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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Will Unwin

League One 2026-27 preview: the contenders, hopefuls and strugglers

 Leicester City manager Russell Martin, Mansfield Town’s 38 year old striker David McGoldrick, Sheffield Wednesday’s new signing Louie Barry (right) celebrates with Owls legeng Barry Bannon and goalscorer Jamal Lowe, Oxford United’s manager Aaron Ramsey.
Left to right: Leicester City manager Russell Martin, Mansfield Town’s 38 year old striker David McGoldrick, Sheffield Wednesday’s new signing Louie Barry (right) celebrates with Owls legeng Barry Bannon and goalscorer Jamal Lowe, Oxford United’s manager Aaron Ramsey. Composite: Guardian Pictures; Plumb Images/Leicester City FC/Getty Images; Shutterstock; Every Second Media/Shutterstock

Contenders

How did it come to this, that a club crowned Premier League champions a decade ago are down in the third tier? Chronic mismanagement across the board has been Leicester’s problem for too long and they need to reset under Russell Martin. Many of the top earners have been shipped out and not much brought in, but there remains enough quality to challenge at this level. Martin has at his disposal plenty of young talents who could finally be given their chance thanks to circumstance and who will be ably supported by Harry Souttar and Stephy Mavididi.

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