Championship 2023-24: A club-by-club breakdown of all 24 contenders and where they might finish
- Planet Sport writer
- 3 August 2023
The Sky Bet Championship returns on Friday night with the promise of another season of drama and twists and turns and we take a look at each of the clubs competing and how they might fair this season.
Leicester, Southampton and Leeds will be looking to bounce straight back to the Premier League, with Ipswich, Sheffield Wednesday and Plymouth hoping to make a splash following their promotion from League One last term.
Here, we judge each team ahead of the 2023-24 campaign.
Birmingham
After several years of struggle, hopes of a positive season will be high after the recent takeover. John Eustace is a promising young manager who is steering the club in the right direction and has made some good signings.
Prediction: Mid-table
Blackburn
Blackburn fell just short of the play-offs last season after final-day results went against them and for them to challenge again this time will represent another excellent season, especially after losing Ben Brereton Diaz.
Prediction: Mid-table
Bristol City
The Robins have turned into a perennial mid-table second-tier side, and, without any real eye-catching summer signings, that is probably the best they can expect again.
Prediction: Mid-table
Cardiff
The Welsh club had a difficult season last term and flirted with relegation. They will hope new boss Erol Bulut and a homecoming for Aaron Ramsey can lead them up the table this time around, but it will be a struggle.
Prediction: Relegation
Coventry
Mark Robins guided Coventry to within one win of a Premier League return last season as they lost the play-off final to Luton. The loss of star striker Viktor Gyokeres means a repeat performance looks difficult.
Prediction: Mid-table
Huddersfield
Neil Warnock led the Great Escape' for Huddersfield last season and was persuaded to stay on as yet another retirement was cancelled. The veteran boss should keep his side away from relegation danger.
Prediction: Mid-table
Hull
The Tigers finished comfortably in mid-table last season amid fears of relegation. They have strengthened with the signing of Liam Delap from Manchester City but will be set for a bottom-half finish.
Prediction: Mid-table
Ipswich
Ipswich sauntered to promotion in League One last season and in Kieran McKenna have one of the highly-regarded coaches in the game. Confidence in Suffolk is high but it remains to be seen how their players adapt to the step up in quality.
Prediction: Mid-table
Leeds
After three seasons in the top flight, Leeds are back in familiar territory but it has been a summer of change. Daniel Farke is the new manager and a host of players have left. Incomings have not been so prominent, so an immediate return to the Premier League looks unlikely.
Prediction: Mid-table
Leicester
Six years after making the Champions League, Leicester are in the second tier after a woeful 2022-23 campaign. Despite losing James Maddison and Harvey Barnes, they have recruited excellently and should make an instant return under new boss Enzo Maresca.
Prediction: Promotion
Middlesbrough
Michael Carrick did one of the jobs of the season last term to turn Boro into play-off chasers and he will be expected to progress again. There have been plenty of incomings and they can have an excellent campaign.
Prediction: Promotion
Millwall
Keeping Zian Flemming will be pivotal for Millwall if they are to recreate last season's play-off charge, where they missed out on the top six on the final day.
Prediction: Mid-table
Norwich
The Canaries endured a disappointing campaign last time out and will be hoping for better. David Wagner will need new arrivals Shane Duffy, Ashley Barnes and Jack Stacey to produce the goods.
Prediction: Mid-table
Plymouth
Back in the Championship after a decade away, Plymouth will be relishing a return to the limelight. Boss Steven Schumacher is highly rated and their home form could underpin an impressive campaign.
Prediction: Mid-table
Preston
A late-season drop off saw Preston miss out on the chance of the play-offs last term as they had to settle for an eighth successive mid-table finish. There is not much to suggest that 2023-24 will do anything but bring a ninth.
Prediction: Mid-table
QPR
After a near relegation miss last season, it will be another battle for Gareth Ainsworth at Loftus Road this time around. Losing goalkeeper Seny Dieng will be a big blow and Rangers will do well to stay out of the bottom three.
Prediction: Relegation
Rotherham
The Millers finally snapped their yo-yo status last term to avoid second-tier relegation for the first time in four attempts. There is real hope within the club that they can kick on and establish themselves and while it will be another battle, they should have enough to keep their heads above water.
Prediction: Mid-table
Sheffield Wednesday
It has been a turbulent time following League One promotion last term, with the club parting with Darren Moore. Xisco Munoz came in to replace him and while he has experience of guiding Watford to promotion at this level, it looks far more likely he will be dealing at the other end of the table with the Owls.
Prediction: Relegation
Southampton
Russell Martin is the man charged with leading Southampton back to the Premier League. He has lost some of his better players, with Romeo Lavia and James Ward-Prowse also set to leave, but he has enough to mount a top-six challenge.
Prediction: Play-offs
Stoke
Stoke fans will be hoping that this year is the one they finally make a strong push to get back into the Premier League. They look to have recruited very well and could make the top six.
Prediction: Play-offs
Sunderland
Sunderland will be looking to go again following last season's play-off heartache, where they lost in the semi-final. In Tony Mowbray they have a man who knows his way around this division, but competition for the top six will be tough.
Prediction: Mid-table
Swansea
Russell Martin's former club hired Michael Duff as his replacement and an excellent season could be on the cards. They have spent fairly heavily in pursuit of a return to the top flight.
Prediction: Play-offs
Watford
It remains to be seen how long Valerien Ismael will be given at Watford - it could be two games or it could be all season. They have cleared the decks of some dead wood this summer so should challenge for the play-offs.
Prediction: Play-offs
West Brom
Hopes that West Brom could produce a promotion push this season seemed to have been dashed by them making just two signings to date, with Jeremy Sarmiento and Josh Maja coming in. More could follow but it will take Carlos Corberan to work his magic if they are going to do anything special.
Prediction: Mid-table.
