The 2019–20 EFL League One (referred to as the Sky Bet League One for sponsorship reasons) was the 16th season of Football League One under its current title and the 28th season under its current league division format.

Newly promoted Bury were expelled from the EFL on 27 August 2019, due to financial issues at the club. They could not satisfy the requirements of their notice of withdrawal issued by the EFL for this deadline date. The league operated with 23 teams for 2019–20, with three teams being relegated to League Two for the 2020–21 season, rather than the usual four. Bury did not fulfil any of their league fixtures for the season, as they were all postponed, so no results were expunged.

Financially troubled Bolton Wanderers entered administration and had been threatened with expulsion but were saved in a buy-out on 28 August. Bolton failed to fulfil their fixture against Doncaster Rovers on 20 August. They called off the game 26 hours before kick off without informing the EFL or Doncaster, claiming concerns over younger players' welfare. On 21 November, they were issued with a five-point deduction suspended for 18 months in relation to the Doncaster postponement, as well as a postponement in the 2018–19 season against Brentford in the Championship.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the season was temporarily suspended on 13 March. On 3 April 2020, this suspension was extended indefinitely.

On 9 June, clubs voted to curtail the season, meaning the final table would be calculated by a points-per-game method with the play-offs being played behind closed doors.

Team changes The following teams have changed division since the 2018–19 season.

To League One Promoted from League Two Lincoln City Milton Keynes Dons Tranmere Rovers Bury (later expelled)

Relegated from Championship Rotherham United Bolton Wanderers Ipswich Town

From League One Promoted to Championship Luton Town Barnsley Charlton Athletic

Relegated to League Two Plymouth Argyle Walsall Scunthorpe United Bradford City

Stadiums

Team Location Stadium CapacityAccrington Stanley Accrington Crown Ground 5,057 AFC Wimbledon London Kingsmeadow 4,850 Blackpool Blackpool Bloomfield Road 17,338 Bolton Wanderers Horwich University of Bolton Stadium 28,723 Bristol Rovers Bristol Memorial Stadium 12,300 Burton Albion Burton upon Trent Pirelli Stadium 6,912 Coventry City Birmingham St Andrew's 29,409 Doncaster Rovers Doncaster Keepmoat Stadium 15,231 Fleetwood Town Fleetwood Highbury Stadium 5,327 Gillingham Gillingham Priestfield Stadium 11,582 Ipswich Town Ipswich Portman Road 30,311 Lincoln City Lincoln Sincil Bank 10,120 Milton Keynes Dons Milton Keynes Stadium MK 30,500 Oxford United Oxford Kassam Stadium 12,500 Peterborough United Peterborough London Road Stadium 15,314 Portsmouth Portsmouth Fratton Park 19,669 Rochdale Rochdale Spotland Stadium 10,500 Rotherham United Rotherham New York Stadium 12,021 Shrewsbury Town Shrewsbury New Meadow 9,875 Southend United Southend-on-Sea Roots Hall 12,392 Sunderland Sunderland Stadium of Light 49,000 Tranmere Rovers Birkenhead Prenton Park 16,789 Wycombe Wanderers High Wycombe Adams Park 10,137

