League Two 2024/2025 Predictions & Best Bets

Here we look at the early promotion and relegation odds in League Two, as well as any specials ahead of the 24/25 season.

All odds are subject to change*

Last season’s National League champions Chesterfield are looking to make it back-to-back promotions, and are favourites to do so from League Two. They have been out of the football league for six seasons following their relegation in 2018, and made the play-offs three times, but were unsuccessful in their attempts for promotion. However, they finally secured their return as league winners in 23/24, finishing top by 12 points ahead of Barnet.

Chesterfield are managed by Paul Cook, and they are hoping to continue their incredible attacking form in which they scored 106 goals in 46 games. Their top scorer was ex-Wigan and Sunderland man Will Grigg with 25 goals, who has plenty of experience in the higher divisions. After strolling to the title last year, The Spireites will face a far tougher test, but they have been backed to win the league and earn consecutive promotions.

It ended in heartbreak for MK Dons last season as they were beaten 8-1 on aggregate by Crawley Town in the League Two play-off semi-finals. They had finished the season in fourth position following a strong campaign in which they scored 83 goals, a figure only bettered by the three teams ahead of them.

They will attempt to put their disastrous play-off experience behind them and go for automatic promotion once more. After Chesterfield, they are the favourites to do so and make a return to the third tier after two seasons away. Their four-year stay in League One came to an end in 2023 following a 21st place finish. However, they are expected to put together another strong campaign, and will be well in the mix for top spot, especially after they added to their squad with the likes of Sam Sherring, Tommy Leigh and Laurence Maguire.

Despite finishing 12th last season, Gillingham are amongst the favourites for promotion to League One. This will be their third season in a row in the fourth tier following nine consecutive years in League One. They will be under new management in Mark Bonner, who was appointed in May. He was sacked by Cambridge United in late 2023 with the club in a relegation battle. He took over from Stephen Clemence, who was only in the job for six months.

If the Gills are to make a push for the automatic places, they will have to improve their goalscoring record. They averaged just a goal a game with 46 last season, with only bottom side Forest Green scoring less. This summer they have bolstered their attacking options with the signings of forwards Elliott Nevitt and Marcus Wyllie. Nevitt scored 16 goals last season for Crewe Alexandra.

The favourites for relegation to the National League are Morecambe. They disappointed last season, finishing 15th in the table, just nine points above the relegation zone. One of their main issues was their struggles in defence. Their 81 goals conceded was the fifth-worst in the division, and it is expected that these woes will continue, ultimately costing them their place in the football league.

This would mean a return to the National League for the first time since 2007, the year in which they won the play-off final. They spent 14 seasons in League Two, before winning promotion to the third tier in 2021. They were relegated back from League One after two seasons, and will be hoping to retain their football league status this year.

Bromley won promotion to League Two for the first time in their history last season after they won the play-off final against Solihull Moors on penalties. They finished third in the league but before that, they had not finished above seventh in their eight seasons in the division. However, they are not backed to stay up and are expected to make an immediate return to the National League.

Goalscoring may be an issue, as whilst they scored 73 goals last year, this was the third-lowest figure in the top eight. Although, their 49 goals conceded was the second fewest, which they will hope continues in a higher league. Forward Michael Cheek enjoyed a great campaign in which he scored 23 times, and he will be a key player in their fight for survival.

Another team backed to go down is Harrogate Town, who finished in 13th place last season. This will be their fifth consecutive campaign in the fourth tier, following promotion from the National League in 2020. Manager Simon Weaver is entering his 16th season as manager, a tenure in which he has transformed the side into a football league club.

In their four seasons in the division so far, they have flirted with relegation each time, but actually achieved their best finish last season. Their first year in League Two saw them finish 17th, before back-to-back 19th place finishes. Hoping to lead them to safety once more is midfielder George Thomson, who scored 16 goals and provided eight assists for the club in 23/24.

The fourth favourite side to go down is Newport County. The club were in a relegation battle last season, ultimately finishing 18th, six points above the drop zone. They finished the campaign with eight defeats in a row, a run of form they are desperately hoping does not carry over into this season.

However, they have been tipped for a return to the National League for the first time since 2013. During their 8-game losing streak, they conceded 18 goals and scored just four, highlighting their problems at both ends. They have brought in a number of reinforcements to help, but it may not be enough to keep them from the drop.