The new Championship season kicks off on Friday evening, with fans of all 24 clubs gearing up for another campaign in one of the most competitive divisions in world football.
Forty-six matchdays will decide which sides are promoted automatically to the Premier League, which make the end of season play-offs, and which are relegated down to League One come the end of May.
Here is everything you need to know about the Championship in 2022/23.
Who are the promotion contenders?
Norwich City have won the title in both of their last two season in the Championship, and with Dean Smith having had since late 2021 to work with the Canaries’ squad of players as their inevitable relegation from the Premier League was slowly confirmed, they will be strong favourites to go straight back up to the top flight once again.
Watford and Burnley also dropped down from the Premier League but have bigger rebuilds on their hands with brand new managers at the helm, and the Clarets in particular have lost a significant number of first-team players including the likes of Nick Pope, James Tarkowski and Ben Mee who all have formed the spine of the side across many seasons.
With those two clubs more likely to face difficulties than Norwich, that could open the door for the likes of Middlesbrough and Sheffield United to push for automatic promotion. Boro have arguably the division’s most impressive manager in Chris Wilder, and they only narrowly missed out on the play-offs at the end of last season.
The Blades, meanwhile, were beaten by Nottingham Forest in the play-off semi-finals and have an impressive squad of players for this level.
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Who could make the play-offs?
Luton and Huddersfield were the other play-off finishers last time around but whether either side possesses the squad depth to challenge again this year is doubtful.
West Bromwich Albion endured a patchy season in 2020-21, but have now had five months to work under manager Steve Bruce, who has already taken Birmingham City and Hull City to the Premier League in his career.
Elsewhere, the likes of Blackburn Rovers and Swansea City have forwards in their squad who are potentially good enough to fire them up the standings.
Who could be fighting relegation?
Rotherham United have been relegated on each of their last three seasons in the Championship, and in all likelihood the club with the smallest budget in the division will suffer the same fate again.
The financial gap between the Championship and League One means any promoted side face an uphill battle, and Wigan Athletic and Sunderland will also no doubt be satisfied by a 21st place finish next May.
Among those who sides who are not new to the division, Birmingham City have been staving off relegation for years and this could be the year the Blues finally drop to the third tier. Hull City have spent big this summer but could struggle if their incomings fail to settle quickly, while Reading and Cardiff City could also fall into trouble.
Biggest Championship transfers this summer
- Gabriel Sara – MF – Sao Paolo to Norwich City – £9.5m
- Vakoun Issouf Bayo – ST – Charleroi to Watford – £5.2m
- Anel Ahmedhodzic – CB – Malmo to Sheffield United – £4m
- Allahyar Sayyadmanesh – ST – Fenerbahce to Hull City – £4m
- Dogukan Sinik – LM – Antalyaspor to Hull City – £3.6m
- Ozan Tufan – CM – Fenerbahce to Hull City – £2.7m
- Josh Cullen – CM – Anderlecht to Burnley – £2.7m
- Arijanet Muric – GK – Manchester City to Burnley – £2.6m
- Zian Flemming – AM – Fortuna Sittard to Milwall – £2.3m
- Daniel Ballard – CB – Arsenal to Sunderland – £1.8m
Players to watch
Ben Brereton Diaz seems to set to stay with Blackburn Rovers for the upcoming campaign, despite the buzz around the Chile international ever since he stepped up to international football. The 23-year-old, born in Stoke, scored 22 goals last season but the vast majority came in the first half of the year with his form tailing off massively after Christmas, and it will be intriguing to see if he can rediscover his goalscoring form.
Gabriel Sara has joined Norwich City from Brazilian giants Sao Paolo, having scored 17 goals in 114 appearances since making his first-team debut five years ago, and could be efficient the playmaker the Canaries have needed since they lost Emiliano Buendia to Aston Villa a year ago.
Ismaila Sarr is still at Watford as things stand, and the Senegal international’s form in front of goal could define whether the Hornets are able to step straight back into the Premier League, while Sander Berge of Sheffield United is undoubtedly good enough to play at a higher leave than the Championship but will need to deliver more consistent controlling performances in midfield to help his team achieve promotion.
