Ipswich Town: Alex Jones predicts the 2025/26 Championship table

The Championship campaign kicks off on Friday night (Image: PA)

Ipswich Town return to Championship action this Friday night – but can they make an immediate return to the Premier League?

Alex Jones shares his predictions for how the final table might look come season’s end.

Dejphon Chansiri has failed to pay players on time – leading to wholesale departures at Sheffield Wednesday (Image: PA)

24. Sheffield Wednesday

Last season: 12th

It’s chaos at Hillsborough. Players are going unpaid, transfer restrictions are piling up, and the atmosphere is toxic under owner Dejphon Chansiri. Frankly, the question might not be whether they finish bottom – but whether they finish the season at all.

Danny Röhl has moved on, and several key players have already followed him out. Barry Bannan staying is a glimmer of hope, but it’s hard to see them finishing anywhere other than last.

Preston avoided relegation to League One by just one point last season (Image: PA)

23. Preston North End

Last season: 20th

Paul Heckingbottom is a solid coach at this level, but the squad lacks depth and quality. They only just avoided the drop last time out, and there haven’t been enough reinforcements since.

With Emil Riis gone, they’ve lost a major goal threat. Michael Smith’s arrival helps, but Dan Jebbison hasn’t impressed, and unless more signings come in, a backward step looks likely.

Charlton Athletic secured promotion to the Championship via the play-offs (Image: PA)

22. Charlton Athletic

Last season: 4th (League One, promoted via play-offs)

Some are optimistic about Charlton’s chances, even tipping them for a mid-table finish. But I’m not convinced. They’re well-drilled under Nathan Jones, and solid at the back – which helps in a relegation scrap – but the Championship is a big jump in quality.

New arrivals from Luton and Blackpool, plus attackers like Knibbs, Olaofe, and Kelman, bring promise. Still, I’m not confident they’ll avoid the drop.

Oxford United avoided relegation in their first season back in the Championship (Image: PA)

21. Oxford United

Last season: 17th

Oxford ended last season on a positive note, but haven’t had a standout summer window. Will Lankshear (loan from Spurs) and Brian De Keersmaecker (from Heracles) are interesting signings.

The biggest asset is manager Gary Rowett – a steady hand in this league. It’s close between them and Charlton, but Oxford have already survived once, and I think they can again.

Stoke City have struggled since suffering relegation from the Premier League (Image: PA)

20. Stoke City

Last season: 18th

Stoke remain in a rut. Their Premier League days feel like a distant memory, and the squad isn’t inspiring. The loss of Wouter Burger is a big one, though Divin Mubama and Sorba Thomas offer some spark.

I’m not sure Mark Robins is the right man for this rebuild – especially without his trusted assistant Adi Viveash. Another tough season lies ahead.

Blackburn Rovers narrowly missed out on the play-offs in 2024/25 (Image: PA)

19. Blackburn Rovers

Last season: 7th

Blackburn’s drop-off could continue. They narrowly missed the playoffs last year thanks to John Eustace, but Valerien Ismael hasn’t made his mark yet.

They’ve lost key players – Weimann, Rankin-Costello, Dolan, Brittain – and I doubt they’ll be adequately replaced under the Venkys. A bottom-half finish seems likely.

Hull City have looked sharp in pre-season (Image: PA)

18. Hull City

Last season: 21st

Swansea City have managed to gain investment from Luka Modric and Snoop Dogg (Image: PA)

Hull’s preseason form has raised eyebrows, and their squad looks decent on paper. However, many players are unproven in the Championship or have recent injury concerns.

Sergej Jakirovic’s lack of experience in England is a risk. Add the unpredictability of Acun Ilicali’s ownership, and mid-table may be the ceiling for now.

Bristol City fell short in last season’s Championship play-offs (Image: PA)

17. Bristol City

Last season: 6th

Gerhard Struber steps in after Liam Manning’s impressive playoff push last season. He’s competent at this level, but repeating Manning’s success will be tough.

Riis adds firepower from Preston, and Randell and Vitek are steady additions. Still, not enough has been done in the market for a top-half finish.

Julien Stephan is managing in England for the first time in his career (Image: PA)

16. QPR

Last season: 15th

QPR could be a surprise package, but it depends on a fast start. Julien Stephan seems a smart appointment, and recruitment has been promising.

They’ve got quality behind the striker, especially with Kwame Poku. Keeping Jimmy Dunne was a big win, but they’ll need to bolster depth to push higher.

Wrexham have secured three successive promotions to reach the Championship (Image: PA)

15. Wrexham

Last season: 2nd (League One)

Hype is high around Wrexham, but their squad – by Championship standards – isn’t outstanding. Recruitment will determine how far they can go, and early signs are good.

Conor Coady, Lewis O’Brien, Josh Windass, and possibly Kieffer Moore provide proven quality. Liberato Cacace is a smart addition. Still, Phil Parkinson has something to prove at this level.

Portsmouth are looking to consolidate in the Championship after a strong campaign (Image: PA)

14. Portsmouth

Last season: 16th

Some expect Pompey to climb the table, but I’m not fully convinced. They’ve stuck with the same manager and core group, which ensures stability – but may limit their ceiling.

John Swift adds quality, but the other signings are less known. Fratton Park’s atmosphere will be a key weapon.

