The new season kicks-off on Friday, and we continue our countdown with a club-by-club guide.
A club-by-club guide ahead of the new Championship season
The 2012/13 Championship campaign gets underway in just a matter of hours and if it is anywhere near as good as last season, then we are in for a treat. The magnificent spectacle that was the London 2012 Olympics has meant a change in structure for the new season, with both the Football League and Premier League kicking off on the same weekend.
This year's Championship promises to be a close run thing, with a host of promotion contenders vying for a shot at the big time. Wolverhampton Wanderers, Blackburn Rovers and Bolton Wanderers all dropped down to the second tier last term and they will be looking to bounce back at the first time of asking. Charlton Athletic, Sheffield Wednesday and Huddersfield Town have joined the ranks hoping to first stay up, then push towards the top-half of the table.
Bolton are the early favourites to clinch the Championship title, with boss Owen Coyle assembling a young squad, mixed with some experienced heads, as he tries to bring success to the Reebok Stadium. Matt Mills is a quality player at this level and the addition of Keith Andrews will bring energy to the midfield.
Like Bolton, Blackburn will be targeting promotion and Rovers are heavily fancied thanks to their summer recruitment drive. Steve Kean will be hoping veteran frontman Nuno Gomes can still get goals at this level, while Danny Murphy arrives with bags of ability and experience.
Birmingham City could have an outside chance of breaking into the top two after making some shrewd signings. Peter Lovenkrands, Hayden Mullins and Darren Ambrose have all made the move to St Andrew's.
While the battle at the top of the table looks set to be as competitive as ever, so does the scrap to avoid the drop. Barnsley only just stayed up last season, finishing 21st, and Keith Hill has a lack of options up top after losing new signing Mido for three months due to injury.
Bristol City, Peterborough United and Crystal Palace are other possible relegation candidates. Palace have a thin squad and have lost key players in Ambrose, Nathaniel Clyne and Sean Scannell. Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson did well last year on a tight budget, but they will do well to replicate those efforts this season. Bristol City boss Derek McInnes managed to keep the Robins up last term but, with limited additions made this summer, they could have another battle on their hands.
BARNSLEY
Manager: Keith Hill
Position last season: 21st
Nickname: The Tykes
Ground: Oakwell
Capacity: 23,009
Players in: Lee Collins (Port Vale, undisclosed), Kelvin Etuhu (Portsmouth, free), Jacob Mellis (Chelsea, free), Mido (Zamalek, free), Ben Alnwick (Tottenham, free), Toni Silva (Liverpool, free), Tomasz Cywka (Reading, free), Marlon Harewood (free)
Players out: David Cotterill (Doncaster, free), Jay McEveley (Swindon, free), Jacob Butterfield (Norwich, undisclosed), Nathan Doyle (Bradford, free), Alistair Taylor, David Preece and Andy Gray (all released)
Key man: Luke Steele
Chances: More wheeling and dealing in the transfer market for manager Keith Hill, but the Tykes are set for another tough season.
Sky bet odds: 200/1
BIRMINGHAM
Manager: Lee Clark
Position last season: 4th
Nickname: Blues
Ground: St Andrew's
Capacity: 30,009
Players in: Peter Lovenkrands (Newcastle, free), David Lucas (Rochdale, free), Hayden Mullins (Portsmouth, undisclosed), Darren Ambrose (Crystal Palace, undisclosed), Ravel Morrison (West Ham, season-long loan), Ben Gordon (Chelsea, loan)
Players out: Jordon Mutch (Cardiff, undisclosed), Ben Foster (West Brom, undisclosed), Luke Hubbins (AFC Telford, free), Caleb Folan, Enric Valles, Cian Hughton and Ashley Sammons (released)
Key man: Curtis Davies
Chances: Birmingham will be hoping they can improve on last season's play-off semi-final defeat with new manager Clark at the helm. Clark has added Lovenkrands, Ambrose and Morrison to his already talented squad to aid the promotion push.