Title win odds
- Norwich – 6-1
- Watford – 7-1
- West Brom – 9-1
- Middlesbrough – 10-1
- Burnley – 12-1
- Sheffield United – 12-1
- Swansea – 26-1
- Coventry – 28-1
- Stoke – 33-1
- Luton – 33-1
How to watch the Championship on TV
Sky Sports holds the rights for all EFL football in the United Kingdom, and and will broadcast matches on its Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Main Event channels from the opening weekend of the 2022/23 season through to the play-off finals.
The weekly highlights package has moved for the upcoming campaign, with ITV taking over from Quest. The station will broadcast its highlights package on ITV4 at 9pm on Saturday nights.
Team-by-team guide
Birmingham City: New boss John Eustace is Blues’ ninth manager since 2016 and attempts to stabilise the perennial strugglers are still being undermined by ongoing speculation over the future ownership of the club. Squad investment has been nominal, while incomplete major repair works at St Andrew’s remain a bugbear with fans. Prediction: Relegation
Blackburn Rovers: Blackburn flirted with the play-offs last season but are a club in transition after appointing Jon Dahl Tomasson as head coach and Gregg Broughton as director of football. The departures of skipper Darragh Lenihan and on-loan players have left a big hole and others could follow. Recruitment remains key to Rovers’ chances. Prediction: Mid-table
Blackpool: The Seasiders defied the odds to steer clear of relegation trouble last season after promotion, but could find it tougher second time round. New manager Michael Appleton, back for his second spell in charge following Neil Critchley’s departure, has been forced to be patient in the transfer market in his bid to strengthen. Prediction: Survival after relegation battle
Bristol City: Season-ticket sales of more than 13,000 in early July are testament to a growing sense of optimism at Ashton Gate. The Robins finished 17th last season, but fans are hoping boss Nigel Pearson laid the foundations for success in his first full campaign in charge. Jason Euell’s arrival as first-team coach has strengthened his hand. Prediction: Mid-table
Burnley: Burnley’s six-year Premier League stay ended in May and a new era must unfold at Turf Moor. Vincent Kompany embarks on his first season as a manager in English football and it remains to be seen how the club respond after a player exodus and a raft of new signings were brought in by the former Belgium and Manchester City defender. Prediction: Play-offs
Cardiff City: Bluebirds owner Vincent Tan has entrusted manager Steve Morison with another season at the helm after he steered them clear of a relegation fight, but the pressure is on after a summer of heavy recruitment. A play-off challenge is expected, but that will depend on how quickly Morison’s new-look squad can gel. Prediction: Mid-table
Coventry City: Coventry have maintained year-on-year progress under boss Mark Robins after two promotions and last season’s 12th-placed finish. The Sky Blues harboured play-off hopes in mid-April and will be aiming to mount another challenge, but Robins’ task will only get harder unless he can strengthen while retaining his best players. Prediction: Play-off challengers
Huddersfield Town: One of last season’s biggest surprises after finishing third and falling short in the play-off final, Huddersfield have had to regroup following head coach Carlos Corberan’s shock resignation. Replacement Danny Schofield faces a huge challenge to keep them moving forward, but the Terriers appear to have recruited well again. Prediction: Mid-table
Hull City: Having survived their first season back in the second tier, Hull have reinvested the £17.1million received from Brentford for England Under-21s striker Keane Lewis-Potter in some eye-catching new recruits. Turkish owner Acun Illcali has Premier League aspirations and will hope head coach Shota Arveladze can mount a play-off challenge. Prediction: Lower mid-table
Luton Town: Luton boss Nathan Jones was named Sky Bet Championship manager of the year last season for guiding his side into the play-offs. The Hatters have laid the blueprint for smaller clubs and after more shrewd business in the summer transfer market, Jones will be striving to keep pushing the bar. Prediction: Mid-table
Middlesbrough: Boro have a serial promotion winner at the helm in Chris Wilder and missed out on a play-off place on the final day last season after he had arrived in November. The former Sheffield United boss, hellbent on a top-flight return, has the club’s full support and subject to more new signings, Boro can challenge for promotion. Prediction: Automatic promotion
