Ahead of the start of the season we tracked down people who cover the other 23 clubs in the division to find out what they thought of each team’s chances going into 2026/27.
Since then there have been games played and the transfer window has closed, so we thought we’d catch up with them all again to see what - if anything - has changed regarding each club’s hopes for what could be a fascinating season ahead.
In part one, which consists of A - L, there continues to be a mix of promotion hopefuls, relegation battlers and potentially some maybe-men… You have to feel like the table could look VERY different come May.
Welcome to our latest League One guide…
AFC Wimbledon – Matt Singfield
It has been a mixed start to the new season, with some impressive performances but also some rather poor ones. Defensively, Wimbledon have looked really solid for the most part. New signing Dan Sweeney has played a big part in that. At the other end of the pitch the goals have been hard to come by. Jayden Stockley up top has been a fantastic signing and really suits the way Wimbledon play, but behind him there are a lack of attacking options
I would still expect Wimbledon to have a relegation fight on their hands, but the early defensive performances have given a bit of hope.
Barnsley – Doug O’Kane
Barnsley did a lot of work in the transfer window to move on some underperforming older players and bring in fresh young talents on long deals with several six-figure sums spent. They have been playing just one starter who is older than 23 in recent weeks while there is a real lack of depth at centre-back and up front…
But they have shown they can play some really good football and win games at this level by beating Leyton Orient and Blackpool before falling apart in a 5-1 home humbling to Stevenage. That shows the inconsistency you would probably expect from such an inexperienced group.
Blackpool – Amos Wynn
There’s a certain positivity around Blackpool at the moment, with a lot of good work seemingly done during the summer.
Now, there was a similar feeling at Bloomfield Road last year, and for one reason or another it didn’t work out, but they do feel like they’ve added quality to their depth this time around.
The majority of the signings this time around look to have improved the squad, with several notable players still set on the sidelines for Ian Evatt.
They certainly look fit, and the intensity of their press could certainly cause several teams issues this term.
There’s also things to improve. In their two wins, momentum could’ve easily swung in the opposite direction at 0-0, but they’ve made the most of their luck.
The only real blip has been Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to Reading, where they looked short of ideas and out of energy after a hectic few days of travel, but it certainly wasn’t the definitive performance of what we’ve seen so far.
Bradford City – Simon Parker
In terms of the window, it ended up that they actually brought 12 players in - which I think surprised everyone, because he didn’t intend to be that active I don’t think... There were a couple of departures that were a shock, with Max Power – the captain – going right at the beginning of the window, and then Jenson Metcalfe went to Millwall. Alexander didn’t particularly see either of them coming. The goalkeeper, Sam Walker, went as well, and that was a surprise too.
But because they’ve got such a good understanding of the way they play, when players come in – and once they get up to speed with how they play – the whole thing is smooth. They’ve played different back threes and kept seven clean sheets in nine games… They’re still playing the same system – it’s very intense, very energetic.
They’ve got a confidence in what they do, and I think that takes them a long way. They’re greater than the some of the parts as individuals, you know, it’s about them as a collective. The manager lives and breathes that, he loves that sort of the team ethic and it’s very much that way.
Bromley – Machel St Patrick Hewitt
Bromley brought in 17 players before the window closed and the jury remains out as to how good the recruitment has been. Several players need to get up to speed with the system and fitness.
A good start has been quickly forgotten about following humblings at the hands of Sheffield Wednesday, Leyton Orient and AFC Wimbledon. The good news is only 5 games have been played and there is plenty of time to get it right.
Burton Albion – David Wilson-Turner
I’m really happy with where our squad is in its current shape. Burton Albion have often succeeded with a smaller squad than most clubs in this division, and this is a smaller one than we have had available to us in recent years, but it feels like the quality is a lot higher.
We’ve added a balance of experience and youth within the squad, filled our loan spots, which on the budget we operate is always crucial to bulk out the numbers of the squad. Overall, it has been a good window, with plenty of positive incomings and outgoings to shape the squad for the season!
Cambridge United – Liam Apicella
After a positive summer transfer window and a bright start to the season, there is plenty of optimism around Cambridge at the moment. But for a couple of really poor result-altering decisions from officials, they’d actually be top at the moment!
Realistically, the U’s are unlikely to continue flying so high as the season goes on, but there is a genuine belief that as a promoted side, they will be comfortable this season. They’ve got a manager that finds different ways to get results, and now a squad with a good amount of depth.
Doncaster Rovers – Kurt Leyland
Doncaster Rovers have improved in every season since Grant McCann rejoined in 2023, but based on their opening few games this season might struggle to repeat the feat.
New signing Alfie May has a great track record in the division, but so far hasn’t hit the ground running. Meanwhile, new recruits like Isaac Hutchinson, Jordan Thomas and Tommi O’Reilly still need to show they can make the jump up to the third-tier after being standouts in League Two.
Once Rovers click they should climb the table but any talk of a play-off push at this stage seems premature.
Huddersfield Town - Steven Chicken
Huddersfield remain unbeaten in all competitions, unless you count their League Cup defeat to Preston on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
There is a more positive vibe around the club at the moment than either of the past two seasons, despite Huddersfield having the exactly the same points totals as in both of those campaigns.
That’s probably down to the fact that Town have played well often enough (particularly at home) to get the fans on board with the style, while also managing to get results even in the games where they haven’t played particularly well.
But even after Martin Drury scooped the League One manager of the month award, Huddersfield fans know all too well by now that you can’t achieve anything meaningful in the first six weeks of the season. They have to keep it up.
Leicester City – Lox: Blue Tinted Glasses
It’s been a really hit and miss start to the season for Leicester, and Russell Martin is already under pressure from sections of the fanbase. He was never a particularly popular appointment, but most supporters seemed willing to give him a chance. Unfortunately, that ‘chance’ appears to have lasted about six games for some, which I think is harsh.
There’s been a massive turnover this summer, with 20 of last season’s squad leaving and more than 12 new players coming in, so it was always going to take time for everything to click.
We’ve certainly not been good enough so far, and fans are right to question how effective Martin’s style will be in this division. But I’m still hopeful. His football can be wonderful when it works, and if the players properly adapt to it, there’s every chance we could find some momentum and put a really strong run of results together.
Leyton Orient - Brendan Pitcher
It’s been a mixed start for Orient so far, which is to be expected given the squad churn over the summer. However, despite the loss of Dom Ballard, the O’s look to have a stronger unit overall than this time last season.
Richie Wellens can have no complaints about not being backed during the window and the pressure is on to deliver the kind of consistent performances that befits a squad that, on paper at least, looks top half level at a minimum.
Luton Town – James Cunliffe
Luton’s transfer window looked a successful one. Most fans were pleased with the business as George Johnston, Callum Marshall and Kasey Palmer added experience, youth and quality, while loans for Jamie Donley (Spurs), Emilio Lawrence (Man City), Dan Gore (Man Utd), Harrison Ashby (Newcastle) and Tudor Mendel (Ipswich) give Jack Wilshere plenty of young talent to work with.
Keeping Jordan Clark and Liam Walsh was arguably just as important as any arrival. The squad has been overhauled, but with Luton sitting 12th after the opening six games, and some injuries starting to bite, results haven’t so far matched that summer optimism. Still very much a work in progress.
Stay tuned right here on The Wednesday Word as we wrap up with part two with M - W, as we offer a glimpse at where things stand at the teams looking to stand in the Owls’ way.
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