EFL season preview: All 72 clubs' chances assessed

1. BBC local radio commentators and reporters assess all 72 EFL clubs
2. Season starts with Sheff Wed v Southampton in Championship (20:00 BST)
3. Leeds, Leicester & Saints aim for Premier League return at first attempt
4. Reading begin life in third tier for first time since 2002
5. Wrexham and Notts County return to EFL after spells in non-league

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Crawley Town - 'EFL place could again be under threat'

Rob Stevens

BBC Sport

Crawley Town avoided the drop back into the National League by just three points last season, following a campaign in which four different men took charge of the Reds.

Midfielder Jack Powell and forward Ashley Nadesan were among the high-profile departures from the Broadfield Stadium over the summer, sold to Crewe and Gillingham respectively.

Manager Scott Lindsey has made 11 new signings, with almost half of those joining from non-league sides, targeting “younger, fresher players” who the club will aim to improve.

Meanwhile, US cryptocurrency investors Wagmi United, who enter the second full season of their ownership, are yet to win over the fanbase.

Consistency in the dugout should boost Crawley’s prospects but the West Sussex club’s place in the EFL could be under threat once more.

Crewe Alexandra – Long holds key to overachievement

Graham McGarry

Crewe Alexandra commentator, BBC Radio Stoke

Crewe Alexandra have seen quite a few changes this off-season, to both their playing squad and managerial team.

Manager Lee Bell is embarking on his first full season in charge without the services of assistant Alex Morris and senior sports analyst John Dillon, while several of last season's key players have departed for pastures new.

Bell, along with his head of recruitment Josh Kennard, look to have made some quality additions which will hopefully lead the team to improving on last season's 13th-place finish.

Jack Powell, Ryan Cooney, Shilow Tracey and Micky Demetriou will all add valuable experience that can help the progress of the next group of talented youngsters who are coming through.

Bell also pulled off a masterstroke early into the closed season when he got striker Chris Long to sign a new contract, while midfielder Joel Tabiner is one to watch.

If Long and his fellow strikers can provide the goals they're all capable of at League Two level, then the Railwaymen could be one of the surprise teams this season.

Follow the Alex on BBC Radio Stoke, Freeview channel 726, DAB and 94.6FM.

Doncaster Rovers – A fresh start?

Rob Staton

BBC Radio Sheffield sports manager

Rex Features

Doncaster Rovers fans were exasperated at the end of last season. After a few years of decline, the club had gone from League One play-off contenders to a team making up the numbers in League Two. The days of Championship glory with Sean O’Driscoll, playing football admired across the land, were long gone.

However, there’s been a real transformation this summer.

Fans wanted some excitement and they got it with the ambitious return of manager Grant McCann. He’s since led a hefty recruitment drive, bringing in a host of new players including the impressive additions of Richard Wood and Joe Ironside, not to mention a group of exciting younger players.

There’s real energy in the club again and the hope is that this can be a fresh start for Rovers.

Coverage of Doncaster Rovers is available on BBC Radio Sheffield, and you can have your say on your club every weeknight between 6-7pm.

Forest Green Rovers – ‘Recruitment a concern’

Billy Hunt

BBC Radio Gloucestershire's Forest Green commentator

For the third season in a row Forest Green start the season with a new, relatively unknown manager. Fresh from taking charge of Southampton’s B team (who did markedly better than the Southampton first XI last season...), David Horseman is looking to stabilise the squad after their woeful time in League One during 2022-23.

Recruitment is a concern, with some of the players who were part of the League Two title-winning squad in the 2021-22 season surprisingly not offered contracts, as Regan Hendry, Luke McGee and Ben Stevenson all left.

The 11 players brought in during January 2023 have yet to prove themselves and the summer window has been slow, although the re-signing of striker Matty Taylor after nine years away has got nostalgic supporters excited.

Fans will be happy with mid-table mediocrity while Horseman looks to make the squad his own.

Hear full commentary of every Forest Green Rovers game on BBC Radio Gloucestershire, 1413 AM.

Gillingham – ‘Could be in mix to go up’

Matt Cole

BBC Radio Kent sports editor

Rex Features

Gillingham looked destined for relegation at Christmas last season, firmly rooted in the bottom two having scored just seven League Two goals.

The takeover by US owners saw badly needed investment in the January transfer window, and manager Neil Harris steered the team to the safety of 17th - courtesy of form that would have seen them promoted had they replicated through 46 games.

More signings this summer signify the club’s intention to compete at the top end of the table and there’s a new-found optimism among the club’s support, fostered by changes off the pitch too.

