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New to League Two 2023/24 – News
Following the conclusion of the EFL play-offs, the Saddlers now know all their opponents for the 2023/24 Sky Bet League Two season.
We take a closer look at the six new clubs who will be competing in the division next season.
MK DONS
Manager: Graham Alexander
Stadium: Stadium MK (30,500)
Last Season: 21st (League One)
After missing out on automatic promotion to the Championship by just a point in the 2021/22 season before disappointment in the play-offs, the Dons endured a difficult 2022/23 campaign that culminated in relegation after a goalless draw with Burton Albion on the final day.
They once again missed out by just a point and parted ways with Manager Mark Jackson at end of the campaign. Graham Alexander has been tasked with trying to rejuvenate MK Dons and push for an instant return to the third tier.
Alexander has enjoyed success, winning promotion from League Two with Fleetwood Town in 2014 before back-to-back League One play-off campaigns with Scunthorpe United in 2017 and 2018. He also guided Salford City to promotion from the National League in 2019.
The Saddlers last met MK Dons in October 2022 with the Dons winning 2-0 at the Poundland Bescot Stadium in the Papa John’s Trophy.
The last league meeting between Walsall and MK Dons came in February 2018 as the Saddlers came out on top thanks to Julian Ngoy’s goal in a 1-0 victory. The reverse fixture at Stadium MK ended in a 1-1 draw in October 2017.
MORECAMBE
Manager: Derek Adams
Stadium: Mazuma Stadium (6,476)
Last Season: 22nd (League One)
Morecambe’s two-year stay in League One came to an end as they were relegated for the first time in their history as a football club.
It was a difficult season for Derek Adams and the Shrimps but a good run of form in April gave them hope of survival though is wasn’t enough as their fate was sealed with a 3-2 defeat to Exeter City on the final day of the campaign.
Adams masterminded Morecambe’s surprise promotion from League Two in 2021 before leaving to take up the hotseat at Bradford City that summer.
With Morecambe in the relegation zone in February 2022, Adams returned and guided them to safety.
Their squad will look different in the 2023/24 as they released 14 players so it’s set to be a busy summer for Adams as he looks to rebuild following relegation.
Walsall’s last meeting with Morecambe came in May 2021, as the Shrimps won 2-0 at the Poundland Bescot Stadium. The Saddlers did pick up a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture at the Mazuma Stadium in January 2021.
ACCRINGTON STANLEY
Manager: John Coleman
Stadium: The Wham Stadium (5,450)
Last Season: 23rd (League One)
After five seasons in League One, Accrington Stanley’s relegation was confirmed on the final day of the League One season.
Stanley come into League Two with the second longest serving manager in England’s top four divisions, John Coleman.
Coleman is in his second spell with Accrington and has managed over 1000 matches for the club.
There have only been five meetings in total between Walsall and Accrington.
The Saddlers last played Stanley in League One during the 2018-19 season with both contests ending in narrow defeats.
FOREST GREEN ROVERS
Manager: Duncan Ferguson
Stadium: The Bolt New Lawn (4,836)
Last Season: 24th (League One)
Forest Green Rovers’ stint in League One was a brief one. After winning League Two in the 2021-22 season, Rob Edwards left to take over at Watford while a handful of key players also left the Bolt New Lawn.
Rovers were within touching distance of safety at Christmas but a disastrous run of just one win in their last 25 league games saw them finish rock bottom and 19 points adrift of survival.
Manager Duncan Ferguson, who took change in January, will be looking to stabilise the club and rebuild following relegation.
The Saddlers and Forest Green have met just eight times, with the first coming in August 2019. Walsall are unbeaten at the Bolt New Lawn and have lost just two of the eight matches between the two clubs.
The last meeting came in February 2022 as George Miller netted in a 1-0 win.
WREXHAM
Manager: Phil Parkinson
Stadium: Racecourse Ground (10,771)
Last Season: 1st (National League)
As has been well documented, there is plenty of intrigue about Wrexham and their Hollywood owners as they prepare for their first EFL campaign in 15 years.
Phil Parkinson’s men won the National League title with an unprecedented 111 points, losing only three times all season and were pushed all the way by Notts County in what was a pulsating title race.
Wrexham will be aiming to continue in their upward trajectory and another busy summer is expected at the Racecourse Ground.
Walsall’s last clash with Wrexham came in April 2007 as Ishmel Demontagnac scored the only goal of the game at the Poundland Bescot Stadium to secure a 1-0 win as the Saddlers moved to the top of the League Two table before going on to secure the league title on the final day.
NOTTS COUNTY
Manager: Luke Williams
Stadium: Meadow Lane (19,841)
Last Season: 2nd (National League)
In any other season, Notts County would have been champions of the National League having amassed 107 points as well as being the league’s top scorers with 117 goals.
Such was the form of Wrexham, they missed out on the league title and automatic promotion by four points.
They then had to get through two dramatic play-off matches against Bromley (coming back from 2-0 down) and Chesterfield, winning on penalties to secure their return to the EFL after a four-year absence.
County were helped by striker Macauley Langstaff who scored an incredible 42 goals last season.
County are familiar opponents to the Saddlers as the two clubs have been pitted against each other 64 times.
The most recent encounter came in League One back in the 2014-15 season, ending in a goalless draw.
Walsall are unbeaten in their last six meetings with the Magpies.
Here is the 2023/24 Sky Bet League Two line-up in its entirety:
Accrington Stanley
AFC Wimbledon
Barrow
Bradford City
Colchester United
Crawley Town
Crewe Alexandra
Doncaster Rovers
Forest Green Rovers
Gillingham
Grimsby Town
Harrogate Town
Mansfield Town
MK Dons
Morecambe
Newport County
Notts County
Salford City
Stockport County
Sutton United
Swindon Town
Tranmere Rovers
Walsall
Wrexham
The Sky Bet League Two fixtures will be released on Thursday 22nd June.
