The Brummies have got one foot in the Championship, but who else will be joining them?

An in-depth long read on the run-in, with supporters from League One’s top eight analysing their promotion prospects

Mar 01, 2025

Saturday 1 March 2025

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NEXT HOME GAME: Blackpool – Today, 3pm

NEXT AWAY GAME: Northampton Town – Tuesday 4 March, 7.45pm

Birmingham can put a very firm hand on the League One trophy with victory at home to Wycombe in the lunchtime kick-off. With a few goals, Wrexham could potentially climb into second before the rest of the division kick off at 3pm. They’re at home to Bolton, who themselves would temporarily jump to fifth with three points. There’s a London derby at Brisbane Road with Leyton Orient and Charlton - currently on either side of the play-off line in the table - going head-to-head. And County desperately need to bounce back from last Saturday’s shock defeat at Cambridge, but face a tough test against a Blackpool side unbeaten in 11, with the Seasiders definitely able to start sniffing the sweet smell of the play-offs if they can leave SK3 with all three points.

Today certainly feels like a very important afternoon in the League One promotion race.

I uploaded our Blackpool stuff yesterday because with today feeling like such a pivotal one, I thought this morning would be perfect to share the following article, which I’ve been working on all week alongside some of my fellow League One writers from across the country. Hope you enjoy it!

Today’s edition is sponsored by Colourtone. As always, a big thank you to Paul.

Finally, I’m currently walking every street in Stockport to raise money for mental health charity Mentell. If you’d like to make a donation to help me reach my target, please click here.

Total distance so far: 216.74 miles

Total steps so far: 353,516

Total raised so far: £2,270

Total completed streets so far: 474 (Click here for the full list, which includes reports and photos from every day of the walk.)

Further information on the walk can be found by clicking here.

Des Junior

1st: Birmingham City

Ryan Deeney • Ryan’s Substack

As things stand, you’re finishing 1st, winning the league by nine points. Thoughts?

We're in for a shock, we're in for a shooooock…

At the start of the season, my prediction was that we would win the league, but that we would either start awkwardly and grow into the season, or start well, have an iffy spell then kick on. It turned out to be the latter. A run of eight points from six games and squeezing past Sutton United in the cup is about as awkward as it has got.

Since defeat at Shrewsbury Town, we've gone 17 unbeaten in the league, conceding four goals in the process, and reached a cup final. We've got through some tough away days. With two months left, we're nine points clear and about to host 2nd place.

I couldn't be happier.

I've no doubt there will be criticism if Chris Davies wins manager of the year for the league because we spent eleventy billion quid in the summer. However, he took over late following the Mowbray situation, the club has been on its arse for a decade, we had just gotten relegated and yet he's overhauled the club culturally, tactically, our training programmes, recruitment - 40+ squad changes in the summer - and got the fans to buy into it.

I'm going to stick my neck out and say he deserves any praise and awards he receives. Especially considering every fanbase in the league couldn't wait to tell us we were in for a shock.

You’re gonna win the league aren’t you? But who’s finishing 2nd, and who’s going up at Wembley?

Oof.

We're looking at one from three for second aren't we. Wycombe. Wrexham. County.

Looking at it now…

Wycombe, interestingly, have to play every other member of the top nine (five away). They are unbeaten against every side 8th or lower but have recently started drawing against "lesser" opposition.

Wrexham play six of the top nine but their record against current top half sides reads 4-5-6, with three of those wins coming at home against Reading, Barnsley and Blackpool. They play three sides 9th or lower at home, which is their bread and butter.

Your boys play five of the top 10 but, crucially, Wycombe and Wrexham away, with one home match against the bottom nine left.

If Wycombe continue as they have over the last 16 games (1.63 PPG), they'll reach 86 points. County would need to hit 2.23 points per game to reach that. I think you'll give it a go, but it's probably too much ground to cover. Wrexham would need 1.79. Wrexham are hitting 1.47 points per game on the road and that's where 8 of their last 14 are played.

I might side with Wycombe.

The play-offs?

