In this week’s edition of The Football League Paper Podcast, Matt Badcock is joined by Football League Paper Chief Writer Chris Dunlavy and John Lyons, Football League Paper Editor, to talk through all the latest in the EFL.
Championship
Ipswich Town bounced straight back from relegation by securing promotion to the Premier League with a second-place finish on the final day of the regular season.
A 3-0 victory over QPR from the Tractor Boys in front of the Portman Road faithful meant that they finished one point above Millwall, who narrowly missed out on automatic promotion following their 2-0 win against Oxford United.
The Lions will face off against Hull City in the play-off semi-finals after the Tigers secured a spot in the top six in dramatic fashion, beating Norwich City 2-1, as Wrexham were held to a 2-2 draw at home against Middlesbrough, and Derby County were beaten 2-1 by Sheffield United, with both clubs narrowly missing out on the opportunity for promotion this season.
Boro’s final-day draw means they face high-flying Southampton in the other play-off semi-final.
David Storch, who heads Arise Capital Partners, completed the takeover of Sheffield Wednesday at the weekend before the club defeated West Brom 2-1, meaning next season’s points deduction has been withdrawn.
Victory for the Owls also meant that they finished the season on zero points.
The Watford managerial roundabout continues, as Ed Still was sacked by Watford after just three months in charge of the club.
League One
In League One, Stockport County and Bradford City both won to take third and fourth place, after Bolton Wanderers lost 3-2 at home to Luton Town.
Stevenage held on to the final play-off spot in sixth place after Dan Sweeney scored a dramatic 92nd-minute winner against Wigan Athletic, which meant that Luton and Plymouth Argyle missed out despite winning their respective final-day fixtures.
Stockport will face Stevenage in the play-off semi-finals, while Bradford and Bolton will battle it out for a place at Wembley later this month.
Exeter City’s relegation was also confirmed after a 2-1 defeat at home to Bradford City.
League Two
Finally, in League Two, Bromley beat Walsall 3-1 to win the league.
Closest challengers MK Dons missed out on the title by just one point after they drew 1-1 at Fleetwood Town.
Cambridge United clinched the third automatic spot following a 0-0 draw at Crewe Alexandra.
Salford City could have snatched it with a win, but they were held to a goalless draw away at Crawley Town.
The result means that Crawley secured their status as a Football League club for the 2026/27 season, while Salford will battle it out against Grimsby Town in the play-offs.
Swindon Town lost 2-1 at home to Chesterfield in a showdown for the final play-off place, meaning that the Spirerites face Notts County in the play-off semi-finals.
Harrogate Town were relegated to the National League after a 2-1 defeat at home to Barnet, while Barrow’s drop was confirmed following a 2-1 loss at home against Notts County.
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