League Two split between haves and have-nots - Newport County

The Exiles are plotting for the next campaign but know that they are operating in a different way to plenty of their fourth-tier rivals.

Either Stockport or Carlisle will join Bradford and Salford in missing out on the play-offs while Mansfield, Swindon and Tranmere were among the big clubs that failed to make the top seven.

Colchester and Gillingham splashed the cash in January to avoid relegation while Forest Green Rovers and MK Dons are coming down from League One and Wrexham and Notts County are coming up from the National League.

How League Two finished (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

County’s form under Coughlan was the ninth best in League Two but the manager, who is shaping his squad with assistant Joe Dunne and head of football operations Chris Finn, is staying grounded ahead of his first full season at the helm.

“It’s going to be more competitive. I said in January when Gillingham, Colchester and Hartlepool were spending that the dynamics and landscape of League Two has changed,” said the former Bristol Rovers and Mansfield boss.

“At this moment in time we don’t know the 24 clubs but it looks like it will be two 12s, two leagues in one similar to League One this year.

“The leagues are getting stronger and stronger with the players filtering down. If you can break into that top 12 then you will be doing well.”

Wrexham co-owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds (Image: Press Association)

The return of Wrexham will grab the headlines in August courtesy of their Hollywood owners but Coughlan believes their budget doesn’t guarantee a promotion push like Stockport have enjoyed.

“It’s possible that they could do it and they will start as one of the favourites but League Two is not as easy as people think,” said the manager after congratulating the north Walians on their National League title.

“It’s not a league that you can just get out of by chucking money at it, it’s a difficult league and you have to overcome a lot of obstacles over the course of the season.

“You need to tick a lot of boxes and finances help but it’s not the be all and end all. We’ve seen clubs in League Two that have chucked quite a lot of money at it [and not gone up].”