Sky bet odds: 16/1
BLACKBURN
Manager: Steve Kean
Position last season: 19th in Premier League
Nickname: Rovers
Ground: Ewood Park
Capacity: 31,154
Players in: Danny Murphy (Fulham, free), Leon Best (Newcastle, £3million), Nuno Gomes (Braga, free), Fabio Nunes (Portimonense, undisclosed), Paulo Jorge (FC Porto B, undisclosed), Edinho (Olhanense, £500,000), Dickson Etuhu (Fulham, £1million), Colin Kazim-Richards (Galatasaray, loan)
Players out: Ayegbeni Yakubu (Guangzhou R&F, undisclosed), Ryan Edwards (Rochdale, six-month youth loan), Junior Hoilett (QPR, free), Matthew Pearson (Rochdale, free), Jackson Ramm (Colchester, free), Michel Salgado, Vince Grella, Zac Aley, Jamie Maclaren and Herold Goulon (all released), Myles Anderson (Aldershot, loan), Nick Blackman (Sheffield United, undisclosed), Jordan Slew (Oldham, loan)
Key man: Danny Murphy
Chances: Following turmoil on and off the pitch as Rovers were relegated from the Premier League last season, Kean has enjoyed the backing of owners Venky's in the transfer market. Promotion is the expectation but a serious pre-season injury to Best could be a significant blow.
Sky bet odds: 10/1
BLACKPOOL
Manager: Ian Holloway
Position last season: 5th
Nickname: The Seasiders, the Tangerines
Ground: Bloomfield Road
Capacity: 16,220 (under development)
Players in: Jake Caprice (Crystal Palace, free), Isaiah Osbourne (Hibernian, undisclosed), Scott Robertson (Dundee United, free), Tiago Gomes (free), Adda Djeziri (free), Alberto Noguera (free), James Caton (free)
Players out: Lomana LuaLua (Karabukspor, free), Brett Ormerod (Wrexham, free), Daniel Bogdanovic and Stephen Husband (released), Matt Hill (Sheffield United, free), Keith Southern (Huddersfield, undisclosed)
Key man: Tom Ince
Chances: Ian Holloway's side are expected to be in contention once again following play-off heartache against West Ham, having kept hold of livewire wingers Ince and Matt Phillips.
Sky bet odds: 18/1
BOLTON
Manager: Owen Coyle
Position last season: 18th in Premier League
Nickname: The Trotters
Ground: Reebok Stadium
Capacity: 28,723
Players in: Keith Andrews (West Brom, free), Matt Mills (Leicester, undisclosed), Joe McKee (free) Andy Lonergan (Leeds, undisclosed), Benik Afobe (Arsenal, season-long loan)
Players out: Jussi Jaaskelainen (West Ham, free), Robbie Blake (Doncaster, free), Rhys Bennett (Rochdale, free), Tope Obadeyi (Rio Ave, free), Mark Connolly (Crawley, free), Ivan Klasnic, Gretar Steinsson, Paul Robinson, Sean Davis, Ricardo Gardner and Dino Fazlic (released), Tom Eckersley (Accrington, free), Fabrice Muamba (retired)
Key man: Martin Petrov
Chances: Many people's favourites for promotion having retained most of a youthful Premier League squad from last term, while Mills and Andrews are shrewd additions at Championship level.
Sky bet odds: 13/2
BRIGHTON
Manager: Gus Poyet
Position last season: 10th
Nickname: The Seagulls
Ground: American Express Community Stadium
Capacity: 22,374
Players in: Tomasz Kuszczak (Manchester United, free), Bruno Saltor (Valencia, free), Wayne Bridge (Manchester City, loan), Andrew Crofts (Norwich, undisclosed)
Players out: Alan Navarro (Swindon, free), Michael Poke (Torquay, free), David Gonzalez and Leon Redwood (both released)
Key man: Vicente
Chances: Having sorted his goalkeeping problems by bringing in Kuszczak and keeping hold of talented Spanish playmaker Vicente, Poyet has a side capable of reaching the play-offs at least.
