher, will be hoping to better that this time around. The loan signings of Teddy Sharman-Lowe and Amario Cozier-Duberry should excite but the loss of the captain, George Thomason, to Wrexham will need addressing. Leyton Orient made it to Wembley but fell just short in the playoff final. Ethan Galbraith and the loan stars Josh Keeley, Charlie Kelman and Jamie Donley have departed but there is plenty of excitement around the impending arrival of the Manchester United youngster Jack Moorhouse. Rotherham were expecting to challenge under Steve Evans last season but eventually stumbled to 13th. They have subsequently had a clearout of some big earners and allowed Matt Hamshaw to shape a more youthful squad. Conor Hourihane has used the loan market wisely to bring Barnsley up to scratch, while Ryan Lowe will be hoping Paul Mullin can spearhead Wigan's promotion push. Lincoln and Mansfield have an outside chance of getting into the playoffs. Doncaster won the League Two title last season and their manager, Grant McCann, quickly moved to sign Connor O'Riordan as a replacement for Joseph Olowu after his move to Stockport. Port Vale, who finished runners-up to Doncaster, have enjoyed a busy summer in the market as the manager, Darren Moore, attempts to balance youthful potential with old heads. Bradford, the third team to be promoted from League Two, may have half an eye on more than consolidation this season. For sure, Ibou Touray and Max Power will provide Graham Alexander's men with plenty of knowhow at this level. The League Two playoff winners, AFC Wimbledon, have been here before, playing six consecutive seasons in the third tier. Gary Bowyer oversaw the great escape with Burton last season and a continuation of that momentum should result in a better campaign for them. Exeter, Northampton and Stevenage might be fearful should they not start the season well. Andre Garcia, Reading, 17 The defender does not turn 18 until late November but already has 38 League One games under his belt. Garcia's performances at left-back also earned him an England Under-18 call-up in March and plenty of scouts are known to be tracking his progress. Benony Breki Andrésson, Stockport, 19 Having spent time in Bologna's academy, Andrésson's career began in earnest in his homeland of Iceland. Stockport were alerted to his potential and duly signed the striker in January to be part of their development team. He was quickly promoted to the first team and repaid the faith of his manager, Dave Challinor, with four goals in 11 games. Cian Ashford, Cardiff, 20 The local boy who has risen through the ranks and become a regular will be looking to push on this season. The arrival of Barry-Murphy as manager should help with that given the Irishman has worked with some of the best talent in the country during his time at Manchester City.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
League 1 predictions and best bets for 2025/26 season
League 1 tips: There might have been football played all summer, but for fans of League One, it's been nearly 13 weeks since the normal season ended back in May. But the wait is almost over, their season kicks off this weekend with Luton versus AFC Wimbledon opening proceedings on Friday night. Last season, these two sides were two leagues apart, but following Luton's second relegation in successive seasons and Wimbledon winning the League 2 play-offs, they will be battling it out to get the first points on the board. League One prediction: Luton to keep up their yo-yo form After playing in the Premier League just two seasons ago, it's no surprise to see Luton are the favourites to be celebrating promotion in May in the League One odds. But after winning just 19 of their last 84 league games, they will need to hope they can stop the rot and quickly if they are to move back up the leagues. Manager Matt Bloomfield will be buoyed by how they ended the season, though, when three wins from their last four almost saw them pull off a great escape. In the end, they went down on goal difference from Hull City, which, after going 12 games without a win between Boxing Day and 1 March, was quite an achievement. Bloomfield replaced Rob Edwards in January, and he will also be aware that he needs a good start to life this season after winning just six of his 20 games in charge, but he knows League One well and when he left Wycombe to take charge of Luton, they were second in the league and had enjoyed a 19-match unbeaten run. They have made eight signings so far, including striker Nahki Wells and defender Hakeem Odoffin, who was Rotherham's player of the season last season. They have some real quality in their squad, and on paper, you would expect them to be challenging for promotion from the off, but their mindset will have to be right as travelling to Burton and Exeter is a far cry from Old Trafford and Anfield. But in Bloomfield, they have a manager with lower league experience as a player and a manager who will demand that his players do the basics right. It is hard to see much further than them or Huddersfield Town, who the football betting sites have as second favourites to be crowned champions. There is no Birmingham type in the league this season, and the other two relegated sides, Cardiff and Plymouth, have probably found their level. League One betting: The other Hatters to enjoy success too If we're backing Luton to win the league, then it's worth looking at Huddersfield to be promoted. They finished 10th last season and lost eight of their last 10 matches under caretaker manager Jon Worthington. He replaced Michael Duff, who was sacked in March after they suffered their fourth defeat in five and dropped out of the play-off places with 10 games of the season to go. The club has been bold in their new direction, appointing Lee Grant as their new boss on a three-year deal. Although highly experienced as a coach, this is his first managerial appointment, but he did spend the last three years working under Kieran McKenna at Ipswich. He might have been a goalkeeper, but based