Leyton Orient have been the best side in the division, outside of Blues, since the start of November. Charlton under Nathan Jones will be well set for one-off matches. Bolton are getting a boost from Schumacher. Wrexham and County are going to be very tough games for anybody.

I'm going Charlton.

Has the January transfer window helped or hindered your promotion push?

Helped.

We made three January signings. Lee Myeung-Jae hasn't kicked a ball yet as he builds fitness levels. Grant Hanley has proven very useful off the bench to help protect the leads while Davies has raved about his attitude and natural leadership. Kieran Dowell has had the most obvious impact, a player with qualities above this level and looks a more natural fit as our RW-cum-RCM in possession.

Which game in your run-in is looking the tastiest at the moment?

The next two. We play Wycombe at home today then Bolton away on Tuesday (around 4,700 fans expected to be in the away end). After that, the highest placed team we face is Barnsley.

Who would you most like to score the goal that clinches promotion for you?

Oooo. So many options. It's easy to find a good story.

The obvious one is Lukas Jutkiewicz. He will depart at the end of the season after nine years with the club and has been through it all. A cult hero and it would be hugely popular if he scored.

Chances are that he won't play though, so I'll go Paik Seung-Ho. Just ludicrously good and the only thing missing from his season is a goal.

On and off the pitch, how equipped are you for Championship football?

Very well.

The ownership have brought everybody together. The training ground and stadium facilities are massively improved against what they arrived to (just over a third of our ground was out of use and the training ground burned down). Tom Brady has had personal involvement in improving our fitness / strength levels. Chris Davies and his players have set serious standards with huge improvements culturally. The squad are mostly aged between 23 and 29. Loads have international / Championship experience.

And can we improve? Yes. Our revenue streams mean our budget will likely be a top-six Championship budget next season. The owners are aiming for a top-two finish and no stone will be left unturned.

If you had to choose two of the top eight to join you in the Championship next season, who would you pick?

As I've mentioned on The Scarf My Father Wore before, I love the National League and followed the rise of both County and Wrexham from the National League upwards. To see them both win promotion to the Championship would be excellent viewing for me. Especially as I think they would be more than competitive in the Championship.

How confident are you that we’ll get to finish the season before World War III kicks off?

I saw something on NTT20 the other day about Donald Trump using Instagram to say something. I've decided not to bother looking into it. I'm a happier person pretending the world doesn't exist outside of my own home!

While we’re here, let’s have a shoutout for Two Fat Blokes who sponsor our Birmingham City content on the website. If you’re looking for a special birthday gift for the Birmingham or County fan in your life, how about one of these classic road signs. The 50cm x 11cm road signs are made of 3mm metal composite, printed in high resolution directly onto the face for indoor and outdoor use.

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2nd: Wycombe Wanderers

George • The Wycombe Way

As things stand, you’re finishing 2nd, pipping Wrexham to automatic promotion by three points. Thoughts?

I’d have snapped your hand off, and then told you to get your head out of your arse, if you’d offered me this position at the start of the season. We didn’t start the season like a bull at a gate, but it didn’t take long to find our mojo and we’ve had a bloody brilliant season up to this point. I’m glad we’re on track to pip Wrexham to promotion too. Can’t stand the media fascination, especially when your rise has been more impressive!

Birmingham are gonna win the league aren’t they? But who’s finishing 2nd, and who’s going up at Wembley?

I think we’ll claim our well-earned spot in the Championship next season, one way or another. Obviously I’d like to avoid the drama of the play-offs, but even if we do end up going down that route, I’d back us to win them. I honestly don’t know who the third team will be. For some reason I think Wrexham will slip up, leaving you or Orient as the favourites in my opinion.

Has the January transfer window helped or hindered your promotion push?

Honestly, I don’t know. I think it was a window looking at long-term success, rather than short-term. It hasn’t helped, it hasn’t hindered us at this stage. We spent a lot of money - somewhere in the £2m region - but are yet to really see the players we spent money on.

Which game in your run-in is looking the tastiest at the moment?

