With the League Two season over, it’s time to take a look at all of the past few weeks’ events, including transfers, managerial departures and arrivals, and a glance at all of the new teams in the division.
Accrington Stanley
Accrington Stanley boss John Coleman has already made some vital summer transfers as his side look for a better season next time around. Defenders Tom Davies and Matty Pearson arrive at the Crown Ground following their releases from Fleetwood and Halifax, respectively. Coleman has also snapped up 21-year-old striker, Adam Morgan, following his release from recently relegated Yeovil Town.
Meanwhile, Accrington have been handed one of the toughest Capital One Cup first round ties, as they welcome Hull City, fresh from their Premier League relegation.
AFC Wimbledon
Wimbledon boss Neal Ardley is yet to make any summer signings, but fan favourite, Sammy Moore, and winger, Alfie Potter, are amongst the five players released from Kingsmeadow. On a positive note, top scorer, Adebayo Akinfenwa, has signed a new deal with the club, as has Callum Kennedy.
Ardley will take his side to South Wales to face Cardiff City in the first round of the Capital One Cup.
Barnet
Conference champions Barnet prepare for a new season back in League Two led my manager Martin Allen. Former Bee, Tom Champion, returns to the club following his departure from Cambridge United, whilst forwards Ben Tomlinson and Kevin Lisbie arrive from Lincoln City and Leyton Orient, respectively. Right-back Gavin Hoyte is the fourth summer signing, arriving from League One club Gillingham.
Barnet travel across London to face recently relegated Millwall in the first round of the Capital One Cup.
Bristol Rovers
Conference play-off winners Bristol Rovers have had a quiet summer so far as Darrell Clarke prepares his squad for life in League Two. 25-year-old defender, James Clarke, is the Gas’ only summer signing to date, following his release from Woking.
Bristol Rovers will welcome Championship outfit Birmingham City to the Memorial Ground in the first round of the Capital One Cup.
Cambridge United
Cambridge made a relatively negative start to this summer’s transfer window, listing fan favourite and Captain, Josh Coulson, amongst others, but the U’s boss Richard Money has brought some fresh faces to the Abbey Stadium. Defenders Leon Legge, Mark Roberts and Elliott Omozusi all arrive from League One clubs, as do midfielders Keith Keane and Luke Berry. Berry is making his second spell at the club following his release after just one season with Barnsley, and he is joined by Southend United’s prior top scorer, Barry Corr.
Positive summer signings, then, it seems from Money; he prepares to take his Cambridge side to Rotherham in the first round of the Capital One Cup.
Carlisle United
Carlisle manager Keith Curle has lost one of his stars players as 20-year-old midfielder Brad Potts has left Brunton Park to for a move to Blackpool. However, Curle has reacted positively, bringing in defender Tom Miller from Lincoln, and midfielders Luke Joyce and Jason Kennedy from Accrington and Bradford City, respectively. Furthermore, 22-year-old David Atkinson also arrives at the club on a short-term deal from Middlesbrough.
Carlisle will host beaten League One play-off semi-final side, Chesterfield, in the first round of the Capital One Cup.
Crawley Town
The first of the four relegated sides new to League Two is Crawley Town. Having appointed former Cheltenham Town manager Mark Yates near the end of last season, the side will be looking for an immediate return to League One. However, Yates has yet to deal with any transfer comings or goings as he prepares his squad for next season.
Crawley get set to travel to Peterborough in the first round of the Capital One Cup.
Dagenham and Redbridge
Like Cambridge, Dagenham began the transfer window by announcing that captain Abu Ogogo will leave the club. After six years at Victoria Road, Ogogo decided to move to recently promoted Shrewsbury Town. No new signings have been acquired by Daggers boss, Wayne Burnett, but the contract extensions for Ashley Hemmings and top scorer Jamie Cureton, amongst others, has been a positive move by the boss.
Dagenham travel to Charlton Athletic for their Capital One Cup first round tie.
