League One promotion odds 2024/25: Predictions and betting tips (Updated)

League One favourites to get promoted to Championship in 2024/25

The bookmakers say that Birmingham City is the team to beat in League One this season. The Blues have significant investment from their American backers, and have spent the summer flexing their financial muscles.

But there are plenty of other big clubs in the third tier. The likes of Bolton Wanderers, Huddersfield Town, and Wrexham will have plenty to say. And collectively, they look set to make the battle to get to the Championship as exciting as ever. Below we look at the main promotion candidates in more detail.

Birmingham City 2/7

Fans of Birmingham City must be among the most frustrated in the whole of the English football pyramid. When the club sacked John Eustace at the start of October 2023, they sat in 6th place in the Championship and had just beaten West Brom 3-1 in their West Midlands derby.

Eustace was popular with the fans. He had saved the Blues from relegation the previous season. If the club had been relegated, the talk is that the Americans wouldn’t have invested.

If they had kept Eustace, they would probably still be in the Championship. And with the investment, who knows where they might have been by now.

That’s now past history, and after a series of poor decisions the Blues have now hit the reset button and hired Chris Davies on a long term contract to manage the club. The Blues have also invested heavily in the playing side with over a dozen new players coming into the club over the summer.

How long it takes Davies to gel the likes of Christoph Klarer, Willum Willumsson and Alfie May to gel together could be the biggest issue. Trying to settle in such a huge number of players in such a short space of time may be problematic.

But the League One season is very long. Even if it takes ten games to gel the team together, Davies should still have plenty of time to get the club on the path to an instant return to the Championship. Davies will also no doubt be backed in the January transfer window should reinforcements be needed,

At the very least, Birmingham should finish in the top two.

Bet on Birmingham to finish first in League 1 at 4/7 with Sky Bet

Huddersfield Town 7/4

Huddersfield were relegated from the Championship last season with 45 points from 46 matches. The Terriers only managed to win a meagre nine matches in the second tier of English football throughout the campaign.

Huddersfield were in the Premier League as recently as the 2018/19 season. That must feel like a lifetime ago now, and that was also a chastening season with the team winning just three of their 38 top-flight matches.

Michael Duff has taken over as manager from Andre Breitenreiter. Duff was handed a three-year deal in the summer.

The much travelled Breitenreiter was only appointed as manager in February. He was effectively given a free hit at keeping Huddersfield in the division. Ultimately the German couldn’t do it and into his place steps Michael Duff.

The appointment of Duff looks to be League One specific. Duff endured a torrid time at Swansea last season, where he tried to introduce a more physical style of football which was at odds with what Swans’ fans were used to watching.

The hierarchy at the John Smith’s Stadium clearly feel this is the style of football best suited to getting out of League One, and also consolidating in the Championship.

Money has been tight with only a small amount invested in the playing squad over the summer. The loan signing of young West Ham striker Callum Marshall was only the club’s fifth of the transfer window.

A lot of cash was splashed in January. But overall, Duff will have to make do with the majority of the squad that saw the Terriers relegated from the Championship.

Bet on Huddersfield Town to get promoted at 7/4 with bet365

Bolton Wanderers 23/10

Bolton Wanderers will be looking to go one better this season after finishing in third place in last season’s League One.

Missing out on automatic promotion place was followed by the heartache of losing the playoff final 2-0 to Oxford United.

The 2024/25 season will be Wanderers fourth successive season in the third tier. A financial crisis almost saw the club liquidated in 2019. Since then the Wanderers have steadily rebuilt, this included a season in League Two.

The appointment of Ian Evatt as manager in 2020 has led to stability and he has guided them close to a Championship return twice in the last two seasons. Both times finishing in the playoff positions.

The club have been busy in the summer with over half a dozen new signings. The majority have come in on loan or free transfers, showing that money is still tight.

But with the near misses of the last two seasons serving as inspiration, the 2024/25 season could well be the year that Bolton finally get back to the second tier of English football.

Bet on Bolton Wanderers to get promoted at 23/10 with Paddy Power

Stockport County 13/5

Eight wins from the last nine games of the 2023/24 season saw Stockport County win League Two, piping Wrexham to the title in the process.

