Sheffield United learned their 2026/27 Championship fate this afternoon with the EFL fixtures being released.
The Blades will begin the campaign at home to Birmingham City followed by a Welsh double-header away to Swansea City and Cardiff City.
After a disappointing season last time around, United will be looking to challenge at the top end of the table again and they will be helped by the fact that the top eight teams make it in the play-offs next season.
The bookmakers have wasted no time in offering odds on winning the Championship and there are no major surprises at either end of the scale.
Betfair ambassador Alan Shearer has close links to a couple of his former clubs in the Championship this season and said: “The teams that were relegated to the Championship can go straight back up but whether all three will or not, I am not quite sure. It looks a bit of a mess to me at Wolves with what has gone on recently, it will be a tough ask for them to come back up.
“We have seen, and history will tell us, they are more well-equipped than the other teams already in that league, but we also know it is a bloody tough league to get out. I’d be surprised if all three came back up.
“I would genuinely like to see Middlesbrough come up because I think to have three north-east derbies would be great for the area and that would be the only reason I would want Middlesbrough to come up.
“I have no other affection for any of the other teams other than Blackburn, but I don't see them having a promotion push at all. They flirted with relegation again last season, but it is not the club it once was when I was there many years ago.
“If there were two clubs, without doubt Blackburn and Southampton, even with the situation that got messy for Saints last season but my two former clubs I would love to see come up as well as Middlesbrough.”
1. Lincoln City 150/1
Fresh from promotion from League One and with a new managerial partnership in Chris Cohen and Tom Shaw it's no suprise to see the Imps down the list here | AFP via Getty Images
2. Charlton Athletic 80/1
Charlton finished just six points from the relegation zone last season and they are tipped to be down at the bottom end of the table again this time around | Getty Images
3. Bolton Wanderers 66/1
Bolton are another side who have just made a return to the second tier and expectations at this stage are that they will find it difficult in the Championship | Getty Images
4. Preston North End 66/1
Preston started last seaosn well but fell away badly and Paul Heckingbottom's side ended up in mid-table but they are being tipped for a potentially worse campaign this time around | Getty Images