The top of England’s League One is witnessing an exhilarating promotion battle, with recently promoted sides Wrexham, Mansfield Town and Stockport County all firmly in the mix. But looming large at the summit are big-spending Birmingham City, led by their high-profile ownership group fronted by former NFL star Tom Brady.
Hollywood-Owned Wrexham Chase Historic Treble
Wrexham FC, the Welsh club co-owned by Hollywood actors Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, are chasing a remarkable feat – becoming the first team to achieve three successive promotions in England’s top five divisions. Having stormed to the League Two title last season, the Red Dragons currently sit second in League One.
Manager Phil Parkinson believes being somewhat “under the radar” compared to previous campaigns has benefitted his side. “There’s an expectancy on a lot of clubs in this division and the spotlight is away from us a little bit,” he explained. “I feel that’s helped us, being slightly under the radar compared to what we have been in previous seasons.”
You’ve got to be able to dream in football, haven’t you? Every supporter has got to have dreams.
– Phil Parkinson, Wrexham FC Manager
Mansfield’s Quiet Ambition
Flying further under the radar are Mansfield Town. The Stags, led by experienced manager Nigel Clough, are renowned for their resilience and organization. Currently third and level on points with Wrexham, Mansfield are aiming for a first season in the second tier since 1978.
Clough insists that establishing Mansfield as a stable League One club is the priority. “Trying to establish ourselves as a League One club is the next stage now, having not stayed at this level for more than 30 years,” he said. “I don’t think that is tempering expectations too much.”
Birmingham’s Spending Spree
At the summit, Birmingham City have backed their promotion ambitions with significant investment. A source close to the club revealed their £15m signing of Jay Stansfield from Fulham smashed the League One transfer record over four times.
Manager Chris Davies acknowledges the strength of their rivals. “Wrexham have had a very good start to the campaign, they’ve obviously built momentum from promotion, they know how to win,” he said. But Davies warns against complacency: “We will not get carried away because, as we’ve seen already, this is a really difficult league.”
Stockport’s Silent Surge
Completing the trio of recently promoted sides in the hunt is Stockport County. The Hatters achieved promotion via the playoffs last term and have adjusted seamlessly to life in League One. Currently occupying seventh spot, Stockport are within touching distance of the pace-setters.
Intriguing Battles Ahead
As the League One promotion race heats up, a series of mouthwatering clashes await. Wrexham travel to fellow high-flyers Rotherham United this weekend, while Birmingham face a tricky test at fifth-placed Lincoln City.
With momentum-fueled Wrexham and Mansfield challenging big-spending Birmingham, and dark horses like Stockport and Exeter also in the mix, League One’s promotion battle promises to be a captivating spectacle. The dreams of reaching the Championship have never felt more vivid for these ambitious clubs.
