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

Leicester City begin their 2026-27 League One campaign with renewed optimism under manager Russell Martin following a significant squad overhaul. The Foxes, who captured the Premier League title in 2016 under Claudio Ranieri in one of sport's greatest underdog stories, have endured a decade of decline marked by mismanagement and poor recruitment. Martin's appointment signals a fresh start for the East Midlands club, who finished 18th in the Championship last season with 54 points. The new manager has aggressively trimmed the wage bill by offloading high-earning underperformers, creating space to develop promising young talent within the club's academy system.

Despite a lean summer transfer window, Leicester possess sufficient quality to mount a genuine promotion challenge from the third tier. Defender Harry Souttar, who earned 20 caps for Scotland before joining the club, provides essential defensive stability alongside emerging academy prospects. Winger Stephy Mavididi, a former France youth international with 31 appearances for Montpellier in Ligue 1, offers creative support in the attacking third. The club's youth development infrastructure remains one of England's strongest, having produced Premier League talents previously. Martin's philosophy of blooding young players into competitive football aligns perfectly with Leicester's current circumstances, potentially accelerating the development trajectory of prospects who might otherwise struggle for first-team opportunities.

League One's competitive landscape presents both opportunity and challenge for Leicester's promotion ambitions. Notts County and AFC Wimbledon face particularly difficult campaigns ahead, potentially clearing the path for stronger organizations to advance. Leicester's pathway to the Championship will be tested against established contenders, but the combination of institutional stability, financial resources, and Martin's tactical expertise positions them as genuine frontrunners. Historical precedent suggests clubs of Leicester's stature rarely remain at third-tier level for extended periods, with typical promotion timescales ranging between one and three seasons. Martin's success in rebuilding squad morale and establishing a winning culture will ultimately determine whether Leicester mount an immediate promotion push or require a longer transition period.