RANKED: Every League Two club’s January business

League Two is still wide open, unlike the transfer window which is now firmly closed. Most clubs were busy during January in hope they would sign the right players to help them achieve their aims.

Fans were also busy formulating opinions, getting excited or, in some cases, having complete meltdowns on deadline day as they waited for news of any late additions.

This was by far the most competitive division in terms of signings during the January window making it easily the hardest to evaluate winners and losers.

However we have done our best and have ranked every team, starting with the team we felt finished worst off, based on their winter window business.

Read on and see if you agree with our analysis:

24.Crawley Town

Ins: Tom Dallison – Falkirk – F, Matt Willock – Manchester Utd – Loan

Outs: Romain Vincelot – Shrewsbury – F, Rob Milsom – Notts County – F

Crawley needed to be decisive during January after losing ten of their last 15 games. What they got was a non-event. Hardly any business at all and both of the incoming players are not experienced at this level. They probably have enough points to stay clear of the drop but will need to improve if they are to convince the fans that appointing Gabriele Cioff was, indeed, the correct decision after all.

23.Port Vale

Ins: Adam Crookes – Nottm Forest – Loan, Danny Elliott – Unattached – F, Mark Harris – Cardiff – Loan, Kyle Howkins – WBA – Loan, Callum Whelan – Manchester Utd – Loan, Toby Edser – Nottm Forest – Loan, Will Trickett-Smith – Leek – Und

Outs: Tyrone Barnett – Cheltenham – F

With Aspin leaving it is hardly surprising that any business was going to be fairly muted. Of the new signing none really jump out or seem particularly likely to make a huge difference – worrying indeed. Vale are on a woeful run and relegation looks a real possibility especially looking at the business of those around them. John Aksey, should he be confirmed as the new manager, may be able to get a tune out of a squad that appears to have a decent spine with Scott Brown, Leon Legge, Luke Joyce and Tom Pope but he will need to get them playing a more positive brand of football.

22.Crewe Alexandra

Ins: Jamie Sterry – Newcastle – Loan, Aaron Taylor-Sinclair – Motherwell – Loan

Outs: Brad Walker – Shrewsbury Town – Und

Crewe probably didn’t need to do a lot but it is disappointing to see them not get at least one impact player that could help push their improving side towards the play-offs. It may be harsh as they have been looking very good of late yet there is a sense that a good window could turn them into contenders in a more tangible way. As it is they will still be an exciting watch in the final few months of the campaign – let’s just hope they don’t regret their lack of activity here.

21.Macclesfield

Ins: Manny Idem – unattached – F, Enoch Andoh – unattached – F, Adam Dawson – unattached – F, Reece Cole – Brentford – Loan, Zak Jules – Shrewsbury – F, Stelios Demetriou – Unattached – F, Shamir Mullings – Maidstone – Und, Botti Biabi – Swansea – Loan, Brice Ntambwe – Partick – F

Outs: None

The Silkmen were very busy but whether the signings improve them is another thing altogether. Quantity over quality though hardly surprising given the tight budget. With Sol Campbell’s coaching it may be enough to pull them clear of trouble. Always hard to judge how so many new faces will bed into a team which is at the wrong end of the table but Reece Cole is a good signing and Shamir Mullings impressed at Maidstone so time will tell.

20.Notts County

Ins: Ben Barclay – Brighton & Hove Albion – Loan, Jim O’Brien – Bradford City – F, Rob Milsom – Crawley Town – Und, Ryan Schofield – Huddersfield – Loan, Craig Mackail-Smith – Wycombe – Loan, Mitch Rose – Grimsby – F, Sam Stubbs – Middlesbrough – Loan, Virgil Gomis – Nottm Forest – Loan, Michael Doyle – Coventry – F

Outs: Kristian Dennis – Grimsby – Loan

Basically Notts needed an outstanding window and despite signing Michael Doyle they just didn’t appear to do enough. Ordinarily this would not matter but they need to earn two points per game for the remainder of the season if they are to avoid the drop which looks very unlikely now. Experienced heads may help but that mountain still needs climbing.

19.Cambridge United

Ins: Rushian Hepburn-Murphy – Aston Villa – Loan, Alex Jones – Bradford – Loan, Hayden Coulson – Middlesbrough – Loan, Jake Doyle-Hayes – Aston Villa – Loan

Outs: Ade Azeez – Newport – F

Cambridge didn’t have an awful window but they didn’t have a good one either. Signing young players on loan tends to be a risk as you are never sure whether the players are ready for League Two football. Cambridge probably have a good enough squad to stay up but this January business is nothing to write home about.

