Football News: Wrexham and Stockport County Earn Promotions to League One
Wrexham and Stockport County have both enjoyed impressive campaigns in the 2023/24 League Two season, securing automatic promotion to League One for the 2024/25 season.
The Red Dragons, owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, finished second in the table, earning a direct promotion alongside champions Mansfield Town. Meanwhile, the Hatters claimed the League Two title, making their promotion even sweeter after narrowly missing out in the previous season’s play-offs.
Steady Rise and Narrowly Missing Out
Wrexham’s steady rise has been evident, as they have earned back-to-back promotions from the National League to League One. Stockport County, on the other hand, won the National League title in 2022 and narrowly missed out on promotion to the third tier in 2023 before finally achieving their goal this season.
Both clubs are well-financed, with Wrexham’s famous Hollywood owners and Stockport’s local businessman owner Mark Stott, whose holdings are worth £33m according to Company Check.
Dominant Performances
At times, both County and Wrexham have been dominant against their fourth-tier opponents. The Hatters claimed victory in eight of their last nine games, while the Red Dragons won each of their last five matches, including a final-day triumph over Stockport and a 6-0 thrashing of Forest Green.
The clubs boast talented players who have proven their quality at the League Two level, such as Wrexham’s James McClean, who played Championship football with Wigan Athletic last season, and Stockport’s Antoni Sarcevic, a former Bolton Wanderers midfielder.
Challenges Ahead in League One
Football finance expert Dr Rob Wilson believes the rest of League Two will be “generally happier with a more level playing field” following the promotions of Wrexham and Stockport. However, he expects the third tier to remain a challenging division, as former Premier League club Sunderland found in their four-year stint in League One.
Exciting times lie ahead for both sets of supporters, as Wrexham and Stockport County look to make their mark in the 2024/25 League One season.
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