Five things in EFL: new faces, chasers, and strugglers

There is a lot to be said for promotion from the National League.

League Two leaders Bromley host another recent addition to the Premier League at third-placed Notts County on Saturday (15:00 GMT), but relegation in the division is not a happy story.

Barrow’s return to the league in 2020 had little romance and justice for those of a certain age.

In the days before automatic promotion, the bottom four teams in Division Four had to apply for re-election, and in 1972, despite finishing above two other teams, the Bluebirds were ousted, to be replaced by Hereford.

Forty-eight years later, Barrow returned. They were top of the National League table when Covid shut down the season, were on the right side of the vote this time to have the season curtailed and were declared champions.

There were some close creaks as they just avoided returning to the non-league ranks twice, but they also fell short in the play-offs when they dropped out of the top seven on the final day of the 2023-24 season.

This year is looking bleak with coach Paul Gallagher sacked on Wednesday after losing all five games in his six-week tenure and replaced by Dino Mameria – their sixth permanent coach in less than four years.

It leaves Barrow three points clear of trouble as qualification hopefuls Colchester United slip back on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Next comes a meeting with bottom side Harrogate, and on the final day there is a home game against second-from-bottom Newport – Barrow will not want their struggles to go that far.

It has been 22 years since Cumbria were last without a Premier League club, and Maamria will need to get busy quickly if that is not to become a possibility again.

BBC Sport It will have live text coverage of Saturday’s English Football League events.