Can Luton Town Bounce Back and Win League One Title?
Wrexham and Luton are like ships that have passed in the night. While the Red Dragons have achieved a triple consecutive promotion from National League to Championship, the Hatters have been moving the other way. The Bedfordshire club were preparing for the Premier League two seasons ago and now find themselves getting ready for a League One adventure.
Perhaps we’ll see them back in the Championship come May. The bookies have installed Matt Bloomfield’s side as warm title favourites at odds of 5.00. The manager has kept his position despite a relegation which wasn’t entirely his fault. The former Wycombe boss took charge in difficult circumstances and his Wanderers team were punching above their weight in League One when he left Adams Park.
There has already been a lot of activity at Kenilworth Road. Tom Holmes, Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu and Cauley Woodrow are some of the new arrivals, with sweeping changes being made in an attempt to bounce back. They should certainly find life easier going against modest opposition, some of whom were playing in League Two last term.
However, Luton will be everyone’s cup final next season, with Cardiff City another high-profile club who find themselves in the third tier. Vincent Tan remains owner of the Bluebirds although it would appear that a consortium including Gareth Bale could complete a takeover and release fresh funds so that the Welsh side can be super-competitive.
Brian Barry-Murphy has taken charge at the South Wales club and they are second favourites on the outright market. There are a couple of other League One teams trading at single figure odds and that includes the third relegated side from the Championship last term. Plymouth Argyle were rudder-less under Wayne Rooney before the Pilgrims rallied and they now have Tom Cleverley in charge at Home Park.
Bradley Ibrahim, Xavier Amaechi and Jack McKenzie are some of the new faces at the Devon club, while Huddersfield are also trading at 9.00 to win the title. It’s something of an unknown manager in the form of Lee Grant coming to the Yorkshire club and the former goalkeeper has been given money to spend by the owners. However, they were underwhelming last term and finished outside of the top six.
Perhaps there will be a concerted League One title challenge from some of the Lancashire clubs in the division. Bolton Wanderers, Stockport County and Blackpool are all operating at similar prices with the top betting sites. The Tangerines will once again be guided by the experienced Steve Bruce and there have been some notable arrivals at Bloomfield Road.
Fraser Horsfall and Michael Ihiekwe will form a strong central defensive partnership and we know this team are full of goals, with Rob Apter continuing to impress from a wide position. As for Stockport, they felt aggrieved at not going up through the play-offs last term, especially after proving to be the better side against Leyton Orient.
Meanwhile, Steven Schumacher is in charge at Bolton and the scouser has previously done really well in this division with Plymouth Argyle, with a big fanbase hoping for marked improvement on the pitch.
2025/26 League One Outright Winner Odds - bet365
Luton 4.50
Cardiff 9.00
Huddersfield 9.00
Plymouth 9.00
Bolton 12.00
Blackpool 13.00
Stockport 15.00
Wycombe 17.00
See all teams and outright betting odds.
