Another big battle on cards for Notts and rivals

EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED AS LEAGUE TWO 2025-26 CAMPAIGN GETS UNDERWAY

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The Magpies pulled the trigger on head coach Stuart Maynard at the

end of the season after a playoff semifinal exit to Wimbledon.

Martin Paterson is the new head coach and the former Burton Albion boss will form part of a technical board, that includes the club's owners, that will meet before each match.

It is an intriguing approach that will have many looking in from the outside with fascination, particularly if early results are poor.

There will also be playoff ambitions for Salford City, Grimsby Town and Colchester United, who all narrowly missed out last season.

Salford are under new ownership led by Gary Neville and David Beck-ham after the previous Class of ‘92-backed project stalled to a halt in League Two.

Early business has not been eye-popping but there has been a mass exodus of last season’s squad to precipitate further additions.

Grimsby's summer has been one of continuity, a rare beast in the fourth tier, as David Artell looks to continue the steady progress that has been made at Blundell Park.

Their summer shopping has been creative, largely dipping into non-League alongside some experienced additions.

Colchester have also stayed consistent under Danny Cowley - and success may rest on any sale of Samson Tovide, and if that is reinvested.

Gillingham will hope to join the party at the right end of the table after a few seasons of false starts under their American ownership.

Gareth Ainsworth finally looks like a settled appointment in the dugout and has experience getting out of the division.

Mid-table could well beckon for Fleetwood, who have sold their best two players, and Barrow who have also seen their best players depart.

Cheltenham look likely to join them, while Crewe must find a way to put their torrid second half of the season behind them and rediscover the form that saw them as early challengers last season.