Rob Couhig couldn’t have chosen a better time to buy Reading FC. Apart from the last five years, but that’s beside the point. The point is that League One seems like a dream for next season. It’s simply a matter of who can take advantage of it. Let’s start by looking at who we’re losing. Birmingham City, the record-breaking spenders (and points scorers) who weren’t so much a fish out of water in the third division as an enraged Godzilla awoken by some reckless nuclear testing. And a financially boosted Wrexham, who, if not promoted, would have simply doubled their efforts and been a right pain in the backside for any promotion chasers in 2025/26.

Reading can also be relieved to see Charlton Athletic leave, who were favourites to win promotion after a dominant season under Nathan Jones. In terms of ‘who might have threatened had they stayed up?’, those we’ve lost to relegation are rather similar. – but no Wrexhams are coming up from League Two to replace them. That does not mean that no one will compete. I expect one of the quartet to ride the wave and mount a play-off challenge a la Stockport County. Many will focus on Bradford because of the club’s stature, and their home form in the previous season implies Valley Parade will be a pig of a ground to visit for away teams in 2025/26.

Speaking of who we’re gaining, the three relegated Championship clubs are more than familiar. Cardiff City has been gradually sinking into League One for years and is vulnerable to the same type of cultural shock that Huddersfield Town experienced. Plymouth Argyle are experienced third-tier players, as were Rotherham United when they were relegated a year ago, but the state of their team remains unknown. Luton Town are a shambles, but they have Premier League parachute payments and may consider changing their long-standing philosophy to emulate Birmingham – although I doubt it will be as successful.

Looking at people who missed out on promotion the last time around, there are a lot of ‘ifs, buts, and maybes’. Stockport will not simply vanish, but bringing it back may not result in another play-off appearance. Who knows what will happen with the Huddersfield overhaul? Barnsley would also find it difficult to replace Davis Keillor-Dunn, who might leave. Steve Bruce has a significant work to do in the market to turn Blackpool into contenders, and Bolton Wanderers are the league’s largest ‘if, but, and maybe’ team. Reading, led by Rob Couhig, appear to be the early favourites to win the season. What the hell, let’s toss in some worthless promotion predictions.

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