League 2 Relegation Odds: Newport destined for the National League?

Morecambe and Carlisle United both dropped out of the English Football League last season, finishing 24th and 23rd, respectively, in the country's fourth tier. So, who will follow in their footsteps this campaign?

Below are the League 2 Relegation Odds for the 2025/26 season, alongside a commentary of the main contenders to suffer the same fate as the Shrimps and the Cumbrians.

Newport County @ 5/2

Newport County were the lowest-ranked team in League 2 last season after Morecambe and Carlisle, so it's little wonder that they are among favourites to be relegated in 2025/26, although the fact that they are considered the most likely to drop down isn't ideal, considering a couple of National League clubs are now in the fourth tier.

The Exiles ended the previous campaign without a win in their final nine games, losing six times and blanking in the same number.

Only two players, Bobby Kamwa (nine) and Huddersfield Town loanee Kyle Hudlin (six), scored more than four league goals, and the latter is now plying his trade in Vietnam.

Football Odds

Newport were also the not-so-proud owners of the worst defensive record in League 2, shipping 76 goals.

David Hughes' side have already started their season, facing fourth-tier newbies Barnet in the preliminary round of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday. They took a two-goal lead before half-time, but two strikes in second half added time took the tie to penalties at the Hive Stadium, where Newport emerged triumphant.

Going two goals up after 42 minutes was impressive, but the way they threw a two-goal lead away will be concerning for Hughes and supporters.

Harrogate Town @ 3/1

Harrogate only finished four points better off than Newport, and the Sulphurites are second in this season's relegation list.

Goals were a big issue for Harrogate in 2024/25, with only Morecambe (40) and Gillingham (41) netting fewer times than Simon Weaver's charges (43) in League 2.

Harrogate beat Guiseley 1-0 in their first pre-season friendly but blanked in their final four fixtures, losing three last three 3-0, 3-0 and 2-0.

Weaver has since admitted that the club's main objective this season is survival. He said: "We’ve got to try to get to 50 points as quickly as possible. We know where we are in a tough league, so we don’t want to get too ahead of ourselves. But like any team, we’re allowed to dream."

Nine-goal top scorer Josh March has left for Crewe, and only midfielder Ellis Taylor (seven) found the net more than three times in the fourth tier last season, so Harrogate's low price for relegation is understandable, in my opinion.

Accrington Stanley @ 4/1

Accrington only accrued one more point than Newport in 2024/25, finishing 21st in League 2, and they are amongst the favourites for the drop this season.

Stanley are never the biggest spenders, further underlined by their business this summer, which has seen Oliver Wright join on loan from Southampton and Freddie Sass and Isaac Sinclair move on frees from non-league sides Marine and Curzon Ashton, respectively.

Impressively, though, they are starting their 20th consecutive season in the EFL, so they know how to keep their heads above water. But is this the campaign where it all unravels? We shall see.

League 2 Odds

Bromley @ 5/1

Bromley enjoyed a terrific first season in League 2, claiming a top-half finish (11th). They won more games (17) than they lost (14), and ended up just four points behind seventh-place Chesterfield, who took the final play-off position.

The Ravens were indebted to Golden Boot winner Michael Cheek, who made the step up from the National League with aplomb, netting 25 goals across the league campaign - six more than any other player.

Given that their next highest scorer was Ben Thompson on six goals, though, one would think that another big season is needed from Cheek. Should he suffer an injury or be lured away before the end of the transfer window, you'd worry for their chances.

Cheltenham @ 11/2

Cheltenham were middle-of-the-road last season, ending up 15th, 10 points behind the play-offs, but 18 points clear of relegation.

Their summer dealings don't inspire much confidence, though, and they will have to improve defensively after shipping 70 goals in 2024/25; only three clubs conceded more in League 2.

Today's Football Fixtures

Fleetwood @ 13/2

Charlie Adam paid the price for a five-game winless run in the winter, as he was replaced by Peter Wild in the Fleetwood dugout. The former Barrow boss oversaw four victories in his first seven games, and a further six until the end of the season as Town finished in a comfortable position (14th).

Captain Brendan Wiredu and creator-in-chief Phoenix Patterson have left for Plymouth Argyle and Stevenage, though, and it will be interesting to see how the Fishermen deal with their dual absence.

Tranmere Rovers @ 7/1

This looks like an appealing price, with Tranmere Rovers ending the previous campaign in 20th, nine points above the dreaded drop zone.

Andy Crosby steered the Rovers to safety after succeeding Nigel Adkins, initially as interim, in late February, losing just two of his 13 games in charge (W6, D5, L2), but this is a brand new season, and the momentum of 2024/25 may not carry through.

Richard Smallwood and Jason Lowe have both joined as free agents, though, to bring some vital experience in midfield.

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