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League Two play-offs 2024: Fixtures, dates and teams in contention

As the League Two season passes the midway point, things are starting to get serious in England’s fourth tier.

Of course, there is one club that continues to steal the limelight in the division, Hollywood outfit Wrexham having taken centre stage following their financial backing and famous owners. However, while the Welsh side continue to thrive as they climb the leagues, they are not the only team impressing.

Three will be guaranteed automatic promotion to League One come the end of the season, but a fourth will join them in the third tier via the play-offs. Four teams will compete in what will almost certainly be a drama-fuelled set of matches, with the last side standing earning their place in the tier above.

Here is everything you need to know about the League Two play-offs, including dates, prize money and the teams in contention.

Unlike the Championship and League One, promotion and relegation works slightly differently in League Two. Instead of the customary three teams getting promoted, it’s actually four sides that move up to the third tier.

The sides placed from first to third automatically rise to League One, while four teams from fourth to seventh then compete in the play-offs.

In the play-offs, there are two-legged semi-finals, followed by the final at Wembley Stadium. The winner of that match joins the other three sides in moving up to League One.

In terms of relegation, things are more simple, with the bottom two sides dropping out of the English Football League and into the National League.

The 46-match League Two season finishes up in late April, with the play-offs commencing after the final game of the campaign.

There are currently no dates in place for the two-legged semi-finals, with those being announced closer to the end of the season, but the play-off final will take place at Wembley on Sunday 19 February.

The League One play-off final will be played the day prior, while the Championship play-off final will take place the week after.

Contrary to what some think, teams don’t earn any extra money for winning the play-off final in itself. Every League Two side is given a base fee of £472,000 no matter where they finish, as well as a £430,000 solidarity payment from the Premier League.

However, promotion to League One brings huge financial benefits, with those figures rising to £677,000 and £642,000 in the third division.

Akil WrightAkil Wright

Stockport County currently lead the league after play-off heartbreak / Ben Roberts Photo/GettyImages

While automatic promotion is the obvious goal for League Two sides, the play-offs offer a security blanket to those not quite capable of nailing down a top-three finish.

As things stand, there are a number of teams vying for automatic promotion spots, with Stockport County leading the way. The Hatters lost last season’s League Two play-off final at Wembley to Carlisle United on penalties and will be hopeful of not having to endure a similar fate this term.

Unsurprisingly, Wrexham are also in the title picture, currently sat second in the table with a game in hand over Stockport. Mansfield Town occupy the final automatic spot, but are only a few points ahead of the likes of Barrow, Crewe Alexandra and MK Dons.

Notts County are hanging on to the final play-off spot at the moment, but are being chased down by Harrogate Town, AFC Wimbledon, Gillingham and Accrington Stanley.

Position

Team

Played

Goal difference

Points

1.

Stockport County

28

+33

57

2.

Wrexham

27

+17

52

3.

Mansfield Town

28

+23

51

4.

Barrow

29

+12

50

5.

Crewe Alexandra

29

+11

50

6.

MK Dons

28

+11

48

7.

Notts County

28

+8

44

8.

Harrogate Town

28

0

43

9.

AFC Wimbledon

28

+10

42

10.

Gillingham

28

-9

42

11.

Accrington Stanley

28

+4

41

12.

Crawley Town

27

-2

39

READ MORE ON THE 2023/24 PLAY-OFF HUNT THROUGHOUT THE EFL

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