18.Forest Green Rovers

Ins: Junior Mondal – Whitby – F, Shawn McCoulsky – Bristol City – Und, Nathan McGinley – Middlesbrough – Und, Lewis Ward – Reading – Loan, Udoka Godwin-Malife – Oxford City – Und, Ben Liddle – Middlesbrough – Loan, Christian Doidge – Bolton – (end of loan after Bolton pulled out of agreed transfer)

Outs: Scott Laird – Walsall – Loan, Tahvon Campbell – Gillingham – Loan

This one may surprise a few but the best bit of business the Green Devils managed during the window was completely out of their control therefore it is hard to give them the credit. Christian Doidge may fire them to promotion but I expect the chairman would have preferred to have the money Bolton agreed to pay. Shawn McCoulsky is a good addition after failing to make an impact at Southend and Lewis Ward may be an important signing considering the facial injury to James Montgomery.

17.Northampton Town

Ins: George Cox – Brighton & Hove Albion – Loan, Joe Powell – West Ham – Loan, Timi Elsnik – Derby – Loan, Charlie Goode – Scunthorpe – Loan, Marvin Sordell – Burton – Loan

Outs: Kevin van Veen – Scunthorpe – Und, Matt Crooks – Rotherham United – Und, Hakeem Odoffin – Livingston – F

Northampton are preparing for life in League Two next season and the business done in this window says as much. Long-term this may be a good thing but losing Matt Crooks and Kevin van Veen will make things harder for the rest of the current campaign. Timi Elsnik is an excellent capture from Derby and should add energy and threat from midfield. Marvin Sordell is a good player if he can rediscover his scoring touch and Charlie Goode may be better in League Two after really struggling with Scunthorpe but the summer will be the all-important window for the Cobblers now.

16.Oldham Athletic

Ins: Callum Lang – Wigan Athletic – Loan, Mohamed Sylla – Entente SSG – Und, Urko Vera – Unattached – F, Alex Iacovitti – Nottm Forest – Loan, Zak Dearnsley – Manchester Utd – Loan, Oladapo Afolayan – West Ham – Loan

Outs: Ishmael Miller – Released, Courtney Duffus – Yeovil – Und

The Latics were more concerned with whether Paul Scholes will become manager and Abdullah Lemsagam will agree to stop meddling in team selections than signing new players yet they did do some business. More exotic sounding players have arrived through the door with the pick of the bunch probably Callum Lang-Messi. The loss of Sam Surridge will be hard to absorb but if the new loanees can step up Oldham may still have an outside shot at the play-offs.

15.Stevenage

Ins: Moses Makasi – West Ham United – Loan, Oliver Byrne – Blackburn Rovers – Loan, Ilias Chair – QPR – Loan, Elijah Adebayo – Fulham – Loan, Calum Dyson – Plymouth Argyle – Loan, Oliver Byrne – Blackburn – Loan

Outs: Ben Kennedy – Newport – Loan

A lot of business was completed on deadline day and this was another solid if unspectacular window for Boro. They have a tight budget but still managed to bring in Elijah Adebayo who should do well after netting five times for Swindon earlier this season. Whether it will be enough could well depend on the fitness of Alex Revell and Danny Newton who are key players when healthy.

14.Morecambe

Ins: Paul McKay – Cardiff City – Loan, Ritchie Sutton – Tranmere Rovers – F, Richie Bennett – Carlisle – Loan, Piero Mingoia – Accrington – Loan, Sam Dalby – Leeds – Loan

Outs: Jason Oswell – Wrexham – Und

Jim Bentley continues to turn water into wine at Morecambe. His transfer window business was pretty good – probably as good as can be expected given the limited resources available. Richie Bennett looks to have added something going forward and Piero Mingoia knows the level well. It is a shame the Oswell deal didn’t work out but his departure opened up the options that allowed new faces through the door – solid again from the Shrimps.

13.Exeter

Ins: Ryan Bowman – Motherwell – Und, Kane Wilson – WBA – Loan, Randell Williams – Watford – F, Jaden Brown – Huddersfield – Loan, Donovan Wilson – Wolves – Loan

Outs: Jayden Stockley – Preston North End – £750,000, Jordan Tillson – Cheltenham – Loan

When you lose a player of Jayden Stockley’s quality it is always going to be a difficult window yet I think Exeter coped very well and made some good signings. Ryan Bowman and Donovan Wilson will be asked to contribute up top and help fill to the goals vacuum left by Stockley’s departure but Randell Williams is by far the best addition. The Watford man joins on permanent terms too making the deal even sweater.

