The 8 best EFL League Two managers in 2026/27 according to the stats | OneFootball

Which managers in the fourth tier have the biggest stocks in terms of data and success heading into the new season?

The League Two season is just a matter of weeks away, with the 24 clubs in the division all looking to achieve their minimum short-term aims across the gruelling 46-game campaign and beyond.

Last term, we saw all of Bromley, Cambridge United, MK Dons and Notts County achieve promotion to League One, and those four sides have since swapped places with Northampton Town, Rotherham United, Port Vale and Exeter City.

Indeed, The Valiants were the only side to be relegated back to the fourth tier at the first time of asking after their automatic promotion 13 months ago under the vastly-experienced Darren Moore.

Meanwhile, Harrogate Town and Barrow, who were promoted alongside each other from the National League in 2019/20, have seen their spells in the EFL come to an end, and they have been replaced by York City and Rochdale.

It was a promotion race for the ages between the two sides in the fifth tier, with the Minstermen sealing the title with virtually the last kick of a 'winner takes all' shootout at Spotland, before the Greater Manchester side emerged victorious in another dramatic clash with Boreham Wood at Wembley Stadium.

As such, there is a strong mix of clubs who boast rich histories and exciting plans for the future in the division, and that, in some ways, is reflected by the figures who are in charge in the dugout.

With that said, Football League World have ranked the eight who are currently deemed the most successful according to data.

8 ? ? Matt Lawlor - Fleetwood Town

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At the bottom of this eight-man list is one which will surprise many, and it is Matt Lawlor of Fleetwood Town.

However, there is a strong caveat attached to the inclusion of the 37-year-old, who was born in nearby Poulton-Le-Fylde, and that is the fact he has only taken charge of 29 matches throughout the infancy of his managerial career heading into the new season.

In fact, nine of those came with Waterford FC in the League of Ireland, having subsequently taken charge of 20 of the Cod Army's matches in League Two - the majority of which came after Pete Wild's sacking in March.

Lawlor has taken 27 points from a possible 60 in League Two, but is said to have an overall points-per-game record of 1.52.

7 ? ? Gavin Cowan - Shrewsbury Town

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Gavin Cowan is another name who is relatively new to the full-time managerial scene, having taken charge of Shrewsbury Town in late January following the dismissal of the vastly-experienced Michael Appleton.

Excitement is set to be building in this part of Shropshire amid revelations that the club are close to an American takeover, and in truth, their 45-year-old boss also has the data to back up why he was appointed earlier this year.

Cowan, who previously played for the Shrews, had enjoyed strong success in a two-and-a-half year spell with Brackley Town, which included promotion to the National League in 2024/25.

Eight wins out of 19 in charge of Shrewsbury thus far have also helped his PPG record reach a current total of 1.54.

6 ? ? Micky Mellon - Oldham Athletic

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Next up, we have Oldham Athletic's current manager, Micky Mellon, who helped the Latics enjoy a strong first season back in the EFL with a 10th-placed finish.

The Scotsman has certainly been around the block for a long time in terms of management, having started his post-playing career with Fleetwood Town in 2008, helping the Lancashire side reach the EFL themselves four years later.

He has since taken charge of Shrewsbury, Dundee United and Tranmere Rovers on two occasions, before moving to Boundary Park in October 2023.

As a result, throughout 725 matches, the 54-year-old has a PPG record of 1.56 at present.

5 ? ? Paul Cook - Chesterfield

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Next up is Paul Cook, who is currently overseeing a second spell in charge of Chesterfield, who have suffered play-off semi-final misfortune in the past two seasons after winning the National League title in the 59-year-old's first season back in North Derbyshire.

The Liverpudlian has managed four current EFL sides, as well as an indifferent spell at Ipswich Town prior to the Tractor Boys' inspired appointment of Kieran McKenna in the final weeks of 2021.

Cook has, up to now, managed 943 games and won 417 of those, racking up an overall points total of 1484, which equates to a points-per-game record of 1.57.

4 ? ? Lee Grant - Walsall

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Beginning the top four on said list is Walsall's newly-appointed head coach, Lee Grant, who will be coming into just his second-ever season of management in the West Midlands following a prior spell with Huddersfield Town.

The 43-year-old was previously a key figure in the aforementioned McKenna's backroom staff at Portman Road as Ipswich won back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League between 2023 and 2024, but after their relegation, opted for a change in path.

Grant, formerly of Manchester United in his playing days, was then backed heavily by Huddersfield owner, Kevin Nagle, during last summer, but was dismissed in January after just six months in charge.

But, because he has taken charge of just 36 games in all competitions, he still boasts a points-per-game record of 1.58.

3 ? ? Danny Cowley - Colchester United

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In third place is Colchester United's current boss, Danny Cowley, who previously earned a strong reputation at lower-league level during his time at Lincoln City, alongside his brother and co-manager, Nicky.

There isn't exactly much optimism in this part of Essex right now following the collapse of a takeover which involved former Chelsea and England centre-back, John Terry, but at least Cowley has the stats to back up the fact he could bring success to the U's over time.

The 47-year-old earned two promotions with the Imps, and also helped them reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup as a non-league side nine years ago, losing to eventual winners, Arsenal.

He has since taken charge of Huddersfield Town in the Championship and Portsmouth, who were then in League One, before being installed in his current role in January 2024.

Overall, Cowley's points-per-game record currently stands at 1.62 from 491 matches.

2 ? ? Dean Brennan - Barnet

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The League Two manager with the second-highest points-per-game total at this moment in time is Barnet boss, Dean Brennan.

Of course, some would argue how the likes of Ian Holloway, Steve Cotterill and Steve Evans are not at this stage of the list, but their records are skewed by the fact they have taken charge of way more matches in their respective careers.

However, the 46-year-old Irishman has, himself, enjoyed success in a 16-year-long managerial career which began at Hemel Hempstead Town, with Barnet eventually giving him a path into EFL management through their National League title win in 2024/25.

Brennan became head coach of the Bees in February 2022, and an extremely successful spell, which only saw them narrowly miss out on the League Two play-offs, has given him a current PPG record of 1.68 from 321 matches.

1 ? ? Ian Watson - Rochdale

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However, if football success was merely based on data, Rochdale's recent appointment of Ian Watson would certainly be vindicated.

Indeed, the Spotland-based outfit saw their former head coach and promotion-winning boss, Jim McNulty, move to fellow Greater Manchester outfit, Stockport County, who lost Dave Challinor in the dugout.

However, Watson currently boasts a remarkable points-per-game record of 2.07, having won 28 of his 46 games in the National League North with South Shields, who he helped guide to the fifth tier at the end of last season, subsequently earning the 40-year-old his first taste in full-time management.