The top 10 EFL League One clubs with the biggest wage bills | OneFootball

Football League World takes a look at the League One clubs with the 10 highest wage bills in the third tier

League One clubs at the right end of the third-tier table are eyeing up a spot in next season's Championship now that the business end of the campaign is upon them.

Cardiff City and Lincoln City find themselves locked in a title battle, while both the Bluebirds and the Imps appear set to clinch automatic promotion ahead of the likes of Bolton Wanderers and Bradford City, who may have to settle for a play-off spot.

The Bantams have done particularly well to put themselves in the top-six picture, having won promotion from League Two to League One just last term.

Meanwhile, some of the third tier's bigger names, including Rotherham United and Wigan Athletic, are instead battling against relegation to the fourth tier.

With plenty still to be decided at the business end of the campaign, Football League World takes a look at the League One clubs with the 10 biggest wage bills in the division, according to Capology estimates.

10 ? ? Leyton Orient

Richie Wellens successfully steered Leyton Orient to the League One play-off final last term, and the O's were ultimately beaten 1-0 by Nathan Jones' Charlton Athletic at Wembley.

However, Orient currently find themselves scrambling against the prospect of relegation to League Two for the first time since winning the fourth-tier title in 2023.

The O's lost key players last summer, including the versatile Ethan Galbraith, who has excelled in the Championship with Swansea City, while forward Dan Agyei, who notched 13 goals and nine assists across all competitions last term, joined Turkish outfit Kocaelispor.

According to Capology estimates, the London club's wage bill is £127,585 per week.

9 ? ? Wycombe Wanderers

Wycombe Wanderers have not returned to the Championship since being relegated from the second tier back in 2021, and are vying to land a play-off spot.

The Chairboys appointed Michael Duff in September after sacking Mike Dodds, and the former Huddersfield Town boss is proving his worth in the third tier once again.

Wanderers successfully finished in the play-off places last season, but they were cruelly beaten by eventual promotion winners Charlton at the penultimate hurdle.

Meanwhile, according to Capology estimates, Wycombe's weekly wage bill totals £131,200.

8 ? ? Rotherham United

League One observers have become accustomed to Rotherham being one of the third-tier's powerhouses in recent years, but the Millers are instead battling against relegation this time around.

Relegation to League Two would be a disastrous outcome for the South Yorkshire club, who were competing in the Championship two seasons ago and have not visited the fourth tier since 2013.

Rotherham bolstered their survival chances in the winter transfer window by signing highly-rated youngster Harry Gray on loan from Leeds United, but they still have plenty of work to do to avoid the drop.

Meanwhile, as per Capology estimates, the Millers' weekly wage bill stands at £135,200.

Reading have re-ignited their play-off hopes under the stewardship of Leam Richardson, who won the League One title with Wigan back in 2022.

Richardson replaced Noel Hunt in October, and has got the best out of striker Jack Marriott, while he enjoyed a successful winter transfer window, which included the signings of his former Latics colleagues, Will Keane and Ryan Nyambe.

Meanwhile, Capology estimate that the Royals' wage bill is £145,450 a week.

Reading have successfully rebuilt themselves back to a respectable standard since recovering from the disastrous ownership of Dai Yongge, and returning to the Championship would be a major achievement.

Bolton, have a serious chance of booking their place in next season's Championship.

The Greater Manchester club may struggle to beat either Cardiff or Lincoln to an automatic promotion spot, and will desperately want to avoid a repeat of the 2024 League One play-off final, when they lost to Oxford United at Wembley.

As per Capology, Wanderers are spending £168,250 a week on their wage bill.

Somewhat remarkably for a former Premier League outfit, Bolton have not played in the Championship since suffering relegation from the second tier back in 2019, and were more recently in League Two.

5 ? ? Blackpool

Capology estimates outline that Blackpool have the fifth-highest wage bill in League One, which stands at £170,177 per week.

However, the Tangerines' on-field performances are not matching their eye-catching off-field expenditure, as they are in danger of being relegated to League Two.

Blackpool were relegated from the Championship in 2023 and have been on a largely downward trajectory since then, missing out on the League One play-offs in both of the last two seasons.

Should the Lancashire club avoid the drop this term, they will hope to make further progress under Evatt, who formerly guided Bolton to the play-offs.

4 ? ? Plymouth Argyle

Plymouth Argyle began the season dreaming of bouncing back to the Championship, but have instead spent long spells of the campaign staving off the threat of relegation.

The Pilgrims have an outside chance of landing a play-off spot, while their wage bill is £185,550 a week, as per Capology.

Argyle deserve credit for standing by former Watford boss Tom Cleverley, who has struggled at times this season despite getting the best out of strikers Bim Pepple and particularly Lorent Tolaj, who has more than proven his worth since joining from Port Vale last summer.

3 ? ? Huddersfield Town

Unlike Luton and Cardiff, Huddersfield are not vying for an immediate Championship return, but they were competing in the second tier just two seasons ago.

Amid their play-off aspirations, the West Yorkshire club have a weekly wage bill of £237,500, according to Capology.

The Terriers would love this campaign to mark the year they return to the Championship, and the Accu Stadium club were competing in the Premier League as recently as 2019.

Huddersfield's attacking ranks changed a lot in the January transfer window, as former loan star Leo Castledine was recalled by then parent club, Chelsea, and sold to Championship promotion contenders Middlesbrough.

The West Yorkshire side also signed Ryan Hardie on loan from Wrexham, whereas fellow striker Joe Taylor joined Wigan in a similar deal.

2 ? ? Luton Town

Luton Town wrote one of English football's great modern moments when they were promoted to the Premier League back in 2023, but the Hatters have been on a largely downward trajectory since then.

Predictably for a club who were in the top flight just two seasons ago, the Kenilworth Road outfit have the second-highest wage bill in League One, which stands at £256,623 a week, as per Capology estimates.

The Hatters still enjoy the services of players such as Jordan Clark and Teden Mengi, who were with them throughout their Premier League adventure.

Jack Wilshere can also rely on less long-serving players, such as Gideon Kodua, who is making a name for himself in League One after leaving top-flight side West Ham United.

1 ? ? Cardiff City

Cardiff have played some stellar football in the third tier this term, under the stewardship of Brian Barry-Murphy, and also reached the EFL Cup quarter-finals, where they were beaten by Premier League giants Chelsea.

The Bluebirds were only relegated from the Championship last term, so perhaps it is no surprise that, according to Capology estimates, the Welsh capital outfit have the highest wage bill in League One, which totals £268,000 per week.