County at home on the final day could have a shit-ton riding on it. Leyton Orient away on the penultimate weekend of the season could be a sensational away day. London in the sun, potentially promotion on the horizon, that could be tasty.

Who would you most like to score the goal that clinches promotion for you?

Richard Kone. I feel that’s an obvious one. Or, a player who hasn’t yet scored this season to seal it, that’d be nice.

On and off the pitch, how equipped are you for Championship football?

More so than last time; the squad is so much better. On the pitch you’d argue we need a couple more, especially with Championship experience in forward areas. Off the pitch I think we’ll struggle slightly with the increased crowds. I’d expect stadium plans and access road planning to gain momentum very quickly. Adams Park is notoriously a difficult away (and home) game to get to, and get away from. I think Championship crowds could cause logistical issues.

If you had to choose one of the top eight (apart from Birmingham) to join you in the Championship next season, who would you pick?

The London away days are always decent, so Charlton or Orient. Literally no other reason.

How confident are you that we’ll get to finish the season before World War III kicks off?

Our last real promotion push saw the pandemic halt the season, so I’m not confident we see out this campaign. It would be so Wycombe in fairness. If not World War III it’ll be another Covid strain.

3rd: Wrexham

Gaz • Chips for a Quid

As things stand, you’re finishing 3rd. Leyton Orient in the play-offs before a possible Wembley date with County or Huddersfield. Thoughts?

That’ll do! Although I’m not sure we’ll actually finish 3rd. We’re very up and down this season and I can probably see us ending up a little lower. But I said at the start of the season I’d take top 10. It has been a great year, whichever way you spin it.

Birmingham are gonna win the league aren’t they? But who’s finishing 2nd, and who’s going up at Wembley?

Oh aye, they’ll rack up plenty of points yet. No catching them. Fair play to Wycombe, they haven’t collapsed despite losing their manager. I think they can still get 2nd place. I’d be tempted to whack money on Leyton Orient to win the play-offs you know, they look excellent right now and have clicked at a good moment in the season.

Has the January transfer window helped or hindered your promotion push?

It’s a bit of a weird one actually, because the new strikers coming in has meant that two of our heroes - Paul Mullin and Ollie Palmer - are now out of the side. Granted, they haven’t been scoring enough. But it remains to be seen whether Jay Rodriguez and Sam Smith will permanently replace them. So far Smith looks a very smart acquisition. Rodriguez hasn’t quite found his feet yet but he has the right pedigree and we need to give him time. We still don’t know our best team, bizarrely.

Which game in your run-in is looking the tastiest at the moment?

You lot! I reckon that could be a corker. Looking forward to Blackpool away of course. Bolton this afternoon could also be a good ‘un.

Who would you most like to score the goal that clinches promotion for you?

Max Cleworth. Our academy-produced centre-back who is currently our top scorer. He deserves a big moment like that.

On and off the pitch, how equipped are you for Championship football?

With this current team, I think we’d struggle in the Championship. But we have the resources to build a brilliant side if we do go up. There will be a lot of transfer activity if we do the unthinkable and get promoted again.

If you had to choose one of the top eight (apart from Birmingham) to join you in the Championship next season, who would you pick?

Bolton I think, enjoyed that away day and they’re a big club. Maybe Huddersfield. But it’d be weird not playing County…

How confident are you that we’ll get to finish the season before World War III kicks off?

We got out of non-league. I lived to see that at least.

While we’re here, let’s have a shoutout for Rough Hands Tap who sponsor our Wrexham content on the website. Wrexham’s newest craft beer bar will have a cracking atmosphere today, with it being St David’s Day. Get yourself down for a pint!

➡️ Visit roughhands.co.uk for further details.

4th: Stockport County

Des Junior • The Scarf My Father Wore

As things stand, you’re finishing 4th. Huddersfield in the play-offs before a possible Wembley date with Wrexham or Leyton Orient. Thoughts?

I know we lost 1-0 at Huddersfield on Boxing Day, but we should have come away with at least a point, possibly all three. I’d really fancy us to beat the Terriers over two legs. Then it’d absolutely be Wrexham at Wembley. Jesus.

