Championship Promotion Contenders

The new Championship season kicks off this weekend and there will be a number of clubs looking to secure promotion to the Premier League.

Let's see which clubs I think will be in the mix for promotion this season.

Automatic Hopefuls

IPSWICH

Out of the sides that came down, Ipswich look the best equipped to bounce straight back up as the majority of their squad were part of the side that got promoted two seasons ago, and they still have manager Kieran McKenna in charge. If they can keep the majority of their squad together, they should definitely go straight back up.

PREDICTION: Promoted

COVENTRY

Frank Lampard completely turned things around at Coventry when he arrived last season as he took them from 17th to the play offs in a matter of months. Lampard will have had a full summer to bring in his own players and a full pre-season to build the team in his image and if his side can carry the form they were in towards the end of last season, they definitely have a shot of automatic promotion.

PREDICTION: Promoted

Play Off Contenders

NORWICH

Norwich were easily the biggest underperformers last season as they finished 13th despite being one of the highest goal scorers in the league. New boss Liam Manning led Bristol City into the play offs last season and with a good and talented squad at his disposal, they should get into the play offs.

PREDICTION: Play Offs

SHEFFIELD UNITED

Sheffield United were beaten in the play off final last season by eventual winners Sunderland following a late-season collapse which saw them drop out of the automatic promotion places. New boss Ruben Selles will have big shoes to fill in replacing the ever so popular Chris Wilder, but he did do a great job at Hull towards the end of last season and with a good squad at his disposal, the Blades should look to give the play offs another crack.

PREDICTION: Play Offs

MILLWALL

Millwall have been a side who have been knocking in the door of the play offs in recent seasons and they were only just two points off those spots last season. With a good manager in charge in Alex Neil, who knows the Championship very well, and a strong squad at their disposal, they should definitely go one better and finish in the play off places.

PREDICTION: Play Offs

BLACKBURN

Blackburn overperformed last season as they finished just a place and two points outside the play offs after being in a relegation battle the season before. There are still issues at the club behind the scenes, but they do have a good manager in Valerian Ishmael who led Barnsley into the play offs a few seasons ago, and a number of players who suit his style of play. Because of this I think they can go one better and finish in the play off spots.

PREDICTION: Play Offs

Outsiders

WEST BROM

West Brom had a disappointing season last season as a poor second half of the season saw them fall out of contention for a play off finish. New boss Ryan Mason will need to be given time to get his methods across to the players because of this being his first job in management, but with a decent group of players at his disposal, the Baggies should at least be there or thereabouts in terms of pushing for the play offs.

PREDICTION: Top Half Finish

SOUTHAMPTON

Promotion will of course be the target for Southampton this season as they've just come down. But after an absolute disaster of a campaign in the Premier League last season, it could take them time to get back into the habit of winning football matches after losing so many last season. They do have a good manager in charge in Will Still, who did a good job over in France, but the Championship is a tough league and will need to come to grips with it.

PREDICTION: Top Half Finish

MIDDLESBROUGH

Middlesbrough looked well on course for a play off finish in the first half of last season, only for them to fall away badly in the second half of the season which led to Michael Carrick getting the sack. New boss Rob Edwards did lead Luton into the Premier League a few seasons ago and could take this group of players close, but I think they'll fall just short of the play offs.

PREDICTION: Top Half Finish

LEICESTER

Promotion will of course be the target for Leicester this season as they're a newly demoted team. But after a terrible season both on and off the pitch in the Premier League last season, this season will be more about stability and undergoing a proper restart. New boss Marti Cifuentes did do a great job at QPR in each of the last two seasons, but he's never managed a club with high expectations and will need time to get his methods across to the players.

PREDICTION: Top Half Finish