How Bristol Rovers' League Two promotion chances compare with rivals as early bookies odds set

Bristol Rovers will be looking to get out of League Two at the first time of asking next season under Darrell Clarke’s management

Daniel Hargraves Bristol Rovers reporter

11:48, 27 May 2025

Bristol Rovers head coach Darrell Clarke pictured during his first spell at the club(Image: Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)

We are still not even into June yet but already the bookmakers have set their first round of odds for League Two promotion in the 2025/26 season with Bristol Rovers amongst the early favourites for an immediate return to League One.

The pain of relegation at the end of the campaign was eased by the return of club legend Darrell Clarke as head coach. Clarke, who led Rovers to back-to-back promotions from the Conference to League One between 2014 and 2016, was confirmed as Inigo Calderon’s replacement less than 72 hours after the Gas announced the Spaniard’s departure following the season’s conclusion.

Rovers’ new head coach has officially started work at The Quarters and will be working alongside new director of football Ricky Martin to shape his squad over the summer to give the Gas as strong a chance as possible of being well enough equipped to ensure their stay back in the fourth tier is only for the sole season.

After a closely-fought promotion race in League Two this season, which ended with Doncaster Rovers, Port Vale, Bradford City and AFC Wimbledon going up to League One, already the fourth tier looks to be incredibly competitive at the top end once again next term.

Naturally though, it’s almost impossible to accurately gauge how each club will fare at this point considering that the vast majority of sides haven’t even made a signing yet, including Rovers.

Despite that, the bookies have already started to set odds for League Two promotion. Although they are not the outright favourites, it does not come as much of a surprise to see that the Gas are already being fancied to be in the mix.

According to Betfair, play-off semi-finalists Chesterfield and MK Dons, who finished 19th, are the joint-early favourites to win the League Two title at 8/1 while Rovers are priced at 9/1 alongside the other play-off semi-finalists Notts County to finish at the summit.

In regards to promotion chances, Chesterfield and MK Dons are being priced at 15/8 while the Gas and County are currently 23/10.

The Magpies sacked manager Stuart Maynard last week following their 2-0 aggregate play-off defeat to eventual winners AFC Wimbledon having failed to lead County into League One.

Meanwhile, in their first season back in the EFL after six seasons in the National League, Chesterfield finished seventh under ex-Wigan Athletic, Ipswich Town and Portsmouth boss Paul Cook and were beaten 4-1 on aggregate by Walsall in the play-offs.

MK Dons will also be well-fancied with Paul Warne at the helm who has four League One promotions on his CV with Derby County and Rotherham United.

Elsewhere in the premature mix, Salford City and Gillingham are being backed to be firmly in the race for promotion, as are play-off final runners-up Walsall, who were top of League Two for a significant period of the season. The trio are 10/1 each to win the title and 11/4 to be promoted.

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Cambridge United are the fellow relegated side being backed the strongest with odds of 16/5 to be promoted, alongside Colchester United. The other relegated teams Crawley Town and Shrewsbury Town are both 9/2 for an immediate return to the third tier.

The 24th side in the League Two class of 2025/26 is still yet to be confirmed with the National League play-off final between Oldham Athletic and Southend United set to be played this Sunday (June 1).

Early League Two 2025/26 title-winning & promotion odds in full*

Chesterfield, MK Dons – 8/1 & 15/8
Notts County, Bristol Rovers – 9/1 & 23/10
Salford City, Gillingham, Walsall – 10/1 & 11/4
Colchester United, Cambridge United – 14/1 & 16/5
Shrewsbury Town, Barnet, Grimsby Town, Crawley Town, Swindon Town – 16/1 & 9/2
Tranmere Rovers, Crewe Alexandra – 20/1 & 11/2
Cheltenham Town, Barrow, Fleetwood Town – 28/1 & 6/1
Bromley – 33/1 & 7/1
Accrington Stanley – 40/1 & 17/2
Harrogate Town, Newport County – 50/1 & 11/1

*odds are provided by Betfair and are correct at the time of writing

How Bristol Rovers’ League Two promotion chances compare with rivals as early bookies odds set

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