Personnel and sponsoring Team Manager1 Captain Kit manufacturer Sponsor Accrington Stanley John Coleman Seamus Conneely Adidas Wham AFC Wimbledon Glyn Hodges Will Nightingale Puma Sports Interactive Blackpool Jay Spearing Erreà Blackpool Council (home: "VisitBlackpool.com"; away: "Get Vocal") Bolton Wanderers Keith Hill Jason Lowe Infinity Apparel Home Bargains Bristol Rovers Ben Garner Ollie Clarke Macron Utilita Energy Burton Albion Jake Buxton TAG Prestec UK Ltd Coventry City Mark Robins Liam Kelly Hummel Allsopp & Allsopp Doncaster Rovers Darren Moore Ben Whiteman Elite Pro Sports LNER Fleetwood Town Paul Coutts Hummel BES Utilities Gillingham Steve Evans Max Ehmer Macron MEMS Power Generation Ipswich Town Paul Lambert Luke Chambers Adidas Magical Vegas Lincoln City Michael Appleton Lee Frecklington Erreà SRP Hire Solutions Milton Keynes Dons Russell Martin Dean Lewington Erreà Suzuki Oxford United Karl Robinson John Mousinho Puma Singha Beer Peterborough United Darren Ferguson Mark Beevers Nike Mick George Portsmouth Kenny Jackett Brett Pitman Nike University of Portsmouth Rochdale Brian Barry-Murphy Callum Camps Erreà Crown Oil Ltd Rotherham United Paul Warne Richard Wood Puma Embark Group (Home), Mears (Away & 3rd) Shrewsbury Town Sam Ricketts David Edwards Admiral Tuffins Supermarkets (Home), Shropshire Homes (Away) Southend United Sol Campbell Mark Milligan Nike Paddy Power (unbranded) 2 Sunderland Phil Parkinson Grant Leadbitter Adidas Children with Cancer UK Tranmere Rovers Micky Mellon Scott Davies Puma Essar Wycombe Wanderers Gareth Ainsworth Matt Bloomfield O'Neills Cherry Red Records (Home), Dormeo (Away) 1 According to current revision of List of current Premier League and English Football League managers. 2 Southend's shirt does not display Paddy Power's logo as part of the bookmakers "Save Our Shirt" campaign.

Managerial changes Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment Gillingham Mark PattersonEnd of caretaker spell4 May 2019Pre-season Steve Evans 21 May 2019 Bury Ryan LoweSigned by Plymouth Argyle5 June 2019 Paul Wilkinson2 July 2019 Grant McCannSigned by Hull City21 June 2019 Darren Moore10 July 2019 Blackpool Terry McPhillipsEnd of contract5 July 2019 Simon Grayson6 July 2019Bolton Wanderers Phil ParkinsonResigned21 August 201923rd Keith Hill 31 August 2019 Southend United Kevin Bond6 September 201922nd Sol Campbell 22 October 2019 Lincoln City Danny CowleySigned by Huddersfield Town9 September 20195th Michael Appleton20 September 2019 Sunderland Jack Ross Sacked8 October 20196th Phil Parkinson17 October 2019 AFC Wimbledon Wally Downes Mutual consent20 October 201921st Glyn Hodges23 October 2019 Milton Keynes Dons Paul Tisdale 2 November 2019 Russell Martin3 November 2019 Bristol Rovers Graham CoughlanSigned by Mansfield Town17 December 20194th Ben Garner23 December 2019 Blackpool Simon GraysonSacked12 February 202015th Neil Critchley2 March 2020 Burton Albion Nigel Clough Resigned 18 May 2020 12th Jake Buxton 18 May 2020

League table

Play-offs

Results

Season statistics Top scorers

RankPlayerClubGoals1 Ivan ToneyPeterborough United242 Armand GnanduilletBlackpool15 Ian HendersonRochdale Paddy MaddenFleetwood Town5 Mohamed EisaPeterborough United14 Matt GoddenCoventry City Freddie LadapoRotherham United Tyler WalkerLincoln City9 Jonson Clarke-HarrisBristol Rovers13 Matty TaylorOxford United11 James HenryOxford United12

Hat-tricks

PlayerForAgainstResultDateRef Scott FraserBurton AlbionOxford United4–2 (A)20 August 2019 Chris MaguireSunderlandAFC Wimbledon3–1 (H)24 August 2019 Joe JacobsonWycombe WanderersLincoln City3–1 (H)7 September 2019 Ivan ToneyPeterborough UnitedRochdale6–0 (H)14 September 2019 Tariqe FosuOxford UnitedLincoln City6–0 (A)21 September 2019 Marcus ForssAFC WimbledonSouthend United4–1 (A)12 October 2019 Paddy MaddenFleetwood TownBurton Albion4–1 (H)19 October 2019 Rushian Hepburn-MurphyTranmere RoversMilton Keynes Dons3–1 (A)2 November 2019 Matt GoddenCoventry CityWycombe Wanderers4–1 (A)29 December 2019 Matt GoddenCoventry CityTranmere Rovers4–1 (A)1 January 2020

References