Exeter City
Exeter manager Paul Tisdale will be hoping for a promotion bid this season. Having already acquired goalkeeper Bobby Olejnik from Peterborough and midfielders Lee Holmes and Emmanuel Oyeleke from Preston and Brentford, in turn, he could well achieve this. The midfield duo have arrived to replace fan favourite Liam Sercombe and defender Scott Bennett, who have both left the club for fellow League Two sides.
Exeter will travel to beaten League One play-off finalists, Swindon Town, in the first round of the Capital One Cup.
Hartlepool United
Following a long and difficult relegation threatened season, Hartlepool boss Ronnie Moore is preparing his squad for promotion next term. Goalkeeper Trevor Carson arrives from recently relegated Cheltenham Town, whilst defenders Harry Worley and Carl Magnay arrive from Stevenage and Grimsby. Another defender, Jake Carroll, also arrives, as do strikers Rhys Oates and Rakish Bingham from Barnsley and Mansfield, respectively.
Having achieved the great escape last season, Ronnie Moore will take his side to Fleetwood for the first round of the Capital One Cup.
Leyton Orient
New Leyton Orient manager, Ian Hendon, will be looking to make an immediate return to League One following last season’s relegation. Having already signed midfielder Sammy Moore from Wimbledon and former Colchester defender Sean Clohessey, Hendon has made a positive start to this window. That said, he’ll need to find another striker, as both Kevin Lisbie and Chris Dagnell have exited the club.
Leyton Orient travel to freshly promoted Championship side MK Dons for the first round of the Capital One Cup.
Luton Town
Having just missed out on the playoffs last season, Hatters boss John Still will be looking to go that extra step. Still has already brought in defenders Dan Potts from West Ham and Scott Cuthbert from Leyton Orient, and they’ll team up with former Ipswich striker Jack Marriott and Norwich midfielder Cameron McGeehan who has made his loan deal permanent. The club have released Simon Whalley and Danny Fitzsimmons following their involvement with an alleged assault at the clubs end of season party.
Luton welcome League One champions Bristol City to Kenilworth Road in the first round of the Capital One Cup.
Mansfield Town
The Mansfield boss has had an exciting transfer window already. Welcoming back midfielder Adam Murray from Newport County and striker Matt Green, following his release from Birmingham, has been positive according to many fans, in particular Green who netted 25 goals when the Stags won promotion from the Conference. Defenders Mitchell Rose, Malvind Benning and Lee Collins also arrive at Field Mill, as do winger Nathan Thomas and forward Craig Weetcarr.
Mansfield have a tough Capital One Cup first round encounter as they travel to Championship side, Sheffield Wednesday.
Morecambe
Despite releasing eight players, including Padraig Amond and Mark Hughes, Shrimpers boss Jim Bentley has made some key signings. Midfielders Tom Barkhuizen and Peter Murphy arrive from Blackpool and Wycombe, respectively, whilst defender Adam Dugdale arrives following Tranmere Rovers relegation to the Conference. Bentley has also signed 23-year-old midfielder Aaron Wildig following his release from Shrewsbury.
Morecambe welcome Capital One Cup giant-killers, Sheffield United, to the Globe Arena in their first round tie.
Newport County
New Newport County boss Terry Butcher has made four signings as he starts a new era with the South Wales club. Scott Barrow and goalkeeper Rhys Taylor have both arrived from Macclesfield Town, whilst Grimsby Town striker Lenell John-Lewis has also arrived at Rodney Parade after another impressive season in the Conference. Gateshead winger Alex Rodman completes the signings, but Ryan Jackson has left to team up with former manager Justin Edinburgh at Gillingham.
Newport will travel to Wolves for their Capital One Cup first round tie.
Northampton Town
Cobblers boss Chris Wilder will be hoping to mount a promotion bid after falling short at the end of last season. Having released nine players, including John-Joe O’Toole, Chris Hackett and Matt Duke, Wilder has acted quickly, making some key signings. He has penned midfielders Alfie Potter, whom he worked with at Oxford, and Nicky Adams, following their releases from Wimbledon and Bury. Defenders, David Buchanan from Preston and Josh Lelan from Derby, have also arrived at Sixfields.