County have been out of the third flight since 2010. They would have been focusing more on consolidation at the start of the season. But a strong start to the current campaign has resulted in fans daring to dream about back-to-back promotions.

It has also resulted in a significant cut in County’s odds to win League One.

Former Hatters defender Dave Challinor has overseen the club’s revival. Keeping the management team together could be the bigger challenge for County over the season.

Challinor has been linked with moves away in the past, and proving that the club’s success is being noted, one of his coaching staff, Andy Mangan, is being linked with a sensational move to Real Madrid.

Bet on Stockport County to get promoted at 13/5 with Betfair

Charlton Athletic 9/2

The 2024/25 season will be Charlton’s fifth successive campaign in League One.

The once Premier League regulars have slumped down the divisions in recent years, with one season in the Championship over the last nine years as good as things have got for the Addicks.

Nathan Jones took over as manager in February 2024. Jones had a good reputation after his two spells at Luton, but that took a hit with a disastrous three-month tenure at Southampton where he only won one league game in eight.

Jones led Charlton away from the relegation zone and into mid-table last season. His remit this season will be to get Charlton into the top half and if all goes well, the top six.

The Addicks will miss Alfie May who departed for Birmingham City. But the team has a solid, reliable spine built around Lloyd Jones and Conor Coventry. Alongside the managerial know-how of Jones, a top six finish looks a good possibility this season.

Bet on Charlton Athletic to get promoted at 9/2 with bet365

Wrexham 2/1

Wrexham are the celebrity club who bring a sprinkling of Hollywood to proceedings.

Owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have totally transformed the fortunes of the Welsh club, taking them from non-league to League One in just two seasons.

A docuseries about the club has further raised their profile and under the leadership of manager Phil Parkinson, Wrexham continue to thrive and are one of the favourites to win League One and continue their journey up the football pyramid.

Pre-season went well for Parkinson and Wrexham. A high-profile and controversial 2-2 draw with Chelsea was followed by a 4-1 win over Vancouver in Canada.

It would be silly to bet against Wrexham continuing their journey upwards through the leagues. But a season of consolidation might be a more likely outcome this time around, before a promotion push is made again next year.

Bet on Wrexham to get promoted to Championship at 2/1 with talkSPORT BET

Peterborough United 6/1

Peterborough are still guided by the experienced hand of Darren Ferguson.

The club have lost Ronnie Edwards, Harrison Burrows and Ephron Mason-Clark. They will be almost impossible to replace. Hanging onto the services of Kwame Poku will be the first objective of the current season.

The club has retained reliable performers like Hector Kyprianou, Archie Collins, Joel Randell and Jade Jones. But without that sprinkling of star quality that the club has lost, it’s hard to see the Posh pushing for promotion this season.

Bet on Peterborough United to get promoted at 6/1 with Ladbrokes

Rotherham 9/1

The Millers are one of the Championship/League One yoyo clubs.

Their relegation from the Championship last season was the fifth time they dropped down to the third tier of English football since the Championship was formed in 2004.

Despite their latest setback, Rotherham didn’t dwell on the disappointment and quickly moved to put Steve Evans back in charge before the end of last season, ensuring he was ready to hit the ground running this season.

The club has also been busy in the transfer market bringing in over a dozen new signings. Included is the experienced Liam Kelly from Coventry City and Jonson Clarke-Harris from Peterborough.

We would expect to see Rotherham competing for a place in the top six at the very least.

Bet on Rotherham United to get promoted at 9/1 with Sky Bet

Barnsley 6/1

Since dropping out of the Championship in 2022, Barnsley have managed top six finishes in both their seasons in League One. But an exodus of players from the club in the summer means this season should fall short of the recent back-to-back playoff finishes.

The nine departures have been replaced by six incoming new players. There is also a new manager at Oakwell, with Darrell Clarke replacing the outgoing Neill Collins who was sacked at the end of last season in bizarre circumstances with the club still in with a chance of promotion through the playoffs.

