Who will play in League Two Next Season?

With Hereford United still not safe from relegation, BN takes a look at which clubs are likely to be playing League Two football next season.

Starting with the bottom of League One:

19 Notts County 44 -13 49
20 Walsall 44 -19 45
21 Dag & Red 44 -16 44
22 Bristol R 44 -33 44
23 Plymouth 43 -17 42
24 Swindon 44 -22 38

Whilst Notts County appear to be safe, it's by no means certain who will join Swindon in League Two next season.

Plymouth have a game in hand over the other bottom clubs and there recent form has been very good. However they have two difficult matches against Exeter away and Southampton at home before playing Leyton Orient, who currently still have a chance of making the play-offs, on the final day of the season. Southampton could finish second in the League, if not they will be in the play-offs so will want to win at Plymouth.

Bristol Rovers have a home game against Sheffield Wednesday then travel to Colchester. Neither of their opponents have anything to play for.

Dagenham and Redbridge have to play Carlisle at home and then Peterborough, who are already in the play-offs.

Walsall entertain Charlton, who have nothing to play for, on Saturday before a difficult trip to Southampton a week later.

In truth Hereford United, assuming they remain in League Two, would be very happy if Dagenham stay in League One and the other four drop down as they are all likely to bring reasonable support to Edgar Street next season.

Next the top of League Two:

1 Chesterfield 44 32 82
2 Bury 44 34 80
3 Wycombe 44 15 74
4 Shrewsbury 44 19 73
5 Accrington 44 16 69
6 Stevenage 44 19 68
7 Gillingham 44 14 68
8 Torquay 44 23 67

With Chesterfield and Bury already promoted, it looks as though either Wycombe or Shrewsbury will automatically join them in League One. Then its three out of the next four for the play-offs.

Bulls fans would probably prefer Shrewsbury to lose out as otherwise the nearest local derby will be lost for at least a season.

Moving onto the bottom of League Two:

19 Burton Albion 44 -14 49
20 Hereford 44 -16 48
21 Lincoln City 44 -32 47
22 Northampton 44 -11 46
23 Barnet 44 -18 45
24 Stockport 44 -46 40

Whilst in theory neither Bradford, Cheltenham nor Macclesfield are currently safe (all on 51 points), the chances of one of them going down is, to be blunt, nil.

Stockport will be relegated unless they win their last two games by about 15-0 and Northampton lose both theirs. So the Hatters are doomed.

However who will join them in the Conference next season remains uncertain.

Barnet have a very difficult looking game at promotion chasing Accrington on Saturday and Northampton take on play-offs contenders Stevenage. Lincoln travel to Oxford whose season has, realistically, ended. Burton are at Southend who also have nothing to play for.

The form book would suggest that both Barnet and Northampton will find it difficult to take more than a point, at most, from their games on Saturday. If Barnet lose and Hereford take a point against Bradford City, then the Bulls will be safe, similarily if the Bulls win and Barnet draw.

But should the Bulls lose, whatever happens to Barnet and Northampton may not matter and it will all be down to the last Saturday of the season.

It's quite complicated and Hereford supporters will have to wait until 4.50 on Saturday to see how the results pan out.

League Two Fixtures Next Saturday:

Accrington Stanley v Barnet
Aldershot v Rotherham
Bury v Wycombe
Cheltenham v Shrewsbury
Crewe v Stockport
Gillingham v Macclesfield
Hereford v Bradford
Northampton v Stevenage
Oxford Utd v Lincoln City
Port Vale v Morecambe
Southend v Burton Albion

Finally Crawley from the Conference will be plying their trade in League Two next season. They will be joined by one of the following, Wimbledon, Luton, Wrexham, or Fleetwood.

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