Who are the favourites for promotion in League Two?

The 2024/25 EFL season is underway, and as always, League Two promises excitement, unpredictability, and plenty of surprises.

The race for promotion is fierce, and with every team desperate to climb the football pyramid, each match could make or break their season given the busy schedules and need for form. The journey to League One is never straightforward, with twists and turns awaiting at every corner.

Automatic promotion is the dream for every fourth-tier side, avoiding the nail-biting tension of the playoffs and earning an immediate spot in League One.

However, for those who miss out on the top three, the play-offs offer one final chance to gain promotion. The spectacle of a big day out at Wembley is always filled with drama and nerves, but no team wants to leave their fate to that final 90 minutes.

Securing promotion as early as possible is crucial, and the longer a team stays in League Two, the harder it becomes to make progress.

In the early stages of the 2024/25 campaign, several teams have emerged as strong promotion contenders. It’s clear that this season’s race will be competitive and tough to call in the League 2 promotion odds.

League Two has long been a breeding ground for great teams looking to climb the ladder. Clubs like Wrexham have used the division to launch themselves back into the upper echelon of the English Football League, with others hoping to follow in their footsteps.

With the season in full swing, here are four teams that could be favourites for promotion from League Two.

Notts County:

Notts County have carried their momentum from the National League into League Two, looking like potential champions after an excellent start to the season. Scoring 14 goals in their opening six matches, they have shown that they can handle the step up in quality after a season steadying themselves last term. 

Despite losing star striker Macaulay Langstaff to Millwall, County have continued to thrive, with other players stepping up to fill the void of a player that scored 70 goals across two seasons at Meadow Lane. Unbeaten at the time of writing, they look like a strong contender for automatic promotion.

Gillingham:

Mark Bonner’s arrival at Gillingham has injected fresh ambition into the club, with the Gills quickly establishing itself as a promotion contender.

The blend of youth and experience in the squad is paying off, with standout performances from rising talents like Jayden Clarke, who only a few years ago was playing Sunday League football.

Alongside promising players such as Marcus Wyllie and Joe Gbode, Gillingham’s strong start suggests they will be right up there as the season progresses, with League 2 betting odds looking favourable in their promotion hunt.

Doncaster Rovers:

Despite a lukewarm start to the season, Doncaster Rovers are still the favourites for promotion under Grant McCann at 9/2.

After finishing fifth last season and suffering a heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat to Crewe in the playoffs, Doncaster are determined to go one step further this year.

They blew a 2-0 aggregate lead in that semi-final, but the experience gained could prove invaluable as they aim for automatic promotion this time around.

Bradford City:

Bradford City may have had a slow start, but they possess an experienced squad capable of mounting a promotion challenge.

Though they’ve struggled to find the back of the net consistently, they remain unbeaten at home, and if they can turn Valley Parade into a fortress, they will be serious contenders.

Scoring more goals will be essential if they are to push for a playoff place, but the talent is there for Bradford to make a strong run, with Aden Baldwin and Richard Smallwood key components of Graham Alexander’s squad.

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