THE feats of two promoted League One clubs should encourage Huddersfield Town in their quest to climb out of the third tier at the third attempt in 2026-27.

That's the view of Town assistant head coach Jon Stead and history backs up his feeling.

For the past two seasons, Town have fallen short of making the play-offs.

At the end of 2024-25, two of the sides recently promoted in Bolton Wanderers and Lincoln City were also just outside the top six.

ASSISTANT: Former Huddersfield Town striker Jon Stead will assist Martin Drury next season (Image: Jonathan Gawthorpe)

placeholder image — ASSISTANT: Former Huddersfield Town striker Jon Stead will assist Martin Drury next season (Image: Jonathan Gawthorpe)

It was the same story for Derby County and Portsmouth, who were promoted in 2023-24 after finishing adrift 12 months earlier.

Meanwhile, fellow promoted side Oxford United finished in 19th place during the 2022–23 season.

That particular campaign saw Plymouth Argyle and Ipswich Town also go up after being just shy of the play-offs at the end of the previous season (21-22).

In an increasingly competitive League One landscape, relegated sides Sheffield Wednesday and Leicester City are likely to feature particularly prominently among the promotion favourites.

Huddersfield Town loanee Cameron Humphreys challenges Rotherham United's Shaun McWilliams in the League One derby in March. Humphreys has had a contract extension activated at parent club Ipswich Town. Photo: Tony Johnson.

Some observers are already suggesting that the heat will be slightly off the likes of Town and Luton Town; both teams were heavily touted for promotion before last season began.

Stead understands that school of thought, but does provides a caveat.

In terms of Town's realistic hopes, Bolton's and Lincoln's exploits last season provide useful context in his view.

On Town potentially going 'under the radar' more in 26-27 due to the high-profile presence of others, Stead told The Yorkshire Post: "Yes, I think maybe externally, but I don't think that'll change the demands and the expectations of us and the fanbase.

"We're still going to have that same feeling and there's no reason why we can't go into next season and compete with those teams (Wednesday and Leicester).

"There's no reason with the budget and the right kind of recruitment that we can't do that.

"It'll be another tough league, next season, I'm sure.

"League One is very competitive, we've seen that."

But we've seen clubs finish in similar positions to us one season and then achieve their objective the next.

"Bolton finished around the same position as us last season (in 24-25) and Lincoln finished maybe 11th or 12th.

"So it shows that it can be done and I think we need to take a little look at how it's been done by the clubs and make sure that we get it spot on this summer.

"Then hopefully it's a full season without any change and then we're looking to build the following season after that rather than look at ways that we need to fix things."

Ipswich have activated an extension option in the contract of Cameron Humphreys following his loan spell with the Terriers last term.

The midfielder, who made 22 appearances after joining on loan in January, was due to see his deal expire, but the Premier League outfit have extended his deal by 12 months.