Ahead of the 2022/23 season, we take a closer look at the six new clubs who will be competing in Sky Bet League Two next season.
Gillingham
Manager: Neil Harris
Stadium: Priestfield Stadium (11,582)
Last season: 21st (League One)
After nine years in Sky Bet League One, Gillingham were relegated to the fourth tier on the final day of the 2021/22 season following a 2-0 defeat at home to Rotherham United.
The Gills are managed by Neil Harris who enjoyed a successful four-and-a-half-year spell at Millwall where he guided the Lions to promotion from League One in 2017.
He also had a spell at Cardiff City where he led them to the Championship play-offs in 2020.
The Saddlers last faced Gillingham in the 2018-19 season and achieved the double with a 2-1 home win at the Poundland Bescot Stadium in August 2018 and a 3-0 triumph at Priestfield in January 2019 courtesy of Andy Cook’s hat-trick.
Meetings next season:
Sat 20th August – A
Sat 18th March – H
Doncaster Rovers
Manager: Gary McSheffrey
Stadium: Keepmoat Stadium (15,231)
Last season: 22nd (League One)
Doncaster’s five-year spell in League One came to an end in what proved to be a season to forget.
They spent the entire season in the bottom four and Richie Wellens paid the price for a poor start to the campaign and was dismissed in early December.
He was replaced by former Coventry City and Birmingham City forward Gary McSheffrey who will be tasked with securing an immediate return to League One.
Donny have strengthened their attack with the signings of Luke Molyneux and former Saddlers loanee George Miller, who both netted 12 times last season.
The Saddlers last met Doncaster in the Carabao Cup last season. Rovers progressed on penalties after a goalless draw at the Poundland Bescot Stadium.
Meetings this season:
Sat 3rd December – A
Sat 6th May – H
AFC Wimbledon
Manager: Johnnie Jackson
Stadium: Plough Lane (9,215)
Last Season: 23rd (League One)
AFC Wimbledon looked relatively comfortable in League One heading into the Christmas period last season but a disastrous 27 match winless run saw them plummet towards relegation.
They now have a new manager at the helm in Johnnie Jackson. His first foray into first team management came last season at Charlton Athletic. The Addicks were in the relegation places when he took charge, initially on a caretaker basis, and he steered them to a comfortable mid-table finish.
Walsall and Wimbledon have met six times in total.
Wimbledon picked up a 1-0 victory in WS1 in the most recent meeting back in February 2019.
Meetings next season:
Sat 8th October – H
Sat 7th January – A
Crewe Alexandra
Manager: Alex Morris
Stadium: Mornflake Stadium (10,153)
Last season: 24th (League One)
Crewe’s two-year stint in League One ended with a whimper as they finished bottom and 11 points adrift of safety.
They spent the entire season in the bottom four in a campaign that failed to spring into life.
Long serving manager David Artell paid the price in April and was replaced by Alex Morris who will lead the Alex into the 2022/23 campaign.
Crewe caught the eye with the signing of Courtney Baker-Richardson from Newport County as they look to bounce back from relegation.
The last meeting between Crewe and the Saddlers came in February 2020 at the Poundland Bescot Stadium as the Railwaymen came from behind to win 2-1.
Meetings next season:
Sat 17th December – H
Sat 15th April – A
Stockport County
Manager: Dave Challinor
Stadium: Edgeley Park (10,841)
Last season: 1st (National League)
Stockport County returned to the EFL after an 11-year absence as they won the National League with 94 points in 2021/22.
Dave Challinor took over in November 2021 and really built momentum at Edgeley Park as they rapidly climbed the table, helped by a 17-match unbeaten league run between December and March.
They head into League Two with a strong squad that includes the likes of former Scunthorpe United and Fleetwood Town striker Paddy Madden, who scored 25 goals last season, as well as ex-Bolton Wanderers captain Antoni Sarcevic.
They’ve made some impressive signings so far this summer. Defender Fraser Horsfall arrived from Northampton Town while striker Kyle Wootton joined from Notts County.
The most recent meeting between Stockport and Walsall came in April 2010 in League One. Julian Gray scored for the Saddlers who came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw.
Meetings next season:
Sat 1st October – A
Thu 29th December – H
Grimsby Town
Manager: Paul Hurst
Stadium: Blundell Park (9,052)
Last season: 6th (National League)
Grimsby Town made an immediate return to the EFL following relegation from Sky Bet League Two in 2020/21.
Paul Hurst reinvigorated the Mariners and while there were bumps in the road along the way, he managed to guide them to the play-offs.
Their play-off campaign was nothing short of dramatic as they scored late extra-time goals against Notts County, Wrexham and Solihull Moors to win promotion.
The most recent meeting between Grimsby and the Saddlers came in March 2021. Caolan Lavery’s header saw Brian Dutton’s side come from behind to draw 1-1.
Meetings next season:
Sat 27th August – H
Sat 25th March – A