With the wait for the football season to begin nearly over, Editor Dean Mears picks his Championship promotion challengers and his relegation scrappers.
Champions: West Ham
It's difficult to look at anyone other than West Ham for the Championship title this year, with signings such as former Newcastle captain Kevin Nolan, and being able to keep hold of star players such as Carlton Cole, Robert Green and Scott Parker. West Ham will surely bounce straight back into the Premiership.
Runners Up: Leicester City
The Manchester City of the Championship, and with former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson at the helm and new signings John Pantsil, Gelson Fernandes, Neil Danns, David Nugent and Matt Mills. It would be a disaster for big spending city if they don't make the Premiership next season.
Play-offs: Nottingham Forest, Cardiff City, Ipswich Town and Reading.
Forest have come closed in the past few seasons but this time with Steve McClaren at the helm, I'm backing Forest to win the play offs this year, new signings Jonathon Greening, Andy Reid and George Boateng in the side, Forest will be a real threat this season.
Cardiff are another who've come so close to the promised land and failed, new manager Malky Mackay worked wonders with Watford on a shoe string budget and will be familiar with the task he faces at Cardiff, although Cardiff have lost talisman Jay Boythroyd, Cardiff have added Robert Earnshaw and Kenny Miller to their strike force, and if as expected Craig Bellamy resigns this season, Cardiff will be a force to be reckoned with.
Ipswich are under real pressure to make some progress this year, it's been 4 years since the East Anglia side were taken over and after rivals Norwich gained promotion last season the pressure will be on for Ipswich to regain some pride. Ipswich would have been hurt by the loss of Connor Wickham to Sunderland, they were able to use his transfer fee to add the likes of Michael Chopra and Nathan Ellington to their ranks.
Last seasons play off finalists Reading will be hopeful of making the same impact this season, the unfancied side made a late push last year and will be hoping to not leave it so late this year. Reading have made Mikele Leigertwood's loan deal permanent and added Tottenham's Bongani Khumalo on loan, plus Reading have managed to keep hold most of their key players that made last season's play off push successful.
Relegated: Derby County, Watford, Peterborough United.
Derby are the proud owners of one of the weakest squads the Championship has to offer, their survival chances hinge of the likes of from Nottingham Forest striker Nathan Tyson scoring goals, but a lack of strength in depth in a long and difficult season could prove too much for Nigel Clough's Derby.
Watford have achieved lots on a tiny budget, but the loss of manager Malky Mackay could prove too big a hit for Watford, they've also lost star striker Danny Graham who was vital to their plans last season. New gaffer Sean Dyche was assistant manager to Mackay so things shouldn't be too different this term, however without Graham, Watford have very little to offer.
Peterborough United bounced straight back after relegation 2 season's ago, and Posh will be heading in the same direction. Darren Ferguson has seen star man Craig Mackail Smith leave for Brighton, but has been able to add two loan players from his dad's side Manchester United. This still won't stop a repeat of the 2009-2010 season when Peterborough headed straight back to League 1.
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