End Of Season: Sky Bet League 2.

The Premiership title has been won by Chelsea today but fans of teams at the bottom of the league still have a couple of weeks to see their sides fate. In the lower Leagues though the regular season has come to a close with relegated and automatically promoted sides sorted. Only the final position of promotion in each division is yet to be decided. Starting yesterday with the Vanarama Conference, and taking a League each day, I will sum up the ups and downs and look forward to the playoffs. Today I look at the SkyBet League Two.


Champions: Burton.

The Brewers were formed in 1950, the same year the USA beat England in the World Cup in Brazil, and end this season as Champions. Managed by Ex Chelsea and Dutch International Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, the fans are enjoying new heights. Next season, in League One, will be the highest level the side has played at in their history. It will be a good test for the manager who is going the route of learning his trade at the lower levels, where his mistakes can be learnt from without high media scrutiny.

Also promoted automatically are Shrewsbury and Bury. Shrewsbury can boast names such as David Moyes, David Pleat and Gary Megson as being in their employment at one time. On a personal note when I think of Shrewsbury I have to thank them for the discovery and development of the current Manchester City and England number one, Joe Hart.
Shrewsbury have been at this level before, in fact have bounced straight back after relegation last season.
Bury are located in Greater Manchester and is managed by the younger brother of former Manchester City player, Garry Flitcroft. David Flitcroft has guided his side back to League One only two seasons after they dropped down a division. The local derby for the side next season will be against Oldham and the ‘Shakers’ are going to want to put the record straight after they were relegated those two seasons ago following a defeat by Oldham.


Playoffs:

Plymouth v Wycombe:

The first leg will be played on the 9th at Home Park before the second leg takes place at Adams Park five days later. In the last season both teams won one game each when they met in the league, although each win was at the other sides home ground. Historically the sides are even with six league wins a piece. Plymouth have the slight advantage when you also consider the Cup meetings between the two. I think Wycombe will eventually go through.

Stevenage v Southend:

These two will first meet at Broadhall Way a day after the first playoff game takes place but will have their second leg at Roots Hall the same day as Plymouth and Wycombe. Fans of the Premiership might recognize the face in the Southend dugout with ex Hull City Manager, Phil Brown now in charge of Southend.
The two sides do not have much history together having only played each other five times in their history. Stevenage won their last encounter 4-2 back in February but have never scored at Southend. I think Southend will go through.

I think Wycombe will play Southend in the Playoff Final at Wembley and, although I hope for a Southend victory (purely because Manchester City legend Shaun Goater had a spell with them) I think Wycombe might just edge it.


Relegated:

Teams going down from this League into the Conference are Cheltenham and Tranmere. It wasn’t too long ago that Tranmere had Premier League aspirations. A decade ago they finished third in League One but failed in the playoffs. Last season Tranmere were relegated from League One and dropped like a stone this season and this relegation ends their 94 years in League football.


Jason is a Freelance Soccer Writer. You can follow him on Twitter @PACityboy and www.facebook.com/jasonbardwell1979