Birmingham are gonna win the league aren’t they? But who’s finishing 2nd, and who’s going up at Wembley?

I thought Wycombe would have enough to get across the line, but they’ve still got to play everyone else in the top eight, so there’s a chance they could miss out. I also think we’re a better side than Wrexham on paper, but surely we can’t kick off the 2025-26 season in the Championship, just seven years after facing FC United on the opening day in the National League North. Or can we? I hope we can have a crack at 2nd, because I think Charlton or Bolton might win the play-offs.

Has the January transfer window helped or hindered your promotion push?

I’d say helped, now that we’ve got rid of our dead wood like Louie Barry. That’s obviously a joke, but we do actually look a more balanced team overall since his departure. We were unbeaten in seven (six wins and a draw) until last week’s slip-up at Cambridge. Having said that, we could have played till midnight last Saturday without scoring. If we do miss out on promotion, I personally think it will come down to a slight lack of firepower up front.

Which game in your run-in is looking the tastiest at the moment?

At the turn of the year, when we were only talking about the play-offs, I’d have said Bolton away or Wrexham away this month. But now we’re starting to hear words like “automatic” and “promotion” in Stockport, let’s go with Wycombe away on the final day of the season. I think the top two is still a huge ask for us this season, but going to Adams Park in May three points behind the Chairboys doesn’t feel beyond the realms of possibility. We have extremely fond memories of going down to Wycombe in May too…

Who would you most like to score the goal that clinches promotion for you?

A long punt from our goalkeeper Corey Addai that catches out his opposite number, or one that goes in off Kyle Wootton’s arse from a yard out. Both players get quite a bit of unnecessary stick off certain sections of the fanbase. Or… a Paul Mullin own goal in the 90th minute at Wembley, to make up for what he did to us in the FA Trophy semi-final in 2022.

On and off the pitch, how equipped are you for Championship football?

Our away end doesn’t even have a roof (when we stick visiting supporters behind the goal rather than on the side) so fans of Ipswich, Leicester and Southampton would be in for a shock next season, after enjoying the likes of Anfield and Stamford Bridge this year. As much as I’d love to enjoy another summer of partying in Stockport, after three promotions in six seasons, there’s absolutely no rush to make it to the Championship this year in my opinion. On the pitch, we’d certainly struggle. Off the pitch, we could do with increasing the capacity first, which we are planning to do shortly.

If you had to choose one of the top eight (apart from Birmingham) to join you in the Championship next season, who would you pick?

I think you normally go local on a question like this don’t you, so let’s get rid of Wycombe, Charlton and Leyton Orient (although our 1-0 win at Brisbane Road last month is currently my third favourite away day this season, behind Wigan and Blackpool). That leaves Wrexham, Bolton and Huddersfield. I don’t really mind the Trotters or the Terriers, but County v Wrexham in the Championship does have a nice ring to it…

How confident are you that we’ll get to finish the season before World War III kicks off?

Do you know what, I sent this question to everyone half-jokingly at the start of this week - i.e. before Trump and Zelensky started giving each other wedgies in Washington yesterday. I’m hoping I haven’t pressed that big red ‘TEMPTING FATE’ button. Probably shouldn’t joke about big red buttons either at the moment, looking at the two absolute lunatics we’re dealing with.

5th: Huddersfield Town

Matt Shaw • And He Takes That Chance

As things stand, you’re finishing 5th. County in the play-offs before a possible Wembley date with Wrexham or Leyton Orient. Thoughts?

You’ve come to me in sad, desperate times I’m afraid, Des. As it stands we're currently in the throes of a slow death with the cold, clammy hands of injuries clasping around our season's neck. We've so many injured and walking wounded that I can't see us hanging on as things are starting to unravel. We've had 29 different players injured this season which is more players than 42.9% of the teams in the English pyramid have used. Michael Duff has only been able to name an unchanged side once this season - things are at breaking point. So I'd snap your hands off for that scenario you've painted but without several key first team players, it's currently a forlorn hope.