on the signings he's made, he wants to play attacking football, and they have a real goal threat in their side. They have made 11 signings so far, but the real stand-out arrivals are USA international winger Lyndon Gooch, who arrives from Stoke City on a three-year contract and striker Alfie May, who joined for an undisclosed fee from Birmingham. The 32-year-old scored 16 goals for the Blues last season as they won the League One title, so we know what he is capable of at this level. Betting sites are offering 9/4 on them to achieve promotion, either automatically or via the play-offs. A dark horse for promotion could be Stockport County, who were beaten in the Play-Off semi-finals last season. Manager Dave Challinor took them from the National League up to League One and only finished five points behind Wrexham, who finished second last season. The club has held on to their highly rated manager, after he was linked with a lot of vacancies over the summer, and persuaded him to sign a new three-year deal. They have also smashed their transfer record to sign striker Malik Mothersille from Peterborough on a three-year deal. He scored 16 goals in 57 appearances for Posh last season and is believed to have cost more than the £800,000 the club paid for Ian Thomas-Moore in 1998. They were the joint second-highest scorers in the league last season, behind just Birmingham, so it's clear to see their attacking intent. League One tips: What a load of Cobblers I don't think anyone is underestimating the enormity of the job AFC Wimbledon have on their hands to stay in League One, but to be evens to be relegated seems harsh. They beat Walsall in the League 2 Play-Off final in May to return to the third tier after a three-year absence. They finished fifth in the table, just five points behind the third automatic promotion place, but they were 11 behind the champions, Doncaster Rovers. They kick off their campaign with a baptism of fire as they face highly fancied Luton Town at Kenilworth Road, and they will be hoping to catch them cold. One big concern for them is a lack of goals; they only scored 56 goals on their way to promotion, which was by far the lowest of the teams around them. They are not helped in their cause by the fact that forward Osman Foyo has been charged by the Football Association with breaching betting rules, so could be facing a lengthy ban. James Tilley, 27, is the only forward who has come into the club, and he has scored just 32 senior goals. Based on the research, it's clear to see why they are the favourites, and it could be a long season for Wombles fans. Another team who are expected to be down there next season are Northampton Town, who only narrowly avoided relegation in May, by five points. They won just two of their last 10 matches, and manager Kevin Nolan has won just seven of the 25 games he has been in charge of since replacing Jon Brady in December. A price of 11/8 on betting apps is not one to overlook here. League 1 relegation prediction: Northampton to be relegated - 11/8 Bet365 League One betting tips: May to be celebrating in May It's no surprise that new Huddersfield striker Alfie May is favourite to finish as top scorer at odds of 11/2, after all, he scored 16 goals in this league last season, from just 27 starts. But will he get the service he enjoyed at Birmingham? The Blues were the leading scorers in the league with 84 goals in their 46 games, but May did finish just three behind Jay Stansfield, who cost £15m. Two seasons ago, he netted 27 goals at this level for Charlton and 22 the season before and 26 in 2021/22, so we can expect 20+ if he is playing week in week out. We have also already mentioned Malik Mothersille, who also scored 16 goals last season, although only 12 were in the League, and the other four helped Peterborough win the EFL Trophy. We know Stockport will score goals, so expect his numbers to go up, and you can get 25/1 on him finishing top scorer, so he could be a good outside shout for a bet online. Please gamble responsibly When having a bet, it's vital to practice responsible gambling. Betting can be addictive and it's important to stay in control of your betting. Never treat gambling as a way to make money, never bet more than you can afford and when the fun stops, stop. Gambling sites offer punters tools, like deposit limits, profit and loss trackers and self-exclusion options, to help them stay in control. But if you ever feel like you need help or advice on gambling addiction, don't hesitate to contact one of the charities or organisations below.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Bloomfield keeping 'open mind' on future signings
Luton Town boss Matt Bloomfield has said he is still "keeping an open mind" about new signings, despite a busy transfer Hatters have made eight summer signings so far, including Nahki Wells and Hakeen asked if there would be any more arrivals or departures ahead of their League One campaign - Bloomfield told BBC 3CR: "Who knows?"He added: "The window not closing [until September 1] is both a blessing and a curse, because we can bring people in, should we see fit, but you're a sitting duck for others to take the players you want to keep."After Luton's relegation to League One, Bloomfield has gone about restructuring the squad, with seven players also leaving."I thank Gary [Sweet, the Luton CEO,] and the board for their backing. We are still keeping an open mind, because, should we lose anyone else, we've got to have plans in place. "We're still searching for the last one or two, if they're right. If they're not, we won't [sign them].Bloomfield also confirmed, after a pre-season 0-0 draw with Spurs, that Alfie Doughty's absence was the "right one for the football club" after he picked up a knock. The wing-back has been linked with a move to added that Teden Mengi will miss a "little period of time" with an unspecified injury, with Bloomfield unsure of the severity of issue, while fellow defender Joe Johnson will also be out "for a period of time" with a hamstring injury.