Sky bet odds: 16/1BRISTOL CITY
Manager: Derek McInnes
Position last season: 20th
Nickname: The Robins
Ground: Ashton Gate
Capacity: 21,497
Players in: Jody Morris (St Johnstone, free), Paul Anderson (Nottingham Forest, free), Tom Heaton (Cardiff, free),
Players out: Jamal Campbell-Ryce (Notts County, free), Jamie McAllister (Yeovil, free), David James, David Clarkson, Christian Ribeiro, Marlon Jackson, Danny Ball and Henry Muggeridge (all released)
Key man: Albert Adomah
Chances: McInnes is regarded as one of the most highly-rated managers in Britain and enjoyed instant success at Ashton Gate as he steered the Robins clear of relegation last season. He will be hoping for a higher finish in his first full campaign in charge.
Sky bet odds: 66/1
BURNLEY
Manager: Eddie Howe
Position last season: 13th
Nickname: The Clarets
Ground: Turf Moor
Capacity: 22,546
Players in: Luke O'Neill (Mansfield, undisclosed), George Porter (Leyton Orient, free), Jason Shackell (Derby, undisclosed), Joseph Mills (Reading, season-long loan), Sam Vokes (Wolves, undisclosed), Brian Stock (Doncaster, undisclosed)
Players out: Jay Rodriguez (Southampton, undisclosed), Andre Amougou, Clarke Carlisle, Brian
Easton, Alex-Ray Harvey, Joe McKee, Dominic Knowles, Neil Yadolahi, David Lynch and Ross Wilson (all released), Joe Jackson and Tom Anderson (both AFC Barrow, loan).
Key man: Charlie Austin
Chances: Howe's youthful squad will strive for greater consistency and are outsiders for a play-off push, although the pressure will be on Austin to fill the void in attack left by Rodriguez's move to Southampton.
Sky bet odds: 33/1
CARDIFF
Manager: Malky Mackay
Position last season: 6th
Nickname: The Bluebirds
Ground: Cardiff City Stadium
Capacity: 26,828
Players in: Joe Lewis (Peterborough, free), Jordon Mutch (Birmingham, undisclosed), Kim Bokyung (Cerezo Osaka, undisclosed), Heidar Helguson (QPR, undisclosed), Craig Bellamy (Liverpool, free)
Players out: Aaron Wildig (Shrewsbury, free), Tom Heaton, Lee Naylor, Paul Quinn, Jon Meades, Alex Evans and Jordan Santiago (all released), Anthony Gerrard (Huddersfield, £350,000)
Key man: Peter Whittingham
Chances: After missing out on promotion to the Premier League yet again, manager Mackay will be hoping to finally be the man to lead the club into the top flight. The Bluebirds have ditched their famous blue kit in favour of red - could that be their lucky charm?
Sky bet odds: 11/1
CHARLTON
Manager: Chris Powell
Position last season: 1st in League One
Nickname: The Addicks
Ground: The Valley
Capacity: 27,111
Players in: Lawrie Wilson (Stevenage, undisclosed), Jordan Cook (Sunderland, free), Slaim Kerkar (Rangers, free)
Players out: Gary Doherty (Wycombe, free), Freddie Warren (Barnet, free), Jason Euell, Mikel Alonso and Tosan Popo (all released)
Key man: Johnnie Jackson
Chances: A quiet summer down at The Valley following last year's overhaul, but boss Powell believes his League One champions can make the step up, and he should be proved right.
Sky bet odds: 25/1
CRYSTAL PALACE
Manager: Dougie Freedman
Position last season: 17th
Nickname: The Eagles
Ground: Selhurst Park
Capacity: 26,309
Players in: Joel Ward (Portsmouth, £400,000), Aaron Martin (Southampton, season-long loan), Aaron Wilbraham (Norwich, free), Peter Ramage (free)
Players out: Anthony Gardner (Sheffield Wednesday, free), Sean Scannell (Huddersfield, undisclosed), Darren Ambrose (Birmingham, undisclosed), Lee Hills (Stevenage, free), Calvin Andrew, Nathaniel Pinney, Jake Caprice and Charlie Holness (all released), Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton, undisclosed)
Key man: Wilfried Zaha
Chances: Losing Ambrose and Clyne would be a blow to any club in the Championship but Palace's squad looks worryingly thin, although there are plenty of youngsters hoping to follow in Zaha's footsteps.
