LEAGUE TWO
72 Season Preview 2019-20 FourFourTwoWith four promotion places and just two relegation
slots, it’s twice as easy to get out of League Two via
the helicopter pad than the sewer-pipe – but that
doesn’t mean it’s simple to clamber out of what’s
always a fascinating division.
The four teams relegated into it from League One –
Walsall, Bradford, Scunthorpe and Plymouth – appear
in decent shape and are marshalled by Darrell Clarke,
Gary Bowyer, Paul Hurst and Ryan Lowe respectively.
Each man can point to an impressive CV and success
at this level.
Nearly-men Mansfield have promoted from within,
hoping academy manager John Dempster is the man
to provide the elevation their ambitious owners seek.
Speaking of ambitious owners, Salford’s Class of ’92
group have Graham Alexander at the wheel for their
debut League campaign. Leyton Orient, a club well
accustomed to being in the Football League, are back
after a short absence in non-league – led by Ross
Embleton after the sad passing of Justin Edinburgh.
Another ‘young’ Football League club, Forest Green,
will look to pass and move their way to promotion
under Mark Cooper after missing out in the play-offs.
Beaten finalists Newport have local hero Mike Flynn
(right) in charge, and after a miracle survival and two
giant-killing cup runs, promotion is next on his list.Richie Wellens’ high-pressing approach was notable
enough to earn its own moniker, and ‘Wellensball’
should lead to entertaining encounters at Swindon’s
County Ground. John McGreal’s Colchester have much
work to do after losing two of their homegrown stars,
Frankie Kent and Sammie Szmodics, earlier in the
summer. Exeter need more staying power this season
under popular rookie manager Matt Taylor.
David Artell’s Crewe, the leading youth development
club at this level – would have won the league last
season if it had started on Christmas Day. If they can
start strong, and work on that away form, they could
be a surprise. Expect Stephen Pressley’s Carlisle to be
entertaining and unpredictable, while their former
boss Keith Curle, now at Northampton and active in
the transfer market, is cobbling together a possible
promotion-contending squad. Arguably the biggestcharacter at this level, Tunisian former Stevenage
striker Dino Maamria, did a fine job back at Broadhall
Way last season and will have them tough to beat.
There’s plenty of good feeling at Cheltenham, too,
where the fans are impressed with Michael Duff and
the improvement shown under his management. For
John Askey at Port Vale and Cambridge gaffer Colin
Calderwood, the objective is the same: score more
goals. The division’s two lowest-scoring sides last
season avoided relegation but must improve fast.
French manager Laurent Banide is the latest man
through the revolving door at Oldham, with the Latics
being tipped for a difficult season along with Gabriele
Cioffi’s Crawley, who lost half of their matches last
season. Michael Jolley continues to bring in leftfield
signings to Grimsby, and it’s likely to be tough for two
teams with the Football League’s lowest budgets.
Jim Bentley’s Morecambe are used to being tipped
for relegation as they enter their 13th season at this
level, while Sol Campbell’s Macclesfield have financial
battles off the field that threaten to undermine his
work on it. Still, at least there’s only two drop slots...Managers from France, Italy and Tunisia – plus the
Football League’s longest-serving gaffer – collide to
test their credentials in the unpredictable fourth tier