The subsequent departures mean a season of stability is about as good as it is likely to get for the Tykes this campaign.

Bet on Barnsley to get promoted at 6/1 with bet365

Reading 8/1

Reading is a club that has put their fans through the mill in recent years.

A series of bad decisions and financial mismanagement means the club is seemingly in the news for all the wrong reasons over recent years.

Under the leadership of manager Ruben Selles, there is optimism around the club.

The Spanish coach has a talented group of players who have all been together for a couple of seasons. They also all have age on their side and have developed together as a collective.

If things can settle down off the pitch, Reading may have some good times ahead. But with a takeover unlikely to be completed before the end of the transfer window, Selles may be unable to bolster his young squad with some much needed experience.

Given time, we expect good things from Reading. Especially if this manager and the group of players stay together. But it feels a year too early for a promotion push this season.

Bet on Reading to get promoted at 8/1 with Sky Bet

Lincoln City 8/1

In the 2023/24 season, Lincoln City finished 7th, just two points outside of the playoff places. They missed out on a top six finish on the final day of last season after a 2-0 defeat to Portsmouth.

The current season is their sixth successive at this level. They gained their place in the third tier by winning League Two in the 2019/20 season. The level of consistency the team has shown in recent years is built on how well run the club is.

Losing Lukas Jensen and Lasse Sorensen wasn’t the ideal preparation for the new season. The club has acted and brought in George Wickens to replace Jensen between the sticks.

Under the astute leadership of Michael Skubala, the team has continued to progress and a push for the top six this season looks to be a real possibility.

Bet on Lincoln City to get promoted at 8/1 with Betfred

Wycombe Wanderers 10/1

Wycombe have got their act together off the pitch in recent years, and if they can replicate that on the pitch, their fans could be in for an exciting time.

New owners came into the club in May of this year and they have brought in a wealth of talent off the pitch, setting things up for success on it.

There is a strong nucleus of players on the pitch that a successful team can be built around. Joe Low and Ryan Tafazolli give the team a solid foundation at the back, and they are supplemented by Josh Scowen in midfield, with Garath McCleary a threat up front.

In addition, there have been seven new additions over the summer – the majority a mixture of loans and free transfer. So if the new signings can supplement the established players, this could be a year when the Chairboys push for a place in the top six.

Bet on Wycombe Wanderers to get promoted at 10/1 with BoyleSports

Blackpool 14/1

Blackpool were the Jekyll and Hide team of League One last season.

In a season that had similarities with the Tangerines Premier League days under Ian Holloway, they put Portsmouth and Bolton to the sword with their entertaining fast paced football.

The problem was there was no consistency. Brilliant one week, average the next. The upshot was an eighth place finish, just three points outside the playoffs.

The summer additions of Zachary Ashworth and Hayden Coulson should add another dimension to Blackpool’s attacking options.

But the biggest question that needs to be answered at Bloomfield Road is that of consistency. If Neil Critchley can sort that out, who knows what he could do with this team.

The uncertainty means the bookies make Blackpool 66/1 to win the division and 14/1 to be promoted. Those odds look about right.

Bet on Blackpool to get promoted at 14/1 with Coral

Wigan Athletic 25/1

Wigan Athletic is another side in the outsider category to win League One.

The Latics were hit with an eight-point deduction last season, meaning they started on minus eight. A punishment that you couldn’t say cost them a playoff place (they would have finished 10th without it), but it did result with the club’s ambitions needing a reset before a ball had even been kicked.

Wigan have been in League One now since the 2020/21 season. They’ve been managed by Shaun Maloney since January 2023. If the financial problems that cost them the eight-point deduction are behind them, the Latics really could be contenders to finish in the top six.

Bet on Wigan Athletic to get promoted at 25/1 with Sky Bet

League One 2024/25 season table

The 2024/25 season is starting to take shape. The majority of the pre-season promotion favourites are near the top and the fight for the top two places looks set to go down to the wire. You can check out the League 1 table here.

How the League One promotions work

Promotion from League One follows the same formula as the Championship with three teams going up to the second tier of English football.

