The English league hierarchy starts with the Barclays Premier league, the Coca Cola Championship, Coca Cola league1 and finally Coca Cola League 2 other leagues exist below these but these 4 leagues are the most widely followed. The level of betting on league fixtures follows the popularity of that league but odds are available on every league match so the lower leagues should not be ignored.
The Coca Cola League One was established when the Coca Cola company took over sponsorship of the lower 3 English leagues in the summer of 2004. It is a professional football league with 24 clubs each playing one another twice during a season. At the end of the season the top two clubs earn automatic promotion to the Coca Cola Championship, a third promotion place is available to one of the next 4 teams but they must first endure the drama of the play offs. Betting for the play offs can be fierce as the odds, after nearly 50 games, are well established but surprises, in what is essentially a mini knock out competition, are always a possibility so a bet against the odds is always worthwhile.
Unfortunately there is no such last minute drama for the bottom 4 clubs as they are relegated to the lowest coca cola league, the coca cola league 2. As with any league the best odds can be obtained at the beginning of the season and an early bet can earn excellent returns, however as the season progresses and the form of the various teams
becomes apparent the odds can shorten dramatically.
Previous winners of the coca cola league 1 are: Luton, Scunthorpe United, Southend United and Swansea. As with most other leagues the euphoria of winning promotion is quickly replaced by the hard work of consolidating the new league status, the step up in standard can come as a shock and many teams life in the new league lasts for only 1 season, little wonder then that bets on relegation or the longevity of managers
are a popular option.