12.Colchester

Ins: Abo Eisa – Shrewsbury – Loan, Ben Stevenson – Wolves – F, Callum Roberts – Newcastle – Loan

Outs: None

Colchester have been struggling in the league and looked like they weren’t going to make any signings until late in the window when Eisa and Stevenson arrived. Both good players who should add to a side full of talent supplemented by the deadline day signing of Callum Roberts. U’s fans will now be hoping they can find the form that had them looking so strong earlier in the season. Eisa and Roberts should offer some natural width and Stevenson will add competition in the middle of the park which can only be a good thing.

11.Swindon

Ins: Canice Carroll – Brentford – Loan, Ben House – Reading – Loan, Ali Koiki – Burnley – Loan, Danny Rose – Portsmouth – F, Tom Broadbent – Bristol Rovers – Und, Taylor Curran – Southend – Und, Kyle Bennett – Bristol Rovers – Loan, Cameron McGilp – Birmingham – Und, Theo Robinson – Southend – Loan

Outs: None

Swindon fans will probably be hoping the signings made durin this window will put them on sound footing for next season. This campaign could be asking too much of Wellens and his players who can’t seem to score even when given a chance from the penalty spot. The late arrival of Theo Robinson is a bit of a coup and he could be the striker to end the frustration at the County Ground. Tom Broadbent is also a good player at the back though Swindon fans will soon find out that Canice Carroll is not the Gary Neville of League Two like he thinks he is.

10.Grimsby

Ins: Sebastian Ring – Orebro – F, Ludvig Ohman – IF Brommapojkarna – Und, Luke Hendrie – Shrewsbury Town – Und, Joe Grayson – Blackburn – Loan, Kristian Dennis – Notts County – Loan

Outs: Louis Robles – released, JJ Hooper – Bromley – Loan, Mitch Rose – Notts County – F

The rebuild continues with yet more positive additions. Michael Jolley looks like he has a clear vision of how he wants his team to play and the players he is bringing in should fit well. Ludvig Ohman was brilliant in the recent win against MK Dons and Luke Hendrie is a dependable full-back. If the Mariners can get Kristian Dennis firing again then they might have a far more potent attack for the last few months of the campaign.

9.Yeovil

Ins: Josh Grant – Chelsea – Loan, Alex Dobre – Bournemouth – Loan, Matt Worthington – Bournemouth – F, Ryan Seager – Southampton – F, Tristan Abrahams – Norwich – Loan, Courtney Duffus – Oldham – Und

Outs: Jordan Green – Barnsley – Und, James Bailey – Released, Korey Henry – Released

The impending takeover is far more important than any of the business done during this window yet it was still a very good January for the Glovers. Alex Dobre is an exciting player who was impressive in the win over Notts County and Ryan Seager is a fan of the club. Courtney Duffus scored plenty of goals with Waterford and could be a diamond in the rough. The remainder of the season will be interesting both on and of the pitch for the Somerset outfit.

8.Newport County

Ins: Vashon Neufville – West Ham – Loan, Regan Poole – Manchester United – Loan, Adebayo Azeez – Cambridge – F, Ben Kennedy – Stevenage – Loan, Harry McKirdy – Aston Villa – Loan

Outs: None

The Exiles did some very tidy work during January with Regan Poole and Ben Kennedy looking like good business. Ade Azeez will be competition for the likes of Padraig Amond and Jamile Matt who have played very well for Mike Flynn’s side. The added depth will be important given the number of games County have played already with their FA Cup run not yet over. Overall an excellent window for the south Wales club.

7.MK Dons

Ins: Russell Martin – Walsall – F, David Wheeler – QPR – Loan, Jake Hesketh – Southampton – Loan, Stephen Walker – Middlesbrough – Loan

Outs: Aiden Nesbitt – Released, Peter Pawlett – Dundee United – F, Osman Sow – Dundee – Und

MK Dons already have a very strong squad but needed to do something with their form falling away in recent weeks. If they are to realise their ambitions of automatic promotion then you feel David Wheeler will need to find the form that saw him reach a play-off final with Exeter. Tisdale is a top coach and should still get his side into the play-offs but he may rue the loss of Rhys Healey who was one of their top performers.

6.Cheltenham Town

Ins: Cameron Pring – Bristol City – Loan, Tyrone Barnett – Port Vale – F, Billy Waters – Cheltenham Town – Loan, Charlie Raglan – Oxford United – Loan, Jordan Tillson – Exeter – Loan, Rakish Bingham – Hamilton – F

Outs: None

The business here just makes sense. The Robins will be relieved that they managed to get in some new faces and showed just how dangerous a team they can be in their comeback win over Macclesfield. Billy Waters returning is a good bit of business as he offers the energy and pace that will compliment Tyrone Barnett and Luke Varney whilst at the other end of the pitch Charlie Raglan is a solid defender and Jordan Tillson adds bite in the centre. A very good window for Michael Duff’s men.

