The Football League Thread 2024/25 Championship, League 1, League 2

Kiwi_knock · 06-04-2026 08:27PM

Great to see Lincoln promoted to the Championship, always good to see a new team in the league. Really comfortable promotion when you look at some of the so called bigger name teams in League 1.

Tom Mann Centuria · 06-04-2026 09:34PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124368093#Comment_124368093

Yeah it's great to think they were non League 10 years ago. Been to Sincel Bank a couple of times and it's a good trip, Lincoln is a nice spot.

Northampton going the other way out of League One. Lost again, 7 on the bounce (and lost10 out of last 11) and doomed to finish bottom if Port Vale hit any sort of form (their last win was against Northampton). Need a new owner, new manager and new players if we're not going to continue to plummet down the pyramid next season.

jacool · 08-04-2026 09:26AM

The football business model in England is f***ed, judging by this report from the BBC.

Apparently only benevolent owners are keeping this on the road. There is a frightening bit there about Bristol City.

Senior figures at the club, owned by Steve Lansdown since 2002, say that it recorded a loss in all but one season in his 24-year tenure and has lost £218m in that time. Without him, and people like him, a lot of clubs would have to fold.

Stoke would be a £30m debt only for that loan waiver.

Unearthly · 11-04-2026 05:40PM

That 97th min winner for Portsmouth has probably confirmed relegation for Leicester. Mad what’s happened to them since 10 years ago

Kiwi_knock · 11-04-2026 08:17PM

My prediction a few weeks ago that Leicester would stay up comfortably even with the points deduction looking very foolish. Players thinking more about getting out of the club than avoiding relegation. Hard to see them staying up from here.

Automatic promotion practically confirmed for Coventry. Should be Ipswich joining them as well with their games in hand. Middlesbrough have really fallen off the last few weeks, and you would have no confidence in them for the playoffs. Opposite is true for Southampton who are finishing the season strong and full of confidence.

Deeper Blue · 12-04-2026 02:05PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124385332#Comment_124385332

Leicester fans likely thought the same tbf. They probably didn't see the form of Oxford/West Brom (each with only one loss in 8) or Blackburn (one loss in 7) coming. They've only themselves to blame though with one win in the league since 5th January (!)

dfx- · 16-04-2026 08:51AM

It'll be funny if Leicester survive with one win in 16 because the form team at the bottom West Brom get a late 3 or 6 points deduction. Or all three sides going down because of points deductions.

As the Portsmouth owner put it, English football and the "football industry" is nearing financial oblivion.

jacool · 16-04-2026 12:52PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124399151#Comment_124399151

Madness. The points deduction, if there is one, could actually happen after all games are complete.

This takes the whole "VAR ruins celebrating a goal" to a new level.

Conceivably the "bottom 3" might not actually be the "bottom 3" and Oxford, perhaps, could survive.

adaminho · 18-04-2026 01:21PM

Conor Hourihane to leave Barnsley at the end of the season.

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2026/0418/1568936-hourihane-to-depart-barnsley-role-at-end-of-season/

Tom Mann Centuria · 18-04-2026 06:20PM

Northampton have a club record this year so not a total write off. Nine defeats in a row, worst run in 129 years! :pac: Still 3 more games to make it an even longer run which I believe they're more than capable of, particularly as we have Cardiff next.

Baseball72 · 18-04-2026 10:07PM

Just back from Pride Park, where Home Farm and St. Joseph’s (“Joeys”) had under age teams over at the Derby County Academy yesterday and today.

I chatted to some of the Home Farm coaches/parents after the match against Oxford Utd - the commitment from these parents and clubs is just remarkable - well done to them all.

Doubt that we will make the playoffs but it’s been a season where Derby have exceeded expectations.

Kiwi_knock · 21-04-2026 10:26PM

Tough watch after the final whistle in the Leicester game. Was nearly silent straight after, fans too broken to boo. Mad to think in the last 3 seasons, Rowett has been relegated with Leicester and Birmingham and kept Oxford up.

jacool · 21-04-2026 10:59PM

Second season in a row with a Premier league club suffering back to back relegation straight to League 1.

dfx- · 21-04-2026 11:02PM

First Coventry game was December 2017. A 2-1 win at home to Cheltenham in league two where everyone in attendance had a row to themselves. An echoey cold night.

