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With the Championship season drawing ever closer, Jamie McCreedy has given his league table for the 2025/26 season, starting at the top.
1. Ipswich Town
With Kieran McKenna at the helm, anything is possible. They just needed to strengthen the backline, and they did bring Ashley Young to the club. Ipswich are not finished in the market just yet, eyeing up talent like Hayden Hackney of Middlesbrough.
2. Southampton
What’s new about Southampton this year is the manager. Will Still was destined to land a role in England, and he now has the task of leading the Saints up to the big time. Still has players in his squad older than him, but he has a high track record in France that he has brought with him.
3. Leicester City
Relegation from the Premier League with a high budget came as some surprise; however, their form was horrific, only winning six league games all season. The side are becoming a yo-yo club quite quickly, and with a large portion of the squad being retained, they will be aiming for an immediate return.
4. Sheffield United
Rubén Sellés is taking the jump to a side who should be in a better position — they’re expecting to go up. Losing Chris Wilder and key loan players could prove costly; however, the play-off finalists of last year have to start strong.
Hull City Manager Ruben Selles is present during the Sky Bet Championship match between Sunderland and Hull City at the Stadium Of Light in Sunderland, England, on February 22, 2025. (Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
5. Norwich City
Norwich have struggled in recent seasons to bounce back up to the Premier League, and with Liam Manning’s promotion charge with Bristol City last season, Norwich will look for a high finish come next spring. Josh Sargent and Borja Sainz bring attacking threat and will be crucial.
6. Coventry City
Some felt as if Frank Lampard was a strange appointment as manager, but last season showed that he could lead a charge for a top-six finish once again. But the competition is incredibly tough. Having retained a strong core of players, Lampard will look to continue the highs of last season.
7. Watford
Yes, Watford are unpredictable; however, this side full of new recruits has what it takes to reach the play-offs — but in classic Hornet fashion, they will just miss out. New manager Paulo Pezzolano is certainly someone to keep an eye out for. He is dynamic in his formations and has three promotions in three different countries. He has what it takes.
8. Bristol City
The Championship is filled with young managers who have the potential for success, and Bristol losing Liam Manning to Norwich will be a major blow. However, Austrian Gerhard Struber is tactically smart and has already managed Barnsley and, more recently, FC Köln, guiding them back into the Bundesliga.
9. Middlesbrough
With interest growing in players like Hayden Hackney and Dael Fry, who are crucial in the backline, Middlesbrough will need to act rapidly to tie them down to new deals or find replacements as the new season draws closer. They are expected to finish comfortably in the middle of the table, but they have a strong enough squad to challenge the top six.
10. Queens Park Rangers
QPR will be the surprise package this season. They have undoubtedly improved, with Ilias Chair, Karamoko Dembélé and Kwame Poku remaining in the side, with Poku signing on a free transfer from Peterborough. Steve Bould, who worked at Arsenal as head defensive coach, will be an intriguing choice, as QPR struggled to keep the ball out under Martí Cifuentes.
11. West Bromwich Albion
A side battling it out in the Premier League and now finds itself stuck in the second tier has a new manager in town. Ryan Mason, formerly of Tottenham, has something to prove as a manager. West Brom don’t have a small budget and are expected to do well, so it’s the perfect place for Mason to begin his managerial reign.
12. Hull City
Many people don’t hold high hopes for Hull, considering they narrowly avoided the drop last season, but this side is enthralling to watch. Mohamed Belloumi is a talented player, showing what he brought in limited games last season. The squad is young and hungry to prove themselves.
13. Birmingham City
Newly promoted, but Birmingham have been backed by superstar owners. Jay Stansfield was phenomenal last season, but the Championship is where the real quality is. Momentum into this division will be crucial, having walked League One.
14. Portsmouth
With games spared last season, Portsmouth defied the odds and remained in the Championship. Young manager John Mousinho has been incredible, and the sky is the limit.
15. Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn would have secured play-offs last season had they not drawn on the final day of the season. They had a late surge towards the top. That fall from grace will be a crucial moment to forget if they are to push on this season.
16. Millwall
Millwall are physically strong and hard to beat; however, the goals often dry up and it is a huge weakness of the side. If they invested in that key area, they could find themselves — at a push — directing themselves to play-offs.
17. Derby County
The side have strengthened in key areas including Carlton Morris, Patrick Agyemang and Rhian Brewster, who finds himself in a hard position having scored eight goals since 2020 in the league. Derby have certainly improved the calibre inside the club, and with a quality manager, they could be a surprise package.
18. Swansea City
Snoop Dogg and Luka Modrić have invested in the Welsh side, and the investment has led to six summer signings — including West Ham youngster Kaelan Casey — as the most common backline stars are out with injuries. However, with the youngster joining, it’s not the classiest person you would expect to enter the club.
Luka Modric of Tottenham Hotspur (Photo by AMA/Corbis via Getty Images)
19. Preston North End
Preston are regular holders of a mid-table spot, but with no big transfer moves made and with Freddie Woodman departing for Liverpool, the club have big boots to fill if they want that middle ground spot. The side has remained similar and chemistry could help them pull through.
20. Stoke City
Inconsistent performances last season and a side that is dropping down the pecking order every season.
21. Wrexham
After the hype of the Hollywood owners and three consecutive promotions, Wrexham are in the second tier for the first time in 43 years. Wrexham will find a way to survive, and with the marquee signing being Conor Coady, he will bring experience to the back line.
22. Charlton Athletic
Nathan Jones is back managing in the Championship once again, after securing promotion via the play-offs last season. The side has had its fair share of investments, with one of those being Charlie Kelman, who has been quality for QPR in previous seasons.
23. Oxford United
There have been concerns around the lack of attacking output, and that is ultimately what wins you football matches. Alongside operating on a smaller budget compared to the powerhouses in the division this season, Oxford narrowly avoided the drop last season with a late surge in form.
24. Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday have had a troubled time, losing several key first-team players and, more importantly, losing Danny Röhl as first-team manager after guiding the side to a mid-table finish in a turbulent time. The club are also under a transfer ban, meaning no new players will be with the new manager.