Northampton will welcome recently relegated League One side Blackpool for their Capital One Cup first round encounter.
Notts County
New to League Two following last season’s relegation, Notts County, managed by Ricardo Muniz, will be looking for an immediate return. The club will be boosted by the news that both Roy Carroll and Andy Smith have put pen to paper on a new one-year deal each. The club have also signed defenders Scott Bennett and Rhys Sharp from Exeter and Derby.
County will face a difficult away day in the Capital One Cup first round as they visit Huddersfield.
Oxford United
Oxford United head coach Michael Appleton has made a positive start to this summer’s transfer window. Appleton has snapped up forward Kemar Roofe on a permanent basis after his loan deal from West Brom at the end of last season. In addition to the attacking threat of Roofe, Appleton has also signed recently released Portsmouth forward, Ryan Taylor, and has also added Exeter City’s Liam Sercombe and former Scunthorpe shot-stopper, Sam Slocombe.
The U’s have a tough first round in the Capital One Cup, as they travel to Championship play-off hopefuls Brentford.
Plymouth Argyle
It’s both a new season and a new manager for the Pilgrims. After failing to reach the play-off final, manager John Sheridan stepped down, and the man replacing him is former Ross County manager, Derek Adams. With the club having already released eight players, including Dominic Blizzard and Jason Banton, and the sale of second top scorer, Lewis Alessandra, Adams must start rebuilding the club as they aim for promotion.
Plymouth welcome League One side Gillingham to Home Park for the first round of the Capital One Cup.
Portsmouth
Another club with a new manager is Portsmouth. Following Andy Awford’s departure just before the end of the season, the club appointed former Chesterfield manager, Paul Cook, after he failed to win promotion through the play-offs in League One. Cook has already been busy since his arrival at Fratton Park, changing the backroom staff and bringing in some key players. Having witnessed talented youngster Jed Wallace leave to join Championship outfit Wolves, Cook looked to League One for replacements, snapping up Doncaster winger Kyle Bennett. In addition, Portsmouth have also acquired fellow winger Kai Naismith, who arrives from Accrington, and recently released Aston Villa defender Enda Stevens.
Portsmouth will be looking for promotion next season, but face a tough test in the Capital One Cup first round when Derby County visit Fratton Park.
Stevenage
Yet another League Two club with a new manager is Stevenage. After failing to progress to the play-off final, the club decided not to renew Graham Westley’s contract, instead opting for the inexperienced West Ham attacking coach, Teddy Sheringham. The club had already announced its retained list prior to the former England striker’s arrival, but he has made two summer signings so far; defender Mark Hughes following his release from Morecambe, and Aldershot forward Brett Williams.
Stevenage have a tough Capital One Cup first round, as they travel to beaten Championship play-off semi-final competitors, Ipswich Town.
Wycombe Wanderers
After losing in the play-off final against Southend United, Gareth Ainsworth’s Wycombe side must prepare and start again. Experienced striker Garry Thompson arrives following his release from Notts County, whilst 20-year-old left sided player, Ryan Sellers, comes to Adams Park after his release from Bolton. Ainsworth is keen to extend the loan deals he had in place with some of his squad last season, including Brentford defender Alfie Mawson and Charlton forward Fred Onyedinma, but nothing yet has been reached.
Wycombe welcome Fulham to Adams Park for their Capital One Cup encounter.
Yeovil Town
The final new League Two club is relegated Yeovil Town. Paul Sturrock is the boss, but his arrival came too late as the club looked to avoid the drop. So far, Sturrock is yet to sign any players, but he has released eleven from his squad as he prepares a summer rejig.
Yeovil have one of the toughest Capital One fixtures as they welcome recently relegated QPR to Huish Park.
York City
So far, York City have had a quiet window; striker Vadaine Oliver is the Minstermen’s only arrival after he was released from Crewe, but Daniel Parson’s departure ends his ten-year affiliation with the club.
York will host Bradford in the first round of the Capital One Cup.
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