After a four-year absence, Notts County have gone through their first season back in the EFL by way of a mid-table finish. However, “mid-table obscurity” is far from the definition of The Magpies’ season. After scoring and conceding a combined total of 174 goals in the division, their season was the very definition of a rollercoaster.
Boasting the league’s top goalscorer and assister in Macaulay Langstaff and Jodi Jones, the worst defensive record in the division, and a head coach that has struggled to settle into the position at Meadow Lane, there are numerous opinions as to where Notts can end up next season.
We spoke to lifelong Notts County fan and content creator K-Ci Rennicks (@KRennicks40) to tackle the key questions around the club – was this a progressive first season back in the EFL, what can be expected in the summer window, and what are the expectations in Nottingham next season?
A Progressive Period?
Notts County’s time in the National League largely changed the identity of the club, both on and off the pitch.
The 2018/19 season saw County depart the Football League after over a century. The Magpies were a sinking ship under the stewardship of Alan Hardy and underwent fiasco after fiasco amid financial uncertainty with fears over the club’s future looming. However, today’s Notts County are far from the outfit of old.
Following relegation, Notts were bought by the Reedtz brothers. Owners of the football analysis company Football Radar, the Danish brothers Christopher and Alexander oversaw Notts immediately challenging for a return to the EFL. Despite hardships along the way with play-off defeats against Harrogate Town, Torquay United and Grimsby Town, Notts’ progress and long-term strategy was clear to see.
‘Our Ambitions Are Long Term’- Notts County Board Discuss Progress
With an emphasis on an attractive brand of football, while uncovering ‘hidden gems’ such as Cal Roberts, Rúben Rodrigues and Macaulay Langstaff, Notts County have been crucial to the progress of many careers in the last five years.
The rewards of this approach were eventually reaped last season when the club enjoyed a centurion season that saw Luke Williams’ side fall narrowly short of the title against Wrexham.
In typical Notts County fashion, late goals galore in the play-offs being capped off with a penalty shootout saw the Reedtz brothers’ dreams realised as the world’s oldest professional club made their EFL return for the first time in five years.
“I feel so much better about the club now when reflecting on it in comparison to the one we had in 2019,” Rennicks said.
“It is just completely run better from top to bottom and I think it is well-reflected with the constant five-figured home attendances week in and week out.
“We went through some horrid times but I feel especially that we are starting to see the results of our rebuild period which transpired during our years in the National League. The Reedtz brothers deserve so much credit and believe me, they will never have to buy a pint in the city of Nottingham.”
The Definitive Rollercoaster Season
The nature of both the Notts County boxes this season have been well-publicised. With the top goalscorer and assister in the league contributing to a stunning 89 goals this season, (the second most in the division) the other end of the pitch hasn’t been so pretty.
The goals! ⚽⚽⚽ pic.twitter.com/KFWeQf6sEB
— Notts County FC (@Official_NCFC) March 19, 2024
85 goals conceded marks Notts with the worst defensive record in the league. Having been involved in 174 goals at both ends of the pitch, a 5-4 scoreline either way has been no stranger to County fans.
Starting the league in stunning form, the Magpies’ attack flourished. With the likes of David McGoldrick, Macaulay Langstaff and a re-vitalized Jodi Jones at their disposal, County were in clear contention for the League Two title to mark a second consecutive promotion.
However, injury to midfield maestro Matty Palmer and the crucial departure of promotion-winning manager Luke Williams to Championship side Swansea City exposed vital weaknesses within the Notts County squad.
With one win in their first 12 league games in 2024, new boss Maynard has come under some immense pressure. Meanwhile, frailties in both the defence and depth of the Meadow Lane outfit have been consistently exposed.
With their place in League Two now confirmed for the 2024/25 season, the summer boasts many questions and scenarios for the Nottinghamshire outfit.
“It has been a season full of highs and lows,” K-Ci Rennicks continued.
“We looked very good in the early stages and had shouts of automatic promotion creeping in. But then, the departure of Luke Williams transpired and since, we have slowly been transitioning back into the same style of team we were in the good times we had whilst he was manager.
“That was definitely the lowest of lows that you could have possibly felt as a Notts fan because we lost a character, the character that returned the feel-good factor to the club and it was tough to take.”
Many debates have taken place over how much Notts County have achieved this season. After five years in non-league, it is easy to say that the Magpies will have taken a first season back in the EFL without the threat of relegation. However, with the start Notts had and the clear talent at their disposal, there can be a claim to say the club has underachieved.
“I personally feel a little disappointed with our first season back.
“Yes, a midtable finish is not the worst especially considering we were one of two newly promoted sides. But with how we started the season, along with the squad of players we have and some of the stats several have, we have underachieved.”
The Biggest Summer Yet
Last season exposed multiple question marks over Notts County whilst highlighting their strengths and potential at hand.
As previously said, this summer poses multiple scenarios in what will be the most truly testing window under the Reedtz brothers’ ownership of the club. One of which would be the situations of Macaulay Langstaff and Jodi Jones.