Chairman Brad Galinson says consolidation is key and promotion would be “the icing on the cake,” but if they find the right attacking players this transfer window the Gills could well be in the mix to go up this season.

Grimsby Town - 'Jigsaw has many right pieces in place'

Matt Dean

BBC Radio Humberside's Grimsby commentator

Grimsby have gone about their summer transfer business in an impressive manner. Ten players were brought in before a pre-season ball was kicked.

Their recruitment, aided by money from last season’s outstanding FA Cup run, appears to have been done wisely as part of a strategic plan rarely seen at Blundell Park in the past. Players have been signed for fees on long-term deals this summer, which shows confidence and progress.

Midfielder Kamil Conteh, bought from Middlesbrough, looks like he could be a find while striker Danny Rose knows the level and seems like an upgrade.

Canny owners, Jason Stockwood and Andrew Pettit, continue to put their stamp on the club and fans are once again buying in to their vision with excellent season ticket sales.

It feels like the club’s jigsaw has many of the right pieces in place. The squad has more pace, which it’s hoped will yield more goals.

Even though League Two will be fiercely competitive, don’t rule out Grimsby putting a few fancied clubs’ noses out of joint. They, too, look in good shape for a tilt at promotion.

Commentary of Grimsby Town, home and away, can be heard on BBC Radio Humberside this season.

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Harrogate Town – Aiming for highest-ever finish

Tim Steere

BBC Radio York's Harrogate Town commentator

After feeling like Town were in a constant relegation battle last season, they ended up nine points clear of the drop zone in 19th place.

Thanks to their January transfer business Town’s fortunes improved in the second half of the campaign, with just four defeats in 20 games.

They’ve also kept most of the spine that served them well towards the end of last season and added to it, with the likes of Rod McDonald, Liam Gibson, Dean Cornelius and the returning Matty Daly.

In what is their fourth ever season in the Football League, Town possibly have the strongest squad they’ve had in the EFL. But this is also the toughest-looking League Two for a while.

The end of last season proved they have goals in them, with Luke Armstrong always impressing. However, only the bottom three conceded more goals than Harrogate last season – if they can tighten that up, then they should better their highest League Two finish of 17th.

Mansfield Town – ‘Stags have quality to challenge top seven’

Jake Garner

BBC Radio Nottingham's Mansfield commentator

‘Every goal matters’ was last season’s harsh lesson for Mansfield Town, having missed out on the play-offs by a single goal.

Despite being the league’s top scorers, they had a tough time defensively. That’s something that boss Nigel Clough has addressed in the summer by recruiting four players to improve that area of the pitch.

That includes the experienced Baily Cargill, who looks to be a very promising signing to partner Alfie Kilgour at centre-back.

Injuries proved costly last season with as many as 10 players missing, including the energetic Forest loanee Will Swan.

Despite this, he finished top scorer with 10 goals. Now he’s back on a permanent deal to the delight of Stags fans.

With the defence bolstered and hopefully better luck with injuries, Mansfield have enough quality all over the pitch to challenge for the top seven again – in arguably the toughest League Two season to date.

You can hear full live commentary of all of Mansfield Town’s home and away matches live on 95.5FM on BBC Radio Nottingham.

MK Dons – ‘Fans may need to be patient’

Paul Dixon

BBC Three Counties Radio's MK Dons commentator

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To go from play-off semi-finalists to relegation in 12 months needs a number of things to go wrong, and MK Dons got pretty much everything wrong last season. The recruitment, a disconnect with the fans, even the kit.

The Dons have appointed an experienced manager in Graham Alexander to try to bounce back at the first attempt. However, with the disappointment of last year still in the air and a winless pre-season, Alexander himself has admitted it may be a while before fans see ‘his’ team.

The MK faithful may well need to be patient in the early weeks but if Dons can add in a couple of key areas, then the play-offs should be within reach.

As ever, MK Dons commentary will be available on BBC 3CR on 104.5FM.

Morecambe – Can they compete on their budget?

Andy Bayes

BBC Radio Lancashire sports editor

The Shrimps return to League Two with only a handful of players remaining from the group that was relegated in May.

Derek Adams is still searching for more additions to his squad but feels that, after having the lowest budget in League One last season, he’ll also have the smallest budget in League Two – despite owner Jason Whittingham saying it’s the biggest fourth tier budget in their history.

Adams wants a season of talking football and not ownership issues. Morecambe have been for sale for a year and a new buyer doesn’t appear to be just around the corner.