There have been a lot of highs and excruciating losses since then but it's hard to believe that they have actually done it without parachute payments and on the same night Leicester are relegated.

Who cares if they beat Derby's record next year…

adaminho · 25-04-2026 05:56PM

Some game today between Rochdale and York. Rochdale scored in the 95th min to go ahead of York for the only promotion place causing a pitch invasion from the home fans. York then equalised in the 103rd min to return to league football for the first time since 2015.

Deeper Blue · 25-04-2026 09:03PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124421487#Comment_124421487

Potentially not going up having gotten 106 points is bonkers

Mad that it came all the way down to a match between the two on final day

adaminho · 25-04-2026 09:18PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124421996#Comment_124421996

York had 96 pts last season and lost in the playoffs to Oldham who had 73.

Tom Mann Centuria · 25-04-2026 11:03PM

10 defeats in a row now for the club record (It will get higher) at the Cobblers, and here is an actual quote from the director of football/caretaker manager Colin Calderwood:

"We actually did well in the first five minutes"

So something to work on next season for the lads, the other 85+ minutes.

markest · 26-04-2026 10:46AM

Ha, stats show a lot. No intention of adventurous attacking football, even after so many defeats. Deserved what we got.

Irish Aris · 26-04-2026 11:04AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124421996#Comment_124421996

I wonder how many times this needs to happen before the authorities even consider a change in the promotion/relegation structure between league 2 and national league. 24 teams in each division, and you have only 2 relegated and only 1 going up automatically. Surely they can afford to increase the places by 1.

jacool · 26-04-2026 01:45PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124422780#Comment_124422780

True.

There is an Italian league which forgoes the playoffs if one team is a certain number of points ahead.

jacool · 26-04-2026 01:49PM

With Wrexham trailing today, looks like 3 teams in the pot for the last Championship playoff place.

If the Red Dragons can avoid conceding 2 more they have pole position. Interestingly, all 3 are at home on Saturday!

If Ipswich can beat Southampton on Tuesday they go straight back up.

Mushy · 26-04-2026 02:30PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124423083#Comment_124423083

Could be a cracking last day in the promotion + playoff spots if Ipswich dont beat Southampton mid-week. Do really hope Millwall find a way to go up, but can't be drawing to Leicester at this stage of season

sonofenoch · 26-04-2026 11:12PM

Just noticed if Southampton beat Ipswich midweek sets it up for one hell of a shootout last day with 4 teams vying for that 2nd auto spot

Baseball72 · 27-04-2026 12:19AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124423083#Comment_124423083

3 teams fighting it out for the last playoff spot. I’ll be at Pride Park Saturday ( a good number of us travelling over Friday evening ) hoping the Rams win and that Hull and Wrexham don’t!

Whatever happens, it’s been a great season for Derby, but also in fairness Hull and Wrexham have also done very well.

dfx- · 27-04-2026 09:50PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124424243#Comment_124424243

Ipswich just have to beat QPR at home on Saturday and they will be promoted either way. Southampton's draw with Bristol City is killing them.

I've a sneaky feeling Derby will do it ..

pavb2 · 28-04-2026 10:06PM

Great end to the Saints Ipswich game, the dynamic switched to Ipswich in the last 15 minutes. I think Saints are probably just about favourites for promotion via playoffs unbeaten in 18 but at this point form is less of a factor, after all they do call it the lottery of the playoffs and of course the curse of the red and white stripes but not sure how valid that is anymore

ollaetta · 28-04-2026 10:54PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124426878#Comment_124426878

QPR haven't won in 5 and have been sleep walking through games. Ipswich should have no bother getting the win to guarantee second.

Baseball72 · 28-04-2026 11:17PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124426878#Comment_124426878

as a Derby fan, we are delighted we go into match day 46 with a real chance. I still make Hull favourites to clinch 6th. There’s a gang of us travelling over Friday evening- it will be a blast whatever happens.

The Championship is a fantastic league….

4Ad · 29-04-2026 11:03AM

Another Derby fan here, we really have a strange season, we never looked like making the playoffs yet here we are possibly 1 game away...fingers crossed..

The Football League Thread 2024/25 Championship, League 1, League 2

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