Birmingham are gonna win the league aren’t they? But who’s finishing 2nd, and who’s going up at Wembley?

Yes, Captain Moneybags are on their way. I think had we not had the injury list we've had then we'd have been going up in 2nd place, but as it is, it's genuinely very open. I've not particularly been very high on Wrexham from a playing talent perspective, but their momentum, good fortune and experience may tip (or hoof) things in their direction.

Has the January transfer window helped or hindered your promotion push?

Neither, really. We needed to sign a good striker capable of putting the ball in the net and got one in Joe Taylor. Unfortuntately he immediately got injured and we've not seen him since. The other striker in Dion Charles seemed like an odd fit with the need of a pivot player more pressing and he's not hit the ground running at all. So we're back to flogging 19-year-old Callum Marshall and Josh Koroma up front instead.

Which game in your run-in is looking the tastiest at the moment?

I don't think we can look past Wrexham this Tuesday. Lose that game and clinging on to 6th is our best hope. Beat Stevenage this afternoon and Wrexham on Tuesday, then 2nd place is back on! Such is the fickleness of being a football fan.

Who would you most like to score the goal that clinches promotion for you?

Freddie Ladapo. He's been an absolute disaster of a signing, mocked by our own fans incessantly to the point of bullying and with me being a big softie, I'd like him to have the last laugh.

On and off the pitch, how equipped are you for Championship football?

On the pitch, no. This group of players would come straight back down although we do have a lot out of contract this summer which would allow a rebuild. Off the pitch, no. No one bar the owner has any faith in the Sporting Director that he could help put together a cohesive unit to stay in the league. The stadium and training ground are top half Championship standard, but Town do need to find more ways of generating revenue.

If you had to choose one of the top eight (apart from Birmingham) to join you in the Championship next season, who would you pick?

I like a good underdog story and I don't ever remember seeing Leyton Orient in the second tier. Nice club are Orient, so I'd go with them.

How confident are you that we’ll get to finish the season before World War III kicks off?

Drop The Bombs, Donald! Anything to stop us from being miserable every Saturday evening! No, but seriously - don't drop the bombs, Donald, you big flaccid satsuma-faced bellend.

While we’re here, let’s have a shoutout for Gag N Bone Man Comedy who sponsor our Huddersfield Town content on the website. They’ve got a fantastic line-up at H Town (at the John Smith’s Stadium) on Friday 28 March, including Jack Carroll, Jonny Brook and Frankie Monroe, with MC Graeme Rayner hosting.

➡️ Click here for tickets.

6th: Leyton Orient

Mat Roper • Editor of the O’s fanzine Pandamonium

As things stand, you’re finishing 6th. Wrexham in the play-offs before a possible Wembley date with County or Huddersfield. Thoughts?

I, and most O’s fans, weren’t necessarily thinking play-offs, even more so when just a couple of months ago we were still bottom six so if that’s the scenario we take it with open arms. As for play-offs, brilliant way to get promoted, awful way to lose.

Birmingham are gonna win the league aren’t they? But who’s finishing 2nd, and who’s going up at Wembley?

Wycombe are still pitching so let’s go for the ‘little club’. Head says Huddersfield for the play-offs but obviously with the O’s in with a chance I have to go with my heart.

Has the January transfer window helped or hindered your promotion push?

Definitely helped. We’ve managed to plug gaps through injuries and in fact have likely brought in as good as quality as we have. As our manager said, no real excuses from here on in.

Which game in your run-in is looking the tastiest at the moment?

Charlton at home this afternoon has the makings of a decent and important London derby. Huddersfield away last day of the season might yet have a nice or horrible edge to it.

Who would you most like to score the goal that clinches promotion for you?

Bearing in mind our on-loan keeper Keeley scored against Oldham in the cup to start our amazing run of form it would be great to think he could notch the winner at Wembley, but I’ll go for the old warhorse Darren Pratley. 40 years old and caps a fine career with a 95th minute winner from a Jamie Donley corner.

On and off the pitch, how equipped are you for Championship football?

