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Championship betting
Ipswich and Southampton Head Championship Betting Market
There will be plenty of Championship clubs who will have their sights set on promotion next season. That includes the three relegated sides from the Premier League, with Ipswich Town regarded as the one most capable of a quick return. Kieran McKenna’s side previously achieved successive promotions to reach the top flight and will surely be among the contenders.
Betfred offer 4/1 that the Suffolk side land the Championship title, with the team having to adjust to the sale of Liam Delap and they might lose some of their other key players. The same thing might happen at Southampton who will be managed by Will Still this term. Bet365 offer 11/2 that the Saints are able to land top spot although they are going to be a new-look side.
Leicester City have drifted out to 14/1 with Betfred and the Foxes have experienced financial issues since being relegated from the top flight. It’s hard to see a repeat of two seasons ago when Enzo Maresca was able to guide them to promotion. There hasn’t been a lot of transfer activity so far and Martí Cifuentes will have a tough job on his hands.
Birmingham City romped to the League One title last season and the bookies anticipate a big promotion assault from the Midlands club. The Blues will be primed to go again and they’ll have one of the biggest budgets in the division. The big bucks have been splashed on Kyogo Furuhashi this summer although they already have a big source of goals in the form of Jay Stansfield. Bet365 offer 15/2 that they win another title.
Sheffield United parted company with Chris Wilder after losing in the Championship play-off final and they are now going forth with Ruben Selles in charge. Bet365 offer 8/1 that the Blades win the division and they’ve made a smattering of new signings. Tyler Bindon and Ivo Grbic are the calibre of players who are arriving at Bramall Lane.
Frank Lampard will be hoping that his Coventry City side are able to go again when they line up for the new season. The former Derby County and Chelsea boss did a sterling job at the Ricoh Arena in the previous campaign. The Sky Blues have recruited Kaine Kesler-Hayden, Miguel Angel Brau and Fabio Tavares are among the players who form part of a new-look squad next term.
Coventry are 12/1 with William Hill to be crowned champions. Norwich City are a bigger price at 16/1 with Coral and they have effectively pinched Liam Manning from Bristol City. The Canaries will have to fare without Jonathan Rowe and Borja Sainz who have gone to Marseille and Porto respectively. However, Mathias Kvistgaarden could be the player to deliver goals.
We also need to mention Wrexham who will be chasing an amazing fourth successive promotion. Perhaps the fun ends for the Welsh club for a little while, with the Red Dragons available at 25/1 with bet365 to be crowned champions.
League One betting
Luton Town, Plymouth Argyle and Cardiff City Among League One Favourites
The 2025/26 League One season gets underway shortly and it will be a typically competitive division, with three promotion places up for grabs. The bookies think that Luton Town are likely to be in the mix, with the Hatters priced as the 7/2 favourites with Betfred to win the third tier title. It’s easy to see why the Bedfordshire side are the market leaders. They were only narrowly relegated from the Championship last term and that came after coming down from the Premier League. Matt Bloomfield prospered with Wycombe last term before switching to Kenilworth Road and Luton have plenty to recommend them.
There have been a number of notable signings this summer. Nakhi Wells should be capable of goals, with Kai Naismith and George Saville also adding plenty of experience to the ranks. There has also been a defensive midfield recruit in the form of Hakeem Odoffin, with Cauley Woodrow set to score plenty after completing a move.
Plymouth Argyle have also made a number of signings, including Aribim Pepple who was on loan at Chesterfield last season. They have taken something of a gamble going for inexperienced boss Tom Cleverley. However, they look capable of challenging at the top end of League One and Jamie Paterson is a notable addition from Coventry City.
Cardiff City are another of the League One favourites although the issue of ownership remains shrouded in uncertainty. That explains why there hasn’t been many new recruits, with Ryotaro Tsunoda the only arrival of note at the time of writing. The Bluebirds are an 8/1 chance with bet365 although there’s a lot of uncertainty.
Huddersfield Town have been more adventurous in the transfer market and we’ve seen some experienced campaigners arrive at the Yorkshire club. Lyndon Gooch and Murray Wallace have joined, with Marcus Harness dropping down a division after making an impact at Derby County. The Terriers are an 8/1 chance with Ladbrokes.
Bolton Wanderers are an 11/1 chance with Coral to win League One after a disappointing previous campaign. Finishing eighth was a solid effort although they are an ambitious club and Steven Schumacher has previously guided Plymouth into the Championship.
Dave Challinor has done an excellent job at Stockport County and perhaps the Hatters can be knocking on the door again. However, a lot of good players have left the club and perhaps it will be a transition for a club who have waved goodbye to Fraser Horsfall, Will Collar and Ibou Touray. BoyleSports offer 14/1 that Lancashire side claim the spoils.
Blackpool have been splashing the cash this summer and it’s clear they’ll have a go at promotion under Steve Bruce. They’re at 14/1 poke with Ladbrokes, with Reading priced at 18/1 with William Hill. However, they have experienced financial issues, with Barnsley available at 25/1 with Betfred and they’ve signed David McGoldrick.
League Two betting
MK Dons Head League Two Title Betting Market
MK Dons finished a lowly nineteenth in the League Two standings last season although a big improvement is expected this time around. We know that the Buckinghamshire club have a big budget available and that has led to them recruiting Paul Warne as manager. The former Derby County boss should fare well and he’s been able to make some notable signings.
The odds have been shortening following the captures of Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Aaron Collins, with bet365 offering 7/2 that they land the title. It might be that they set the benchmark and there was the capture of Dan Crowley from Notts County last January although there are likely to be several other teams competing for automatic promotion.
Chesterfield scrambled seventh place last term and the Spireites should go well under Paul Cook, with Betfred prepared to chalk up 7/1 that the Midlands side are able to finish in top spot. They have made the signing of Dilan Markanday a permanent capture and they have also recruited Ryan Stirk from Walsall. Lee Bonis arrives from the Netherlands and could be a real goal-getter.
Bristol Rovers have made some notable captures, with Luke Southwood arriving from Bolton Wanderers and should prove to be one of the strongest goalkeepers in this division. Darrell Clarke has previously enjoyed success and The Gas will be eyeing an instant return to League One, with William Hill offering 14/1 that they claim top spot.
Gillingham were a side who flattered to deceive last season, parting company with Mark Bonner and recruiting Gareth Ainsworth instead. The former Wycombe boss has brought in Sam Vokes on a free transfer and the veteran forward could go well, while Seb Palmer-Houlden and Andy Smith are new captures also.
Salford City narrowly missed out on the play-offs last season and the Ammies will be eyeing a higher finish under Karl Robinson this time around. There has been a big exodus of players at the north-west club, with a youthful look about many of the new captures. Loick Ayina and Adebola Oluwo are strong centre-halves and Bet365 have 12/1.
Notts County were indebted to David McGoldrick and Alassana Jatta for goals last season and they reached the play-offs before losing to eventual winners Wimbledon. Perhaps the Magpies can improve this time around and Matthew Dennis was a danger for Carlisle last term. They have kept Jodi Jones and can be backed at 14/1 with BoyleSports to finish up as champions.
Walsall were another losing play-off side last year and got kicked in the teeth a number of ways. The Saddlers went well under Mat Sadler and stormed clear at the top of the table, with the Midlands side then slumping and narrowly missing out on automatic promotion. They could struggle this time around although they’re a 16/1 chance with bet365 to come roaring back.
Prices correct at the time of writing and subject to change.
