League One 2024/25 Preview: Part Six
Wigan, Wrexham, Wycombe
The final part of our 24/25 preview series has landed. This one is slightly shorter, with just the three clubs left to look at, and potentially three that many are predicting to make up the middle part of the table: Wigan, Wrexham and Wycombe.
Head to our website to find all six parts of the preview and make sure you’re ready to go and armed with all the knowledge a lower-league fan would ever need when the league’s kick off finally rolls around on Friday night.
Note: these answers have been collated over the past few weeks, so in certain places they may be slightly out of date.
Wigan Athletic
By Barry from Progress With Unity
Could you give us a quick summary of your 23/24 season
Last season went exactly as I expected, mid-table. We didn't threaten either the top end or the bottom. It was a really enjoyable season. Just watching football without the usual tensions of chasing promotion or avoiding relegation made a welcome change for Wigan Athletic
How have you rated your summer business so far?
The close-season business has so far been underwhelming, to be honest. Having lost our three centre forwards - Wyke, Magennis and Humphrys - bringing in a front man was a priority and it's no secret that we have been trying to prise our former academy player, Kyle Joseph, away from Blackpool, but as yet to no avail. We do have a couple of highly rated kids in Chris Sze and the very impressive Josh Stones ready to step up, but an older, experienced striker would be the difference between mid-table or a playoff push.
New signing Dion Rankine looks to have settled in well, we’re looking forward to seeing him this season. Young defender Calvin Ramsey has joined on a year long loan from Liverpool, a player they signed for £4.5m only a year ago. Michael Olakigbe joined from Brentford but unfortunately broke his leg in a friendly.
What do you still think you’re missing from your squad?
Definitely an experienced striker, as mentioned.
Which of your players are you most excited to see play for you next season?
We've had some great breakthroughs in the last season with our academy kids making their mark in the first team. As mentioned our young striker Josh Stones is likely to feature this season, he had a great loan spell at Oldham before getting injured, plus he played and scored in the BSM Trophy for us earlier in the season. He is going to be some player, still only 19, built like a bull, fast, strong and knows where the goal is. Big season coming up for Stonesy.
What’s the general opinion on the manager?
Legend!
Took the corner for our FA Cup winning goal, top player for us, voted POTS in 2013, came back as manager when we were on our backside and actually worked 6 months without getting paid. It's obvious that the club means a lot to him, he believes in youth and he had a top season with constraints last time out. Delighted he is our boss.
What sort of season are fans hoping to have?
Fans are fans and will want to see us push for a playoff spot, but it is also generally accepted that our budget is in the mid-table region. But if you can't be optimistic at this point, when can you?
Realistically, if you had to give me a position you think you’ll finish in, what would it be and why?
I'm going to say 6th, but that is dependent on us getting that experienced striker in. We have a great backbone with highly talented youngsters Tickle, Hughes and Ramsey, with Kerr and Matt Smith adding to that. Defensively we’re strong plus we have pace in the team going forward.
Who are your early predictions for promotion and relegation?
Promotion would be Huddersfield, with Lincoln as dark horses. Can never rule out Rotherham either, the ultimate yoyo team.
Relegation, Crawley will struggle and I also fear for Shrewsbury this season, they lost some of their big players.
For anyone who’s never been, can you tell us one unique thing about your stadium?
The pies on sale at the stadium aren't made in Wigan! That is pure sacrilege.
Finally, no offence taken, how many points are you expecting you’ll take off Cambridge in our fixtures?
We've not faired too well against your lads the past couple of years, hopefully we can change that this season. I'm going for 4.
Wrexham
By Tim from Fearless In Devotion
Could you give us a quick summary of your 23/24 season
Well... we secured back-to-back promotions for the first time in the club's history! It was an immensely enjoyable season after 15 years of National League purgatory! Nice to go back to better grounds and also cross swords with some familiar foes again - Stockport and Crewe.
How have you rated your summer business so far?
Summer business has been slow but worth it. Getting Arthur Okonkwo signed up is huge. He is a fantastic goalkeeper and one that can grow with the club. Same applies to Lewis Brunt, who helped Mansfield Town to promotion. We've landed two players from Premier league clubs, which is wild!
And we've signed up several key players to longer deals including young Max Cleworth a future captain. He's ridiculous.
What do you still think you’re missing from your squad?
We're missing plenty - Paul Mullin will miss the start of the season following back surgery and we're still not convinced Jack Marriott is the man to pair with Ollie Palmer. We probably need 4 or 5 players, but we also need to ship a few out on loan.
Which of your players are you most excited to see play for you next season?
Excited to see Arthur Okonkwo again. You don't stay at Arsenal for 15 years and not learn a few things.
Also can't wait for Elliot Lee to hit top form again, and I'm looking forward to seeing James McClean boil the piss of every opposition fan.
What’s the general opinion on the manager?
Super Phil Parkinson is the GOAT. Back-to-back promotions, an FA Trophy final, FA Cup scalps, all done under intense scrutiny and played out via a documentary. Build the statue.
What sort of season are fans hoping to have?