Sky bet odds: 80/1
DERBY
Manager: Nigel Clough
Position last season: 12th
Nickname: The Rams
Ground: Pride Park
Capacity: 33,597
Players in: Michael Jacobs (Northampton, undisclosed compensation), Paul Coutts (Preston,
undisclosed), Richard Keogh (Coventry, undisclosed), James O'Connor (Doncaster, undisclosed),
Michael Hoganson (Newcastle, released)
Players out: Paul Green (Leeds, free), James Severn (Scunthorpe, free), Chris Maguire (Sheffield Wednesday, free), Lee Croft (Oldham, season-long loan), Miles Addison (Bournemouth, undisclosed), Jason Shackell (Burnley, undisclosed), Callum Ball (Coventry, season-long loan)
Key man: Ben Davies
Chances: Progression under Nigel Clough continued last season and after strengthening his defensive options this summer, the Rams boss will be looking for his side to break into the top 10.
Sky bet odds :40/1
HUDDERSFIELD
Manager: Simon Grayson
Position last season: 4th
Nickname: The Terriers
Ground: Galpharm Stadium
Capacity: 24,500
Players in: Sean Scannell (Crystal Palace, undisclosed), Paul Dixon (free, Dundee United), Oliver Norwood (Manchester United, free), Adam Clayton (Leeds, undisclosed), Joel Lynch (Nottingham Forest, free), Anthony Gerrard (Cardiff, £350,000), Keith Southern (Blackpool, undisclosed)
Players out: Danny Cadamarteri (Carlisle, free), Tommy Miller (Swindon, free), Gary Roberts (Swindon, free), Nathan Clarke (Leyton Orient, free), Aidan Chippendale (Accrington, free), Gary Naysmith, Greg Pearson and Simon Thomas (all released), Anthony Kay (MK Dons, free)
Key man: Jordan Rhodes
Chances: Back in the second tier for first time since 2001 and strengthened enough to stay out of trouble.
Sky bet odds: 33/1
HULL CITY
Manager: Steve Bruce
Position last season: 8th
Nickname: The Tigers
Ground: KC Stadium
Capacity: 25,586
Players in: Eldin Jakupovic (Aris, released), Ben Amos (Manchester United, season-long loan), Nick Proschwitz (SC Paderborn, £2.5million), Abdoulaye Faye (West Ham, free), Sone Aluko (Rangers, free), Alex Bruce (Leeds, free)
Players out: Will Atkinson (Bradford, free), Kevin Kilbane (Coventry, free), Mark Cullen (Bury, loan)
Key man: Robert Koren
Chances: The Allam family who own the club have backed new boss Bruce and expect a play-off finish at least.
Sky bet odds: 25/1
IPSWICH
Manager: Paul Jewell
Position last season: 15th
Nickname: The Tractor Boys
Ground: Portman Road
Capacity: 30,311
Players in: Elliott Hewitt (Macclesfield, undisclosed), Luke Chambers (Nottingham Forest, free), Scott
Loach (Watford, undisclosed)
Players out: Grant Leadbitter (Middlesbrough, free), Richard Wright (Preston, free), Lee Bowyer, Ibrahima Sonko and Cody Cropper (all released), Mark Kennedy (retired)
Key man: Tommy Smith
Chances: Jewell will be looking for his Ipswich squad to improve on the two mid-table finishes he has overseen so far. Having only brought three new players to Portman Road, he will need a good start to target a top-half place.
Sky bet odds: 33/1
LEEDS
Manager: Neil Warnock
Position last season: 14th
Nickname: The Whites
Ground: Elland Road
Capacity: 37,697
Players in: Jason Pearce (Portsmouth, £500,000), Adam Drury (Norwich, free), Paul Green (Derby, free), Paddy Kenny (QPR, £500,000), Andy Gray (Barnsley, free), Jamie Ashdown (Portsmouth, free), Luke Varney (Portsmouth, free), David Norris (Portsmouth, free), Lee Peltier (Leicester, undisclosed), Rodolph Austin (SK Brann, free), El Hadji Diouf (free)
Players out: Maik Taylor (Millwall, free), Lloyd Sam, Mikael Forssell and Danny Webber (all released), Adam Clayton (Huddersfield, undisclosed), Andy Lonergan (Bolton, undisclosed), Robert Snodgrass (Norwich, £3million), Alex Bruce (Hull, free), Billy Paynter (Doncaster, undisclosed)
Key man: Ross McCormack
Chances: Despite the loss of captain Snodgrass to Norwich, manager Warnock has made a number of shrewd signings as he aims to get Leeds back into the top flight. They will be among the promotion contenders.