Watford will start the campaign with another new manager (Image: PA)

13. Watford

Last season: 14th

Watford are tough to predict. My gut says they’re more likely to impress than flop. New boss Paulo Pezzolano fits the Championship mold well, and Kyprianou and Irankunda are exciting additions.

If they hold on to Louza, Kayembe, and Chakvetadze, they could push for the top six.

It remains to be seen whether Middlesbrough keep star midfielder Hayden Hackney (Image: PA)

12. Middlesbrough

Last season: 10th

This squad doesn’t wow me. If Hayden Hackney leaves, their midfield takes a hit, and I’m not confident the funds will be well spent.

Rob Edwards did brilliantly at Luton, but hasn’t shown he can replicate that elsewhere yet. A mid-table finish feels about right.

West Brom will look to push for the play-offs once again (Image: PA)

11. West Brom

Last season: 9th

A solid side with experienced heads like Maja, Mowatt, and Fellows. Isaac Price could be a breakout star this season.

The depth is good, but the top-end quality might be lacking. Ryan Mason is a gamble – he could thrive or be gone by winter.

10. Swansea City

Last season: 11th

Swansea may only climb one spot, but they’ll be a better team overall. Burgess and Galbraith are strong signings, and Inoussa arrives with a lot of hype.

Squad depth is still an issue. Alan Sheehan will need a strong start in his first full campaign to avoid pressure.

Derby County will aim to avoid another relegation battle (Image: PA)

9. Derby County

Last season: 19th

Derby could outperform this prediction. I’ve been impressed with John Eustace – he’s consistently punched above his weight with limited squads.

They’ve added firepower in Morris, Agyemang, and Weimann, and Brewster could add more spark. Defence looks solid too. One to watch.

Many Championship fans believe that Millwall can finally bridge the gap to the top six (Image: PA)

8. Millwall

Last season: 8th

After a turbulent year following John Berylson’s passing, Millwall are beginning to stabilise. James Berylson is guiding them well.

Ivanovic and Tanganga add class, and the squad strikes a nice balance. Alex Neil knows the league inside-out, but without major investment, top six might just elude them.

Significant changes are expected on and off the pitch at Norwich City (Image: PA)

7. Norwich City

Last season: 13th

Ben Knapper has been busy revamping Norwich. Darling and Kvistgaarden are standout additions, and there are several intriguing lesser-known names like Topic and Medic.

Losing Sainz – and possibly Sargent – hurts. But with Liam Manning at the helm, they could overachieve again.

Coventry City will hope to forget last season’s play-off heartbreak (Image: PA)

6. Coventry City

Last season: 5th

Coventry look set for another strong campaign. Little has changed – Frank Lampard stays, and the squad remains largely intact.

They’ve smartly prepped for potential exits – like van Ewijk – and Carl Rushworth should be a standout in goal. Stability gives them the edge.

Birmingham City are the big spenders in the second tier (Image: PA)

5. Birmingham City

Last season: 1st (League One)

Birmingham’s ambition is clear: back-to-back promotions. But that pressure can be dangerous.

They’ve made high-profile signings, but despite their League One dominance, this team still needs upgrades. Chris Davies may need to adapt their style quickly.

Ruben Selles has taken charge of Sheffield United (Image: PA)

4. Sheffield United

Last season: 3rd

Chris Wilder’s departure raises questions, and while Ruben Selles is talented, this is a big leap for him.

They’ve lost Souza and other key players, while most new signings are unknowns in English football. But with parachute payments and potential marquee signings, they should stay near the top.

Leicester City are set to be hit with a points deduction *(Image: PA)*

3. Leicester City

Last season: 18th (Premier League)

Despite internal turmoil, Leicester still boast a top-tier squad – El Khannous, Fatawu, and Mavididi are elite at this level.

Marti Cifuentes seems ready for a promotion challenge. The wildcard is a potential points deduction. If it’s more than five points, their top-two hopes take a big hit.

2. Southampton

Last season: 20th (Premier League)

Will Still has finally made his move into English football. At just 32, his managerial résumé is impressive, and fans are eager to see if he can replicate that success at St Mary’s. He steps into a demanding role but inherits a squad with plenty of quality.

Matheus Fernandes, Adam Armstrong, and Cameron Archer are all capable of being standout performers in the Championship, while youngsters like Joshua Quarshie and Damion Downs add promising depth.

Will Still has left Ligue 1 to manage in the Championship (Image: PA)

The uncertainty around Tyler Dibling’s future lingers, but the main challenge will be overcoming the psychological blow of last season’s painful relegation. Still, I believe Will Still is the man to lead that recovery.

1. Ipswich Town

Last season: 19th (Premier League)

With the strongest manager in the league and arguably the deepest squad, Ipswich are well-equipped for an immediate return to the top flight. They prepared for this scenario while still in the Premier League, building a side that could compete if the worst happened.

Now, they boast a Championship-proven core featuring Jack Clarke, Sammie Szmodics, Jaden Philogene, and Jacob Greaves.

Ipswich Town are the bookies’ favourites for promotion (Image: Ross Halls)

The additions of Azor Matusiwa and Ashley Young bring experience and class, and the potential arrivals of Jens Cajuste and Chuba Akpom would only raise their ceiling further.

Everything about this squad suggests they’re ready to dominate the division — but as ever, getting out of the Championship is far from straightforward.