With the end of the League One season fast approaching, we take a look at the teams who could learn their fate by the end of the week.
It’s been another fascinating season in England’s third tier. At the top end of the table, there are shocks aplenty, with Lincoln City having already sealed their place in the Championship.
Those challenging for the play-offs also feature a couple of teams who weren’t given a prayer in August, with Bradford City currently sitting third despite their promotion from League Two a little under a year ago. Stevenage are also shock promotion contenders in sixth.
At the other end, we’re still to see a team have their relegation confirmed, although there are three who could see the dreaded ‘R’ appear next to their name by the end of the week.
Port Vale
The division’s bottom club, but their exceptional run to the FA Cup quarter final has delayed the seemingly inevitable. The appointment of Jon Brady in January has improved matters somewhat, but the second half of the season has always seemingly been about building some momentum ahead of a return to League Two.
The Valliants have played 39 games, the fewest in League One. They are currently 16 points from safety, but their games in hand mean they mathematically still have a chance of survival, albeit slim.
The Staffordshire-based side are set to play both tonight and Thursday, starting with the visit of Barnsley tonight before a trip to Peterborough United. Defeat in both would see them relegated.
Northampton Town
Northampton were in the top half of the table at Christmas but have won just once in 2026 to slip into the bottom four. As a result, they now sit 23rd and just one point above Port Vale.
Kevin Nolan departed the club in March and technical director Colin Calderwood has taken the reins since on an interim basis. Results haven’t improved though and they head into tomorrow’s trip to EFL Trophy winners Luton Town on the back of six straight defeats.
The clash at Kenilworth Road is likely to end their three-year stint in League One. Defeat would confirm relegation, whilst they could also go down regardless if Leyton Orient and AFC Wimbledon both match the Cobblers’ result.
Rotherham United
Despite sitting 22nd, Rotherham could be the first team in League One to have their relegation confirmed. The Millers are currently 13 points from safety with five games remaining and travel to Wigan Athletic tonight.
Although the South Yorkshire-based side were tipped for a tough season, few would have predicted they would be facing a return to the fourth tier for the first time since 2013. Since then, United have spent seven of the corresponding 13 seasons in the Championship.
League Two is beckoning though and defeat at the Brick Community Stadium tonight will see them down.
Rotherham United will be the first team in League One to have their relegation confirmed if they lose to Wigan Athletic tonight. 😬#rufc pic.twitter.com/2d3Ha5Eb7E
— The Football Lowdown (@FBLowdown) April 14, 2026
Who Will Join Them In League Two?
Exeter City seem the most likely to suffer the drop alongside Port Vale, Northampton and Rotherham. The Grecians are three points from safety but have played 43 games, which is more than the majority of teams in and around them.
That gap could grow by they time they take to the field against Stockport on Saturday with Leyton Orient, AFC Wimbledon and Peterborough all in action this week. Wimbledon and Orient remain in serious trouble, whilst Blackpool, Burton Albion and Peterborough are all just four points above the drop zone. However, Posh do possess two games in hand.
Wigan, Doncaster, Mansfield Town and Barnsley are all still technically in the conversation, although it would take an extraordinary turn of events for them to finish in the bottom four.