The likes of Tom Bloxham, Charlie Brown and Cammy Smith will have the responsibility to provide the goals. Jacob Davenport could prove to be a shrewd acquisition in midfield too.

With a manager like Adams in charge, you’d expect the Shrimps to be competitive and upset some of the ‘bigger’ names throughout the season.

Newport County – ‘Exiles will need to defy expectations again’

Rob Phillips

BBC Sport Wales Football Correspondent

The departure of a group of senior players would test the resolve of any squad and, in Mickey Demetriou, Newport have lost a stalwart on and off the pitch.

But manager Graham Coughlan, in tandem with head of football operations Chris Finn, showed a promising ability to find the right type of player in January's window – on a tight budget.

They have again tapped into the Cymru Premier to bring back academy product Nathan Wood from Penybont. His progress will be monitored with interest, as will the development of promising teenager Kiban Rai.

In the absence of injured striker Offrande Zanzala, the goalscoring burden will again lie with Omar Bogle, while Coughlan has pulled a rabbit out of the hat by re-loaning adventurous left-sided defender Adam Lewis from Liverpool.

Budget-wise, Newport are among the lowest - if not the lowest - in the league, and so have consistently punched above their weight.

Unless the search for investment bears fruit in a significant way, the capacity to defy expectations will be needed again.

Listen to coverage of Newport County across the BBC on Radio Wales, Radio Cymru, online and on Sounds.

Notts County – ‘Won’t rest on their laurels’

Dave Bracegirdle

BBC Radio Nottingham commentator

Rex Features

While last season will live long in the memory of those beleaguered Notts County fans that had become accustomed to disappointment and regret, no-one is expecting the club’s ownership to rest on their laurels at merely ending a four-year exile in the National League.

Head coach Luke Williams has been backed to the hilt since arriving at Meadow Lane a year ago and he delivered an entertaining, possession-based brand of football that smashed records – and was ultimately rewarded with promotion via an unforgettable day out at Wembley.

Other than the anticipated departure of star Portuguese playmaker Ruben Rodrigues, Williams has managed to hang on to the majority of his players and been able to supplement his squad with several key signings, including a return to his hometown club for former Derby County striker David McGoldrick.

Top three will be the aim and few would be surprised if they should go on to achieve that.

Salford City – ‘Top-seven minimum expectation’

Robin Grey

BBC Radio Manchester

Last season’s seventh-placed finish was Salford’s best since their promotion four years ago. Neil Wood’s side will count it a success, despite the club’s ‘class of 92’ owners having expected them to have reached bigger heights by now.

Losing captain Ibou Touray to promotion rivals Stockport is a major blow, but if replacement Luke Garbutt can rediscover his form, he could fill that void. Confident defender Curtis Tilt has dropped down from Wigan and should add some security to a defence that shipped 54 goals last season. Salford were League Two’s highest scorers so keeping striker Callum Hendry, who finished the season on fire, is crucial.

A top-seven finish will be a bare minimum expectation for the Ammies, but that may prove more difficult than last season given the firepower arriving from the National League.

Stockport County – ‘Fans expecting automatic promotion tilt’

Alex Whitington

BBC Radio Manchester’s Stockport reporter

Rex Features

A Taylor Charters penalty was all that separated Stockport County from promotion to League One at the first time of asking last season. Lessons learned from a year back in the Football League, plus some nifty transfer business will see them hungry to be challenging once again.

Boss Dave Challinor has added firepower in the shape of former Manchester United forward Nick Powell from Stoke. That’s needed, as County lacked cutting edge when top scorer Kyle Wootton went down with injury in the run-in. Exciting Aston Villa winger Louie Barry joins on loan, while they’ve lured Ibou Touray away from Salford City to bolster an already solid defence.

With Challinor putting pen to paper on a new three-year deal and those fresh faces adding to an experienced squad and the success of last season, Hatters fans will be expecting a tilt at automatic promotion.

You can follow Stockport County coverage on Total Sport on BBC Radio Manchester and BBC Sounds.

Sutton United – ‘Underestimate them at your peril’

Ahmed Nur

Sutton reporter for BBC Radio London

After two seasons in the EFL, the U’s of South London are beginning to adapt to life in League Two. After missing out on the play-offs in 2021-22 by a single point and reaching a Wembley final, Sutton struggled to make progress last season – a mixture of a difficult start plagued with injuries and a poor end to the season saw them finish 14th, despite a run of only two defeats in 16 games after Christmas.