BBC News
23-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Relegation scar will never go away'
Luton Town manager Matt Bloomfield took a 10-day holiday to Tenerife this he did not stop working."It's not a job where you switch off, it's always with you, it's an obsession,' he told BBC Look he was there, he met Port Vale's assistant manager Wayne Jacobs in the same hotel, and one of Wolverhampton Wanderers' coaches."I was able to get an insight into what was going on with [Wolves centre-back] Nigel Lonwijk and we were able to sign him [on a season-long loan] off the back of that."So, it literally never stops. "Even on holiday, my wife was a little bit angry that I kept popping off to try and sign someone from Wolves, but it's all part of the fun." 'Heartbroken' Bloomfield left Wycombe Wanderers to join Luton after the departure of Rob Edwards in January. The Hatters were 20th in the Championship table at the time, two points above the relegation form eventually improved - they lost just once in nine Championship games heading into the final day against West Bromwich expected Luton to survive but they lost 5-3 on a devastating day for the club. The Hatters became only the fourth club in the Premier League era to experience successive relegations after a season in the top flight, following Swindon Town, Wolverhampton Wanderers and admitted the scars of that final day still linger."Yeah, it'll never go," he said."The boys were heartbroken. The staff were heartbroken. It was incredibly painful, incredibly painful. And like I say, that will never leave us."I think you learn more from your most painful memories than you do from the best memories because they teach you lessons of how you need to evolve and be better for the future."So no, the pain will never go of that day at West Brom, but it's fuel. It's fuel to get better and fuel to drive this football club on to more." 'New core' As he prepares for life in League One, Bloomfield has started a major rebuild of his Carlton Morris and midfielder Thelo Aasgaard have departed, while Nahki Wells, Hakeem Odoffin, and Lonwijk are among eight players to have been signed."It was the right thing for a couple of players to move on," Bloomfield said."The challenge this summer has been players that have played at the top level of the game being wanted elsewhere, and how we manage that situation and how I adapt to that situation has been crucial."It was the right thing for us to freshen it up as well."He added: "I think maybe not the toughest part, just the one that we've been most open to is that psychological effect of what's happened over the last three years going up and down a couple of levels."And then what does it need to look like for us to be successful again?"Evolving the group. Getting a new group to gel. Getting some experienced boys on board was crucial to us building a new core group in the changing room."Luton open the League One season with a home game against AFC Wimbledon on on Friday, 1 August, and Bloomfield has plenty of experience in the third tier as a player and manager at Wycombe. "I know the level extremely well," he said."There's going to be lots of different challenges within the game. Some are going to be physical, other games are going to be more tactical and football-based. "And we have to have a group that's able to adapt to those different games to win them."
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Luton sign West Ham forward Kodua on loan
Luton Town have signed forward Gideon Kodua on loan from West Ham United. The Hatters have an option to buy the 20-year-old at the end of his loan spell. Kodua told the club's website: "I thought a lot about my next move and narrowed it down, and this was the best option in terms of development and where I want to be. "There are good players here, a good manager and a good fanbase, so it was an easy decision," he added. Kodua has linked up with Luton manager Matt Bloomfield for the third time after the former Wycombe boss recruited him for two separate loan spells while at Adams Park. Bloomfield told BBC 3CR: "Gids is a boy I love. He's got a real steel, a real resilience and a real determination about him." He added: "He was captain of West Ham's FA Youth Cup-winning team. He offers us good options as a wing-back, as a full-back, as a wide player and as a 'high 10'. "A great lad and someone our fans will love watching. As an individual, I can't speak highly enough of him." Kodua is the Hatters' eighth signing of the summer. Their 2025-26 campaign begins on Friday, 1 August with a home game against AFC Wimbledon (20:00 BST). Transfers - July 2025 Luton sign Tottenham goalkeeper Keeley West Ham thrash Arsenal to win FA Youth Cup