Millwall: Gary Rowett signed a new contract this month after last season’s play-off hopes ended on the final day. He has led Millwall to eighth, 11th and ninth-placed finishes and with some new additions, including on-loan Leeds defenders Charlie Cresswell and Jamie Shackleton, the Lions hope to nail a top-six finish. Prediction: Play-off challengers
Norwich City: Norwich were relegated from the Premier League for the second time in three seasons but the odds are still stacked in their favour for another instant return. Parachute payments have helped Dean Smith retain one of the strongest squads in the Championship and add the likes of Brazilian Gabriel Sara and Isaac Hayden. Prediction: Automatic promotion
Preston North End: Ryan Lowe steered Preston clear of relegation danger after replacing Frankie McAvoy in December, but he is in the process of rebuilding after releasing 13 players in May. Former Liverpool midfielder Ben Woodburn and Robbie Brady have joined as free agents, but the Lilywhites could struggle in an increasingly competitive division. Prediction: Lower mid-table
Queens Park Rangers: QPR chairman Amit Bhatia heralded Michael Beale as a “spectacular coach” when appointing him as Mark Warburton’s replacement in June. Beale worked as first-team coach under Steven Gerrard at Rangers and Aston Villa, but after choosing to go it alone only time will tell if he can justify the excitement from within Loftus Road. Prediction: Lower mid-table
Reading: Paul Ince, named permanent boss after steering Reading clear of the bottom three, must defy the bookmakers’ odds if he is to do so again. Shane Long has returned to the club and Newcastle’s Jeff Hendrick has joined on loan, but the Royals lost their way under Ince’s predecessor Veljko Paunovic and are among the favourites for the drop.
Prediction: Relegation
Rotherham United: Paul Warne sealed his third promotion in five and a half years as Rotherham boss in April. The Millers bounced straight back to the Championship after relegation for a second time, but Warne has met with frustration in the summer transfer market and faces another huge task to keep them punching above their weight. Prediction: Relegation
Sheffield United: The Blades’ bid for an immediate top-flight return last season ended in play-off semi-final disappointment, but they will be challenging again under Paul Heckingbottom. More signings are expected after the arrivals of Anel Ahmedhodzic, Ciaran Clark and England Under-21 midfielder Tommy Doyle, on loan from Manchester City. Prediction: Play-offs
Stoke City: Stoke have had a major reshuffle this summer. Joe Allen, Tom Ince and Alfie Doughty were among a long list of departures, but the Potters have recruited wisely and Dwight Gayle’s arrival from Newcastle could add a cutting edge as they aim to improve on four consecutive mid-table finishes since top-flight relegation in 2018. Prediction: Mid-table
Sunderland: Sunderland’s progress under Alex Neil has been impressive and the signings of Jack Clarke and Patrick Roberts, influential in getting them out of League One, appear good business. But there has been little other transfer activity and a mid-table finish may be more realistic for fans dreaming of back-to-back promotions. Prediction: Lower mid-table
Swansea City: Russell Martin’s first season in charge ended in a disappointing 15th-placed finish after Swansea were beaten play-off finalists in the previous campaign, but they are geared for another promotion push. After leaving Stoke, Allen has returned to the Liberty Stadium as one of several summer recruits with the aim of ending the Swans’ five-year Premier League exile. Prediction: Play-off challengers
Watford: Watford moved swiftly to install Rob Edwards as manager in May following their second Premier League relegation in three seasons. Much depends on how the Hornets react to the likely departures of Ismaila Sarr and Emmanuel Dennis, but Edwards, who guided Forest Green to the League Two title, is aiming for back-to-back promotions. Prediction: Play-offs
West Bromwich Albion: Last season was one for West Brom to forget but Steve Bruce, appointed in February, has added John Swift, Jed Wallace and Okay Yokuslu to his squad while Daryl Dike’s return to fitness will be a major boost. With more new signings expected, the Baggies boss will target his fifth Premier League promotion as manager. Prediction: Play-offs
Wigan Athletic: The Latics’ return to the second tier, two years after a points deduction for going into administration had led to relegation, has been followed by reports of more cash-flow problems, which the current owners have denied. But no new signings had arrived by late July and another survival battle beckons. Prediction: Survival after relegation battle
Additional reporting by Press Association
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