The Championship

Season Preview - Introduction

It's that time again. The husbands have endured countless their Saturday shopping trips, fed up with getting under the feet of their loved ones. Yet on their horizon is the start of the new Football League calendar. The push for promotion, mid-table sanctuary and survival begins in earnest from 7th August.

Football League coverage is at its highest point yet, with the BBC also broadcasting ten live Championship matches over the course of the campaign. This combined with Sky Sports’ extensive exposure, means the spotlight will be intensified on many of our regions’ teams.

I begin my season previews with an in-depth look at The Championship. With the teams beginning to bring in reinforcements it is a particularly busy time for players, agents, and officials alike.

Naturally there has been significant talk regarding the relegation of Newcastle United. The Magpies’ fall into the second tier was unsurprising after a lacklustre season with too many highly-paid underachievers at St James’s Park. The uncertainty regarding the ownership of the club is also beginning to take its toll, with no permanent manager in place and time ticking away before their opening day trip to West Bromwich Albion.

Albion themselves were relegated from the top flight along with Middlesbrough and the trio are the current bookies’ favourites to make a swift return. However, you and I know that there will be a number of twists and turns over the course of the season. Who would have guessed Burnley would upset the applecart by securing promotion by the Playoffs last season?

Roy Keane’s arrival at Ipswich Town appears to have made an immediate impact. Keane’s new side finished last season strongly with two league wins and they are currently the fourth favourites to gain a one-way ticket to the promised land of the Premiership. Owner, Marcus Evans has backed Keane with significant transfer funds this summer and the Tractor Boys will be there or thereabouts undoubtedly.

Another club with deep pockets is West London outfit, Queens Park Rangers. The R’s new boss, Jim Magilton - ironically fired by Ipswich at the end of last season – will be hoping to be given the time and money to push Rangers into a position of strength to challenge for promotion.

It will be interesting to see how the likes of newly promoted Peterborough United cope with the demands of second tier football. The Posh have secured consecutive promotions from League’s One and Two and have promising

Old Rivals Keane

Old Rivals Shearer

manager, Darren Ferguson at the helm.

There are a number of footballing characters returning to the division in 2009/10. The most notable arrival is that of Ian Holloway, who returned to management with Blackpool in June. The Bristolian has been playing the punditry field for the last few months but has been charged with the remit of keeping the Tangerines in the Championship. Portuguese icon, Paolo Sousa, also remains in English football following his appointment as Roberto Martinez’ replacement at Swansea City. The silky smooth boss will be looking to maintain the Swans’ current playing traditions of attractive, passing football.

The highest profile head-on collision could occur if Alan Shearer becomes Newcastle’s permanent boss. United’s double-header fixtures with Ipswich could have extra spice with Keane and Shearer set to lock horns – this time on the touchline.

Please tune in over the next couple of weeks as I submit in-depth team previews on each and every Championship team.

Let the games begin....

By Lewis Mitchell