Sky bet odds: 11/1
LEICESTER
Manager: Nigel Pearson
Position last season: 9th
Nickname: The Foxes
Ground: King Power Stadium
Capacity: 32,262
Players in: Ritchie de Laet and Matty James (Manchester United, undisclosed), Jamie Vardy (Fleetwood, £1million), Marko Futacs (Portsmouth, undisclosed compensation), Zak Whitbread (Norwich, free), Anthony Knockaert (Guingamp, undisclosed)
Players out: Sol Bamba (Trabzonspor, undisclosed), Oliver Norburn (Bristol Rovers, free), John Pantsil, Steve Howard, Elliott Chamberlain, Matt Oakley, Aleksandar Tunchev, Darius Vassell and Franck Moussa (all released), Matt Mills (Bolton, undisclosed), Chris Weale (Shrewsbury, free), Lee Peltier (Leeds, undisclosed)
Key man: Neil Danns
Chances: Narrowly missed out on the play-offs last season. Will finish in the top six at least this time around and should challenge for an automatic promotion place.
Sky bet odds: 15/2
MIDDLESBROUGH
Manager: Tony Mowbray
Position last season: 7th
Nickname: Boro
Ground: Riverside Stadium
Capacity: 34,988
Players in: Grant Leadbitter (Ipswich, free), Stuart Parnaby (unattached), Emanuel Ledesma (Walsall, free), George Friend (Doncaster, undisclosed), Christian Burgess (Arsenal, free), Jonathan Woodgate (Stoke, free), Mustapha Carayol (Bristol Rovers, undisclosed), Jayson Leutwiler (free)
Players out: Barry Robson (Vancouver Whitecaps, free), Jonathan Franks (Hartlepool, free), Jonathan Grounds (Oldham, free), Tony McMahon (Sheffield United, free)
Key man: Marvin Emnes
Chances: Middlesbrough missed out on a place in last season's play-offs by five points having long been contenders. Mowbray's side will be hoping for better fortunes at home having won just eight of their 23 games at the Riverside Stadium last term. Another promotion-chasing season beckons, though.
Sky bet odds: 20/1
MILLWALL
Manager: Kenny Jackett
Position last season: 16th
Nickname: The Lions
Ground: The Den
Capacity: 20,146
Players in: Maik Taylor (Leeds, free), Scott Malone (Bournemouth, player exchange), Chris Taylor (Oldham, free), Karleigh Osborne (Brentford, free), Danny Shittu (free)
Players out: Chris Hackett (Northampton, free), Tony Craig (Brentford, undisclosed), Ryan Allsop (Leyton Orient, free), Josh McQuoid (Bournemouth, player exchange) Hamer Bouazza, Jordan Stewart, Jake Gallagher and Conor McLaren (all released)
Key man: Andy Keogh
Chances: Millwall struggled with their home form last season and manager Jackett will be hoping for better down at The Den. Too good to go down but the play-offs remain well out of reach.
Sky bet odds: 66/1
NOTTINGHAM FOREST
Manager: Sean O'Driscoll
Position last season: 19th
Nickname: The Reds
Ground: City Ground
Capacity: 30,603
Players in: Adlene Guedioura (Wolves, undisclosed), Danny Collins (Stoke, undisclosed), Greg Halford (Portsmouth, free), Dan Harding (Southampton, undisclosed), Simon Gillett (free agent), Daniel Ayala (Norwich, season-long loan), Simon Cox (West Brom, undisclosed
Players out: Garath McCleary (Reading, undisclosed), Luke Chambers (Ipswich, free), Joel Lynch (Huddersfield, free), Chris Gunter (Reading, undisclosed)
Key man: Lewis McGugan
Chances: The 2011/12 season was a tough one both on and off the pitch. The Al Hasawi takeover looks to have stabilised the club and, although several key players have left the City Ground this summer, the replacements new manager O'Driscoll has brought in could see Forest return to mount a challenge for the play-offs.
