The new term kicks off this weekend with every Championship, League One and League Two game live on Sky Sports this weekend. From promotion favourites and new managers to transfer spending and a big play-off change, we take a look at some of the key stories... Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player The most significant alteration to domestic football in decades has happened over the summer, with the Championship play-offs expanding from a top-six spot to a top-eight position this season, presenting clubs with more opportunity for promotion.
It did not take long for West Ham and Wolves to be installed as favourites for an immediate return to the Premier League. The Hammers are playing at this level for the first time in 14 years, and have kept hold of head coach Nuno Espirito Santo and key asset Jarrod Bowen. Both are familiar with this level.
Nuno won the Championship - with Wolves - in 2018, while Bowen played in it with Hull City before he left for east London. Wolves, meanwhile, replaced boss Rob Edwards with the relatively unknown quantity of Cesar Peixoto in the summer. But they began with an underwhelming 2-2 draw at home to Blackburn in the curtain-raiser on Friday night.
It is Burnley where a bit more uncertainty lingers. They have appointed a new head coach in Nicky Hayen, a 45-year-old Belgian who has previously managed Club Brugge and Genk. But it is worth remembering the Clarets have won promotion in their last two Championship seasons - both times with 100+ points.
They are experts at this level. According to the Sky Sports supercomputer, West Ham and Wolves are the two favourites, with Burnley in fourth just behind Middlesbrough... It was some campaign for Middlesbrough last season.
They spent more days in the top two than any other club, but managed to finish fifth. They were then the victim of the Spygate saga, lost to Southampton in the play-off semi-finals, were reinstated to the final, then lost at Wembley to a stoppage-time Oli McBurnie goal for Hull City. But any potential hangover looks like it has already been left behind with some of their work in the transfer window.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