The top two teams automatically go up as champions and runners-up. Positions three to six then take part in the playoffs, with the winner of that four-way battle taking the third and final promotion place.

League One betting tips

League One is set to be as competitive as ever. Birmingham are the obvious choice for promotion, but there are plenty of other clubs in the running for one of the three coveted places in the Championship.

League One winner

We have to go for Birmingham City as our League One winner betting tip. The Blues probably shouldn’t have gone down, and almost certainly wouldn’t have had they stuck with the services of manager John Eustace.

We also have to have faith that Birmingham’s owners have learned from their mistakes and having given Chris Davies a four-year contract, they will stick with him when the inevitable bad patch arrives in what is a long season in the English third tier.

The Blues will also have deep enough pockets to back Davies in the transfer market in January. They are the standout club in the division and the obvious choice to win League One.

Bet on Birmingham to win League One at evens with BetMGM

Lincoln to finish in the top six 10/3

The Imps aren’t one of the favourites in the betting to finish in the top six.

Birmingham are the favourites at just 1/9, with Huddersfield next at 1/2. Lincoln is the 13th favourite in this market at 10/3 (remember, there are six winners).

This seems strange given that they finished seventh last season and are one of the most stable clubs in the division. We feel that a lot of the reasons why Lincoln are so far down the betting is down to the investments made by some of the other teams.

But that seems to be a short sighted view, overlooking the benefits of stability and continuity.

Lincoln is a club that goes under the radar. To ignore their progress and the job that Michael Skubala has done would be foolish. At 10/3, we say they are a great value bet to finish in the top six.

Bet on Lincoln to finish top 6 at 10/3 with bet365

Teams promoted to Championship in the 2023/24 season

The 2023/24 League Two season was one of the most exciting in recent years.

Celebrity club Wrexham were involved in a three-way battle for the top spot with Stockport County and Mansfield.

In the end Stockport won this title thanks to a spectacular winning run. Wrexham had to settle for second, with Mansfield taking the third automatic promotion place.

Despite a poor end to the season, seventh placed Crawley Town won the playoffs, beating Crewe 2-0 in the final and bagging themselves the fourth promotion spot to League One.

Teams most often promoted to Championship

As the most relegated team in the history of the Championship, it probably stands to reason that Rotherham United are the side who holds the record for the most promotions to the Championship. Rotherham are on their own in the lead. Another promotion this season will see them extend it further.

4 times – Rotherham United

3 times – Barnsley, Peterborough United, Sheffield Wednesday, Wigan Athletic,

2 times – Blackpool, Bristol City, Charlton Athletic, Doncaster Rovers, Hull City, Luton Town, Millwall, Scunthorpe United.

FAQ about the 2024/25 League One season

The 2024/25 League One season promises to be spectacular. With Hollywood royalty at Wrexham up against big clubs like Birmingham City and well run clubs like Lincoln City, it is set to be another ultra competitive season in the English third tier. Below we have put together an FAQ section to help you learn more about the battle to make it to the Championship:

1. Which manager is likely to get the sack if they don’t end up in the promotion zone?

The League One manager most likely to get the sack if they don’t end up in the promotion zone is Chris Davies at Birmingham City. Most of the teams competing to go up do so more on hope than expectation. Anything other than a top two finish for Birmingham will be regarded as failure and it would be hard to see Davies surviving such an outcome.

2. Which player is the likeliest to get their team to the Championship?

The player most likely to get their team promoted to the Championship is Alfie May of Birmingham City. May scored 23 goals in 43 games for Charlton last season. If he repeats that for Birmingham, it’s hard to see them not gaining promotion.

3. Will Wrexham manage to get promoted to the Championship?

Wrexham have a chance of getting promotion to the Championship. The club can attract big name players in the lower leagues. If things all come together for Phil Parkinson and his team, they might sneak promotion through the playoffs.

4. Which teams are likely to get relegated to League Two?

The betting favourites to be relegated to League Two are Shrewsbury Town and Cambridge United. Other teams set to struggle this season are Burton Albion, Crawley Town, Northampton Town and Exeter City.

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