To be honest we would likely struggle with both. Whilst we had many years in the second tier, we haven’t been there since 1982 and in modern day football we’d be one of the smallest clubs in that league. Off the pitch we have the right mentality but an ageing training ground and a capacity of 9,300 at Brisbane Road wouldn’t be ideal. If (and it’s a big if) we go up then a classic finish of 21st on goal difference would be seen as an amazing season.

If you had to choose one of the top eight (apart from Birmingham) to join you in the Championship next season, who would you pick?

Wycombe or County.

How confident are you that we’ll get to finish the season before World War III kicks off?

Knowing us and the last ten or so years that’s what would happen. We’d continue our amazing run, sneak into second place before the last day of the season, and then World War III starts with our friends at the EFL saying “24-25 declared null and void”.

7th: Charlton Athletic

Steve Charnock • My Only Desire

As things stand, you’re finishing 7th, narrowly missing out on the play-offs on goal difference. Thoughts?

We're ecstatic at the moment. Not even the drunkest Charlton supporters had us bothering the play-offs a few months ago when we were on a terrible run and it all looked pretty grim. With just the final third of the season left, we're now in with a genuine shout of promotion and that's all we ask. Some clubs will power on, some will tail off. We'd love another dart at Wembley. See if it's not just Sunderland we're capable of beating in play-off finals.

Birmingham are gonna win the league aren’t they? But who’s finishing 2nd, and who’s going up at Wembley?

They are indeed. Although they didn't impress all that much in their narrow 1-0 defeat and narrow 1-0 win against us this season, I've seen them a few times and - when they get going - they might well be the best side League One's ever seen. In terms of individual quality, anyway. Which they should be, given the squad cost. Something you're not allowed to mention online (unless you fancy spending the next six days arguing with boring shouting blokes from Acocks Green). I get the sense/hope with all my heart that Wrexham might be about to lose their nerve, so I'll go for a very professional and consistent Wycombe to deservedly nab 2nd (they recovered brilliantly from losing Matt Bloomfield to Luton). Play-offs can be a real crapshoot, so it could be any one of about eight sides. It's whoever has the momentum at an extremely specific time and so pretty much impossible to predict. Whoever it is (let's say it's Charlton or County for the sake of argument), I just hope they beat Wrexham in the final. Sky'll never stop crying.

Has the January transfer window helped or hindered your promotion push?

Neither, really. Erm, let's say helped… minorly. We slimmed the squad down and added two loanees that improve the bench/our options. Crucially, unlike most other seasons, perhaps the most helpful thing is that we're TOUCH WOOD not really seeing (m)any injuries at all TOUCH WOOD TOUCH WOOD TOUCH WOOD. Nathan Jones has pretty much named an unchanged side 30-odd times.

Which game in your run-in is looking the tastiest at the moment?

By the time most folk read this on your site, they'll probably know the result, but it's this afternoon’s COCKERNEE COCKLES 'N' WHELKS SIX POINTER against Orient. It's a big 'un. Other than that we're away at Hollywood's Cymru branch on the penultimate day of the season. That might be big for seeing if we nab a top six spot/where we finish in that top six.

Who would you most like to score the goal that clinches promotion for you?

Maybe young Tyreece Campbell. He's been very good for us all season, works hard, deserves a few goals and is “one of oooown”.

On and off the pitch, how equipped are you for Championship football?

On the pitch - meh, hard to say. We'd need to add a bit of experience and a splash of extra quality to the squad, perhaps. But we'd manage OK, I reckon. We've a manager who wouldn't be overawed by it. Off the pitch - very equipped. The new owners have made incremental improvements and investments; the infrastructure remains geared up for it too. In terms of the fans, we're almost more equipped for the Championship than we are for another round of League bloody One.

If you had to choose one of the top eight (apart from Birmingham) to join you in the Championship next season, who would you pick?

Are you looking for me to say “Stockport County” here…? It'd be Reading, just from a purely selfish point of view as I live there so it's a nice easy away day for me. As for everyone else? Maybe Orient, for similar reasons.