Sky bet odds: 12/1
PETERBOROUGH
Manager: Darren Ferguson
Position last season: 18th
Nickname: The Posh
Ground: London Road
Capacity: 15,315
Players in: Tyrone Barnett (Crawley, £1.2million), Shaun Brisley (Macclesfield, undisclosed), Nathanial Knight-Percival (Wrexham, free), Danny Swanson (Dundee United, free), Robert Olejnik (Torquay, undisclosed), Nathaniel Mendez-Laing (Wolves, undisclosed), Michael Bostwick (Stevenage, undisclosed), Jonson Clarke-Harris (Coventry, free)
Players out: Joe Lewis (Cardiff, free), Paul Jones (Crawley, free), Nathan Ralph (Yeovil, free), David Ball (Fleetwood, undisclosed)
Key man: Lee Tomlin
Chances: Just held their own last season on their return to the second tier. Posh will be aiming for a mid-table finish but it could be another nervy conclusion to the campaign.
Sky bet odds: 100/1
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY
Manager: Dave Jones
Position last season: 2nd in League One
Nickname: The Owls
Ground: Hillsborough
Capacity: 39,812
Players in: Chris Kirkland (Wigan, free), Kieran Lee (Oldham, free), Joe Mattock (West Brom, free), Anthony Gardner (Crystal Palace, free), Chris Maguire (Derby, undisclosed), Diogo Amado (Uniao Leiria, free), Nejc Pecnik (CD Nacional, free), Rhys McCabe (Rangers, free), Michael Antonio (Reading, undisclosed)
Players out: Richard O'Donnell (Chesterfield, free), Clinton Morrison (Colchester, free), Chris Sedgwick, Jon Otsemobor, Sean Cuff and Vadaine Oliver (all released), Liam Palmer (Tranmere, loan), Ryan Lowe (MK Dons, undisclosed)
Key man: Jose Semedo
Chances: Owls boss Dave Jones will expect his side to make an instant impression as he aims for a top-half finish.
Sky bet odds :25/1
WATFORD
Manager: Gianfranco Zola
Position last season: 11th
Nickname: The Hornets
Ground: Vicarage Road
Capacity:17,477
Players in: Manuel Almunia (Arsenal, free), Fitz Hall (QPR, free), Almen Abdi, Matej Vydra, Steve Leo Beleck (all Udinese, free), Daniel Pudil, Ikechi Anya (both Granada, season-long loans), Alex Geijo (Udinese, loan)
Players out: Adrian Mariappa (Reading, undisclosed), Rene Gilmartin (Plymouth, free), Josh Walker (Scunthorpe, free), Scott Loach (Ipswich, undisclosed), Tom James, Chez Isaac and Michael Bryan (all released)
Key man: Jonathan Hogg
Chances: Winds of change have blown through Vicarage Road this summer as the Italy-based Pozzo family took control of Watford. The new owners replaced manager Sean Dyche with Zola as they eye up a promotion push in their first year.
Sky bet odds: 28/1
WOLVES
Manager: Stale Solbakken
Position last season: 20th in Premier League
Nickname: Wolves
Ground: Molineux
Capacity: 27,828 (under development)
Players in: Bjorn Bergmann Sigurdarson (Lillestrom, undisclosed), Frank Nouble (West Ham, free), Jamie Tank (Walsall, undisclosed), Tongo Doumbia (Rennes, season-long loan), Slawo Peszko (Cologne, loan)
Players out: Louis Harris (AFC Wimbledon, free), Ashley Hemmings (Walsall, free), James Spray (released), Sam Vokes (Burnley, undisclosed), Jake Cassidy (Tranmere, six-month loan)
Key man: Matt Jarvis
Chances: Wolves are among the favourites for an immediate return to the Premier League following last season's disappointing campaign. Norwegian Solbakken manages the side, hoping they will be able to keep hold of striker Steven Fletcher to lead the promotion charge.
Sky bet odds: 8/1