Manager Matt Gray has decided to reshuffle the playing squad. A large number of the squad that helped bring Sutton into the EFL moved on in the off-season, with a ton of promotion-winning experience in the form of Harry Smith, Omari Patrick and Josh Coley coming in. Ryan Jackson will add some depth in defence, while Scott Kashket will look to prove a point following an injury-ravaged spell at Wycombe.

Sutton will aim to get to the magic 50-point marker to ensure safety, before embarking on the next challenge in the league. A cup run will enthuse the Amber Army, along with a strong league campaign. Underestimate them at your peril.

Coverage of every Sutton game on BBC Radio London plus news, analysis and interviews through the week in our regular programmes from 6pm.

Swindon Town – Change of approach at County Ground

Andrew Hawes

BBC Wiltshire Swindon Town commentator

Last season it was promises of data-led success by rookie technical director Sandro di Michele.

This time it’s more traditional methods and a more human feel.

Michael Flynn is the manager who will try to bring the spirit he galvanised at Newport, but not at Walsall. He has a more energised presence than the oft aloof Jody Morris, but historical contractual generosity gave him a lot of last season’s 10th-place finishers – for better and worse.

Some of the unwanted have been eased out, but the acquisition of replacements has been slow thus far – and practically inert to some sections of the fanbase. The starting XI has looked good in pre-season but the quality below them will determine Swindon’s fate.

Former Aston Villa prodigy Rushian Hepburn-Murphy seems fully fit after years of injury problems and the striker could discomfort League Two defences, but he’s not the only one who has to stay healthy.

You can hear commentary on every Swindon Town game on BBC Radio Wiltshire.

Tranmere Rovers – ‘Anything possible with more clinical edge’

Derek Jones

BBC Radio Merseyside's Tranmere reporter

After finishing 12th last season Tranmere will be aiming for improvement, and have a new management structure in place to make that happen – Ian Dawes as permanent manager, Neil Danns as assistant and the widely experienced and successful Nigel Adkins as technical director.

Although Rovers had the seventh best defensive record last time round scoring goals was the problem, with just 45 in 46 league games. The arrival of experienced strikers in Luke Norris from Stevenage and Kristian Dennis from Carlisle show where the focus on recruitment has been, and the addition of goalkeeper Luke McGee from Forest Green and midfielder Regan Hendry shows an intent to provide a spine that knows just what League Two demands if a team is to be successful.

Tom Davies has been named as on-field captain, and his defensive and organisational skills will be vital in a defence which has seen the departure of attack-minded full-backs Josh Dacres-Cogley and Ethan Bristow. The versatile Lee O’Connor and loan signing Jake Leake from Hull are expected to provide the cover in these positions, as will the arrival of Joe Yarney from Oldham.

Another not-so-new arrival saw the popular return of the hero of recent Wembley play-off wins, Connor Jennings, whose example both on and off the pitch will be the perfect role model for the younger members of the squad.

Much will be expected of last season’s leading goalscorer Josh Hawkes and the impish Harvey Saunders, and fans will wonder whether a fit-again Kieron Morris can produce his best form.

Tranmere will aim for the top in what is as competitive a League Two as I can recall, with bigger budgets than Rovers at a number of clubs, but with a more clinical edge in the final third and the guaranteed support of their loyal fanbase – anything is possible.

Walsall – ‘Potential play-off outsiders’

Richard Wilford

BBC Radio WM sports editor

On the surface the in-house appointment of Mat Sadler as head coach may have looked questionable this summer, but the 38-year old already had the respect of the squad for his work under his predecessor Michael Flynn, and has surrounded himself with good experience by adding Gary Waddock and ex-Saddlers striker Darren Byfield to his staff.

A talented returning core including Liam Gordon, Tom Knowles and Isaac Hutchinson has been complemented by some smart summer additions. Saddlers fans are buoyed by the return of striker Danny Johnson, who scored 15 goals in the first half of last season while on loan at the Bescot Stadium, but the shrewd acquisition of defenders Priestley Farquharson and Chris Hussey may prove just as significant.

Midfielder Ryan Stirk has made the short journey from Birmingham City, and could just be a driving force in the middle – supported by Motherwell loanee Ross Tierney. And the temporary signing of powerful Lincoln teenager Freddie Draper adds to Sadler’s attacking options.

The new head coach will want to develop a smart style of watchable football in his first senior job, and if they can make a decent start Walsall could be an outside bet for the play-off race.

You can follow every Saddlers match on BBC Radio WM on 95.6FM and DAB digital.