Mid table obscurity will be fine next season thanks. But playoffs would be amazing given the standard of teams in League One.
Realistically, if you had to give me a position you think you’ll finish in, what would it be and why?
10th. Neither disgraceful nor disappointing.
Who are your early predictions for promotion and relegation?
Birmingham, Rotherham, Stockport promoted.
Shrewsbury, Crawley, Wycombe, Northampton relegated.
For anyone who’s never been, can you tell us one unique thing about your stadium?
It's the oldest football stadium on earth to have hosted international football still in use today.
Finally, no offence taken, how many points are you expecting you’ll take off Cambridge in our fixtures?
4 points. Draw at the Abbey, win at our place. The Paul Mullin Derby.
P.S. Cambridge United are THE best kitted out side in the league. Umbro have nailed it.
Wycombe Wanderers
Could you give us a quick summary of your 23/24 season?
It was a rollercoaster, we went from being in the play off hunt to a genuine relegation battle almost overnight – or at least it felt like it. We’d just beaten Fleetwood 4-1 away from home, in one of Wycombe’s best performances in years, and it really felt like we were building something special. Then we didn’t win in the next 17 league games, such a bizarre dip in form. January rolled around, we got rid of a fair bit of dross in the squad, made some really shrewd signings in Matt Butcher, Nigel Lonwijk & Richard Kone, and began to win again and play some really good stuff.
We even had time for a Wembley trip in the EFL Trophy final, it just wasn’t our day against that blue team down the road from you. Odd season on the whole, but a thoroughly enjoyable one as ever.
How have you rated your summer business so far?
Steady, without really sending the fanbase into raptures. We’ve already filled the positions that needed sorting, so now it’s about adding extra quality if it becomes available. Dan Udoh is probably the pick of the bunch in terms of excitement, he should bring goals in the right system. Alex Hartridge, Tyreeq Bakinson & Dan Harvie are all really good operators at League One level, amongst other signings.
Our change in ownership this summer has been fairly well documented, in essence we’re a bit minted. I think a lot of people expected a little bit more at this stage, but I like the fact that we’re building what should be a successful squad the right way.
What do you still think you’re missing from your squad?
I’m nit-picking for ideas, because we’re well covered in terms of positions, with a couple of options now all over the pitch. We haven’t got an out and out number ten, though that’s not a huge necessity with the system we utilise. I’d like us to bring one in just in case we ever to need to change shape, it’s a position you need in reserve for sure. I’m still holding out hope that we make a move for Nottingham Forest’s Dale Taylor – we had him on loan last season and I instantly fell in love with the lad. Knew almost instantly that he’d be a big player for us. Technically a very good player, didn’t always back it up in his stats, but a very talented lad.
Which of your players are you most excited to see play for you next season?
Richard Kone is the obvious answer. We signed him from Athletic Newham in the depths of non-league (I want to say the tenth tier?) and he looks at home in a L1 team already. He’s been putting in a lot of work in pre-season, looking hungry and ready to get going in the upcoming campaign. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him hit 20 league goals.
What’s the general opinion on the manager?
I think Blooms has finally got the fanbase on his side. He was obviously a ‘sentimental’ appointment based on his history with us, and so people were questioning the decision as soon as we had a dip in form. There was a point last season where I think 95% of the fanbase wanted him out, and the other 5% were resigned to the fact that his time was probably up – less than a year into the job. I absolutely love the man, but I remember after a 1-0 defeat at Exeter on Boxing Day (when they were winless in 15) thinking there is no way he sees the new year. Ultimately he did and the decision has paid off – at a sponsors dinner this summer he even admitted himself that he felt his dismissal was imminent, almost waiting for a phone call. I hope we can now build upon what we’ve done since the turn of the year.
What sort of season are fans hoping to have?
Honestly, I don’t think many people would turn their noses up at a season similar to last – maybe just without the two and a half month long winless run. I’d like us to be in the discussion for the top six, whether we’ll actually finish there is a different matter entirely.
Realistically, if you had to give me a position you think you’ll finish in, what would it be and why?
Eighth. The transfer window is obviously open for another six weeks or so, and a lot can happen and change in that time. I think we’re somewhere in that unknown territory at the moment. Too good to finish bottom half, but probably missing a bit of flair to hoist us up into the top six, which will be of a ridiculously high quality this season I feel.
Who are your early predictions for promotion and relegation?
I’ll copy and paste the same top six and bottom four I’ve sent to everyone so far this summer:
Bolton, Birmingham, Stockport, Peterborough, Charlton, Rotherham
Crawley, Shrewsbury, Cambridge, Northampton.
Sorry…
For anyone who’s never been, can you tell us one unique thing about your stadium?
It’s gorgeous. Is that okay? Can I say that? If you ignore the industrial estate that leads to the ground, then it’s easily one of the nicest in the country. Set in the picturesque Chiltern Hills, surrounded by green trees and fields as far as the eye can see. You get some lovely photos in the summer from the top of the overflow car park.
Finally, no offence taken, how many points are you expecting you’ll take off Cambridge in our fixtures?
Three. Zero at home, standard. Three away, standard.