Undoubtedly two of the brightest attacking talents in the division, Langstaff has topped the scoring charts in three different divisions throughout his rise with Notts County and Gateshead and has been attracting the attention of clubs in the division above.
Macaulay Langstaff scored 42 goals for Notts County last season as they were promoted from the National League
He's already acclimatising well in League Two: generating 30 shots, 5.5 xG and 4 goals through seven games pic.twitter.com/uECKV0MhWc
— Hudl Statsbomb (@Statsbomb) September 11, 2023
Whereas Jones’ talent has always been well documented. However, after joining Notts late on, the wide-man has flourished after overcoming fitness issues. Furthermore, he set the League Two assist record by January and even earned a call-up to the Malta national team, playing against England at Wembley back in November.
With this attacking excellence, Notts County will face a huge dilemma in the summer when bids from clubs higher up likely come in for the duo.
It is easy to look at the team’s recent season and say that they are a defence away from a title charge but should this summer’s priority be keeping the talent that is already at the club?
“It is equally as important to keep both Macca (Macaulay Langstaff) and Jodi [Jones] as it is strengthening the defence. The defence has to be a priority but how do you go about replacing 24 assists and 28 goals?
“It is not an easy task and that is why I believe this upcoming summer is massive for us. It will be hard to retain both and we need to be sensible. We got Macca for £50,000 and Jodi for free, both should be departing for no less than £1,000,000 each.
“Player of the season? Easy, Jodi Jones,” claimed Rennicks.
“Not only the best in the league by an absolute country mile but also the best in terms of ability I have seen at the Lane for some time.
“He is the one we have to worry about losing most. You can put any striker in that penalty area and Jodi will find them and players of his quality are hard to come by and when you do, they do not come cheap.”
Points To Be Proven
Luke Williams’ departure to Swansea City has often been declared as one of the biggest factors in Notts’ mid-season form. Coming in for the promotion-winning boss was former Wealdstone manager Maynard.
Maynard arrived with a high stock. After stabilising a part-time Wealdstone’s status in the National League over the last four years, the step-up to Meadow Lane felt right for all parties. However, this appointment has not gotten off to the prettiest of starts. With five wins in 17 league outings, while conceding 29 goals in the process, Maynard’s tenure has seen Notts County drop to 22nd in the League Two form table over his time at the club.
However, defensive frailties were also clear under Williams, and with limited time to acquire his own squad, this upcoming transfer window is a crucial period for Maynard to mark his own stamp on the Notts County squad.
Maynard is clearly a talented coach. Long-term, progressive and a project manager, it comes as no surprise that the Reedtz brothers chose Stuart to lead the club forward. Additionally, the boots of Williams were always going to be difficult to fill, especially with limited opportunity to put together his own squad.
The coming summer could be viewed as “do or die” for Maynard, having been under immense pressure since his arrival. Despite that, late form has shown positive for the former Wealdstone coach with three wins, one defeat and one draw in their last five.
“I think the criticism has been fair,” said Rennicks.
“It took us a long time to win a home game this year and our form up until that win was genuinely abysmal.
“However, if you take out the Stockport game recently, it is now three wins and a draw in our past four games and that is the way we needed to end the season. It was all about moments and we are building that and hopefully, Stu can carry that into next season with him.”
How Far Can Notts County Go Next Season?
Many are beginning to view next season’s League Two as ‘weaker’ on paper. With the departures of big spenders in Stockport County, Wrexham and Mansfield Town, alongside the potential for MK Dons to win promotion through the play-offs, League Two could be a very open division next season.
Notts may see this as an opportunity with the talent already at the club, potential big-money outgoings and a progressive ownership. Alongside that, it is clear and simple to see where the problems lie – in defence.
Regarded as one of the ‘bigger clubs’ in the division, the expectation amongst most County fans will be automatic promotion, which the current set-up is more than capable of.
Additionally, the boost of Matty Palmer returning to fitness after a long-term injury that kept him on the sidelines for the second half of the season will no doubt prove a huge boost for Maynard’s aspirations. The midfielder has been a consistent standout since joining The Magpies in the summer of 2021 and fans will be excited to see him form a partnership with January arrival Scott Robertson, who has impressed despite some difficult form in 2024.
Despite this, Notts County have a lot to consider in the summer.
Defensive improvements are a must. However, the potential outgoings up front may prove for an extremely testing question of “stick or twist” for the ownership. Additionally, the manager has critics to prove wrong and it can be assumed that a positive start to the 2024/25 season is a necessity or else the atmosphere may grow negative.
“The general expectation really lies in the hands of the summer recruitment, get that right and we have to be looking at the top three.
“The league won’t be as good as it was this season, and a strong summer in terms of incomings will have us as early favourites and rightfully so, too.”
With praise and criticism flying left, right and centre on all fronts of Meadow Lane, next season has all the blueprints of another rollercoaster season for Notts County Football Club. Approaching the most testing summer of the ownership with the jury still out on Maynard, how far can Notts go next season? Only time will tell.
