League One 2025/26 predicted table as Leyton Orient, Cardiff City and Bolton's chances rated

Leyton Orient painfully missed out on promotion to the Championship in the League One play-off final, losing to Leyton Orient. Orient have been here before, previously falling at this step under Russell Slade, and it’s never easy getting back to this stage, but Richie Wellens will now be tasked with doing just that.

Fortunately for Orient, they are ahead of schedule based on recent years, and there will be plenty of optimism ahead of the new season. But what are Orient’s chances of challenging for promotion again? Here we take a look.

Predicted EFL League One 2025/26 table

The prices for the new League One season are already out, and from those we can gleam the predicted 2025/26 season. Here is that predicted table:

1. Luton Town

2. Cardiff City

3. Plymouth Argyle

4. Bolton Wanderers

5. Huddersfield Town

6. Stockport County

7. Reading

8. Wycombe Wanderers

9. Rotherham United

10. Leyton orient

11. Barnsley

12. Blackpool

13. Bradford City

14. Wigan Athletic

15. Peterborough United

16. Lincoln City

17. Stevenage

18. Mansfield Town

19. Doncaster Rovers

20. Exeter City

21. Port Vale

22. Northampton Town

23. AFC Wimbledon

24. Burton Albion

What Richie Wellens has said about next season

Leyton orient boss Richie Wellens told Standard Sport after his side’s play-off final defeat: “We’re gutted to lose, but in terms of the game, did we deserve to lose? I don’t think so. I think we were the better team for a lot of things. It is [amazing]. but we want to grow the club. I’m not happy just sitting on my laurels and going through the motions. I want to win things. Listen, today only fuels the fire. 100 per cent, it’s been a good season. Last season was a good season, we just fell short of the play-offs.

“We need to improve, because every year we lose loan players, we lose two or three of our best players, and then we have to build and build, and it takes time, and then we have a slow start, and then we get going, and we get to the summer, and we lose players. It can be tough, and it’s something that as a club we can do better.”

On next season, he told BBC Sport: “Our budget is not like some of the other clubs. The end of that [first] season, I lost two or three of my best players. Next season, we got promoted, I lost a few more. It's the same every season. Potentially we're going to lose six or seven now. I am gutted for the supporters but I'm also heartbroken this is the last time I will ever manage this set of players as a collective."

He added: "I'm tired, this week has taken a lot out of us. It's been a long season. I need a few weeks off. We'll dust ourselves down and try to recruit. The plan was always to be a top, top League One club. We are still not there yet, but this is a good step. It's been an unbelievable group of players - both on the pitch and character-wise they are a pleasure to work with every day but we just couldn't go the last step and I am gutted for them.

"We need to make sure we recruit right because we're going to lose a lot of players now. But I am trying to make sure it's a celebration of what we have done over a long time - the development of players, the way the club has grown - we had over 30,000 fans today, this is the biggest crowd the club have ever played in front of and Charlton are an ex-Premier League club. I am more gutted than anybody. It's the first time I have ever lost a final, ever," he said.

"If you'd said to us at the start of the season you're going to lose in the play-off final we'd have taken it. But now it's important we grow and develop the club. We're still not there. If we'd been promoted today we'd still fall short in a lot of areas which are required for a Championship club. We have to try and grow from it. I came here and we were 20th in League Two. Charlton are ready to go up. Are we ready? As a club we probably need more time."

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