5.Tranmere Rovers

Ins: David Perkins – Rochdale – Und, Ishmael Miller – Oldham Athletic – F, Harvey Gilmour – Sheffield United – Und, Ben Pringle – Preston – Loan, Kieron Morris – Walsall – Loan, Sid Nelson – Millwall – Loan, Chris Dagnall – Bury – F

Outs: Declan Drysdale – Coventry City – Compensation agreed, Ritchie Sutton – Morecambe – F

Prenton Park can breathe easy as James Norwood went nowhere during a window that reportedly saw plenty of interest in the League Two top scorer. The club then added quality in other areas with Ben Pringle and Harvey Gilmour in midfield, the latter making his loan permanent. Kieron Morris is also an excellent addition with five goals already this season for Walsall the wide man offers pace and threat on the right. Sid Nelson is a solid defender and three experienced campaigners add to an already decent squad. Micky Mellon has done very well indeed.

4.Bury

Ins: Scott Wharton – Blackburn – Loan, Jordan Rossiter – Bury – Loan

Outs: Chris Dagnall – Tranmere – F

When you are playing as well and scoring as freely as Bury it is often a case of ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ which seems a sensible policy. The Shakers kept all of their key players while they did also manage to add in areas that needed strengthening with Jordan Rossiter potentially a massive coup in midfield. Ryan Lowe is aiming for a smaller squad, full of quality and that line of thinking works – an excellent window for Bury.

3.Carlisle United

Ins: Connor Simpson – Preston North End – Loan, Arthur Gnahoua – Shrewsbury – F, Mark Cullen – Blackpool – Loan, Callum O’Hare – Aston Villa – Loan, Nathan Thomas – Sheff Utd – Loan, Peter Grant – Plymouth Argyle – F, Stefan Scougall – St Johnstone – F

Outs: Richie Bennett – Morecambe – Loan

What a few weeks it has been for the Cumbrians. They are in excellent form , have a likeable new manager and now a squad that is more than capable of consolidating their current position if not more. The fact that they rank so highly despite losing Jack Sowerby, Jerry Yates and Ashley Nadesan says a lot about the other business they got over the line. Peter Grant offers defensive depth while Mark Cullen adds experience and know-how. Callam O’Hare comes highly rated from Villa, a reason Exeter were also trying to sign him, and Nathan Thomas is a player that can win games with his skill and ability. Arthur Gnahoua was unfortunate to pick up a hamstring injury at Vale Park – let’s hope he is given a chance to show what he can do when fit again. Looking forward to an exciting end to the season at Brunton Park.

2.Lincoln City

Ins: James Brown – Millwall – Loan, Cian Bolger – Fleetwood – F, Danny Rowe – Ipswich – Loan, Mark O’Hara – Peterborough – Loan, Jordan Roberts – Ipswich – Loan, Lee Angol – Shrewsbury – Loan, Matt Gilks – Scunthorpe – F

Outs: None
The fan reaction to Lee Angol’s return is understandable to a degree but he is a very handy signing for the Imps. Having played under Danny Cowley before he will know exactly what is expected of him and he has an eye for goal. The rest of the business was class with Danny Rowe and Cian Bolger offering League One quality and Jordon Roberts giving them another option off the bench. The best signing of the lot could be Mark O’Hara who was very good for Dundee and started his Peterborough career in style before falling foul of the Steve Evans strop. Great window for the Imps, now on to promotion.

1.Mansfield Town

Ins: Jake Kean – unattached – F, Jordan Smith – Nottm Forest – Loan, Jorge Grant – Nottm Forest – Loan, Nicky Ajose – Charlton Athletic – Loan, Gethin Jones – Fleetwood – Loan, Ryan Sweeney – Stoke – F

Outs: None

When you sign Jorge Grant in League Two you really have cracked this recruitment malarkey. The Stags had a brilliant window and now have a squad that should finish in the top three or hang their heads in shame. Nicky Ajose is a proven scorer at this level and David Flitcroft won’t suffer any lack of effort from the striker lightly while the permanent deal for Ryan Sweeney is just excellent. The centre back is arguably, along with Oldham’s George Edmundson, the brightest defensive prospect in the division and he will be a massive asset to the Stags going forward. League One is where this lot should be playing next season and this window may have helped them get one foot on the promotion ladder already.

words James Richards, D3D4 Football