How confident are you that we’ll get to finish the season before World War III kicks off?

Well, ordinarily I'd scoff at your slightly daft, anxiety-riddled question, shrug and mutter something sarcastic. But given that the last time we were promoted to the Championship (for the 2019-20 season), catastrophic world events conspired to help scupper our survival and genuinely quite heftily contributed to our relegation, I'm now more open-minded to the possibilities of current affairs interfering. That said, I'll scoff and shrug anyway.

8th: Bolton Wanderers

Chris Evans • Author of Total Belief

As things stand, you’re finishing 8th, narrowly missing out on the play-offs on goal difference. Thoughts?

The season was heading into mid-table obscurity under Ian Evatt. The board stood by him for too long. Really pleased with the new manager, but he arrived with no real time to add to the squad in the window. Despite this, he is getting a tune out of the team and is prepared to change tactics (sometimes twice) mid-game to reap rewards. So given the football and results under Evatt, being level with the top six is brilliant. I'm confident that we will better the results of a couple of teams above us and that will set us up nicely for a play-off campaign.

Birmingham are gonna win the league aren’t they? But who’s finishing 2nd, and who’s going up at Wembley?

Birmingham were always going to win it, and so they should with the money they have spent. I thought Wycombe might fall away after losing Aaron Morley and their manager, but they seem to be ploughing on. With none of the chasing pack looking capable of consistency over a long period, I think Wycombe will hold on. Play-offs will be Wrexham, County and then any two from Huddersfield, Charlton or Bolton. Wrexham are well organised and hard to beat but I do fancy Bolton to win promotion as long as we avoid County in the semi-finals. Can't see us ever winning at Edgeley Park again.

Has the January transfer window helped or hindered your promotion push?

As I mentioned, the new manager Schumacher arrived too late to do any business. We sold Dion Charles to Huddersfield without replacing him, but he's not been the same player since getting injured last year. He seems to have continued his awful form for the Terriers so was probably good business. We brought in highly rated left-back Alex Murphy from Newcastle, but so far he looks a little ill prepared for first team football. We also signed the toothless and injury prone Kion Etete from Cardiff on loan. He gave away a penalty on his debut and is now injured for two months. However the real activity of note was changing the manager. Should have happened multiple times this season, but it finally did and the fact that Schumacher is now playing the likes of Szabolcs Schon and Josh Dacres-Cogley in their correct positions and has stopped the sideways and backwards football of the Evatt era, it’s like we have a brand new team.

Which game in your run-in is looking the tastiest at the moment?

County (H) and Wigan (A) are two games I would have feared under Evatt. Now it will be interesting to see how we fare with a manager who will simply not allow his team to fold against our local rivals. Even if we don't go up this year, these fixtures will be a benchmark as to how we fare in games of high emotion. If we can deal with such games, then next season has far more likelihood of success.

Who would you most like to score the goal that clinches promotion for you?

Would have to be Aaron Morley. Like many before him, his face did not fit with Evatt and he ended up on loan at Wycombe. I'm sure given the choice of Wycombe or Bolton under Evatt, he would have stayed at the Chairboys, but now he is back, playing, scoring and loving his football again. Would be a great reward for him to score the crucial goal if we do make it. Would also be another ‘up yours’ to the arrogance of Ian Evatt.

On and off the pitch, how equipped are you for Championship football?

Off the pitch, I think the owners have always had a plan to deal with the increased demands in the Championship. Rumours of investors would need to come to fruition. Of the current squad, I don't think many would be good enough to step up so a major rebuild would be needed. However, we now have a manager who I trust to bring in the right kind of player, especially now we have sacked Chris Markham, the data driven Director of Football.

If you had to choose one of the top eight (apart from Birmingham) to join you in the Championship next season, who would you pick?

I’ll have to say Huddersfield as it’s the nearest ground to where I live. It's also a good away day with plenty of real ale pubs, although I did enjoy the Stockport pub crawl earlier this season (just not the game).

How confident are you that we’ll get to finish the season before World War III kicks off?

Having witnessed the 5-0 defeat at Edgeley Park and hammerings against Wigan, Huddersfield and Rotherham, I can cope with a mere nuclear war. It'll be reet.

While we’re here, let’s have a shoutout for LBL Roofing & Building Ltd who sponsor our Bolton Wanderers content on the website. With extensive experience serving Bolton and the North West, their team of skilled professionals specialise in all aspects of roofing, from minor repairs to complete roof installations. They understand the importance of a durable and reliable roof, which is why they focus on precision, attention to detail, and using the highest quality materials in every project.

Give your car a lick of paint

Granted, Stockport used to be a little rough around the edges. But the town’s getting a good old lick of paint these days, with fancy new offices, apartments, bars and restaurants springing up. You can’t be driving up and down the A6 in a tatty car with chipped paintwork, so give your car a nice lick of paint too. Colourtone is your go-to company for that. They’ve been servicing the automotive and industrial markets in Cheshire and Greater Manchester for decades, and carry an extensive range of car paint and industrial paints.

➡️ Visit colourtone.com for further details.

Photo of the day

Edgeley Park, Stockport

I’ve been uploading Blackpool-themed photos on The Scarf My Father Wore all week. I’m sure we’ll have a few Seasiders joining us today, so I thought I’d chuck one more in for good measure. Here’s former County striker Tony Ellis sporting our lovely blue-and-white-striped Adidas number back in 1998-99.

The Blackpool connection? Tony’s in the Seasiders’ Hall of Fame after scoring 65 goals for the club in the mid-90s.

Today in SK

🎬 Cinema

Four films at The Savoy Cinema (SK4) today. Dog Man (U) at 1.15pm, A Real Pain (15) at 3.30pm, Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy (15) at 5.45pm, and Hard Truths (12A) at 8.30pm.

➡️ Click here for tickets.

🍺 Food and drink

Enjoy a hearty breakfast at Covent Garden Café (SK1) to set you up for the weekend. 9am - 2pm.

All pints £2.50 at The Cross Keys (SK8) from 6pm till 9pm.

A number of venues are featured on The Scarf My Father Wore such as The Crown (SK2), The Dog & Partridge (SK2), The Alexandra (SK3), The Steelworks (SK6), The Three Tunnes (SK7), Flute & Firkin (SK12) and The Ram’s Head (SK12). Support them this month by popping in for a few drinks or a bite to eat.

🎤 Karaoke

The Nelson Tavern (SK1) with Lee. From 8pm.

🎸 Live music

The Monkeymen (pictured above) at The Crown Inn (SK6). 9pm.

Random snippets from old County programmes

#6 - County v Oxford, 19 December 1998

After back-to-back defeats on the road at Sunderland and Watford, County’s final home game before Christmas in 1998 was against Oxford. Gary Megson used his programme notes to provide supporters with a mid-season update.

We find ourselves halfway through the season lying ninth from bottom and with this in mind everyone connected to the playing side of Stockport County Football Club must get right back to basics.

During this week I have endeavoured to look at every aspect of the club and in doing so I have analysed the players, the staff and myself. I have reached the conclusion that the professionalism must improve because we have become a bit sloppy both on and off the field.

There must be a change from within the football club or inevitably change will have to come from the outside and whilst we find ourselves nine points down on our total at this stage last year it is imperative that we start picking up points immediately.

Identifying problems is a beginning but not an end in itself. But the realisation that everything is not hunky dory is where all businesses must start.

Certain standards were set last season and brought with them certain expectations for this season. Whether these expectations are realistic or not remains to be seen but once certain standards are set there is no reason why they should not be re-attained.

Before a ball was kicked this season we held a meeting on Friday 7th August to inform the players of certain targets and goals that they would reasonably be expected to achieve. Yesterday we held another meeting at the halfway stage of the season to ascertain how close any individual was to being able to achieve the targets set for him.

In some cases the players are on course to reach their personal goals but in most cases they are not. We all have personal targets set for us so now is the time for us to roll our sleeves up and try to achieve the required standards or at least get as close as we possibly can.