Football pundit Carlton Palmer has shared his predictions for the upcoming Championship season, foreseeing promotions for Leeds United, Luton Town, and Sheffield Wednesday. The competition in the Championship is expected to be fierce once again, especially with Leicester City, Ipswich Town, and Southampton now out of the picture, paving the way for an open race for promotion.
Leicester and Southampton wasted no time in making their return to the Premier League, setting the stage for the three relegated teams from the top flight—Luton Town, Burnley, and Sheffield United—to aspire for a similar bounce back next season. Luton fans were concerned about the potential departure of manager Rob Edwards, who was linked with Ipswich Town, but with Kieran McKenna staying put, the Hatters can likely retain the services of the 41-year-old as they aim for a second promotion campaign.
Burnley, who clinched the Championship title in 2022-23, find themselves manager-less following Vincent Kompany’s move to Bayern Munich. The managerial vacancy has attracted interest from Scott Parker, Frank Lampard, Liam Rosenior, and Craig Bellamy. Meanwhile, Sheffield United, reeling from a disappointing season, are faced with uncertainties due to a pending takeover and a -2 point deduction at the start of the new season.
Despite their recent heartbreak of missing out on promotion in the play-off final, Leeds United, led by Daniel Farke, have their sights set on securing automatic promotion in the upcoming season. Sheffield Wednesday, buoyed by a dramatic turnaround under Danny Rohl, look to build on their survival success with renewed optimism following Rohl’s contract extension.
In an exclusive interview with Football League World, Palmer expressed his confidence in Leeds and Luton for automatic promotion, while tipping Sheffield Wednesday for a play-off ascent next season. Palmer emphasized the comparative strengths and weaknesses of the promoted and relegated teams, highlighting potential challenges faced by clubs like Sheffield United under Chris Wilder post-takeover and the importance of retaining key personnel like Rob Edwards for teams like Luton to mount a strong campaign. With Burnley’s financial stability through parachute payments, Palmer sees them as contenders in the upcoming Championship battle.
I believe Sheffield United will face a challenging summer under Chris Wilder while awaiting the completion of their takeover before being able to make any significant player acquisitions.
Regarding Luton, retaining Rob Edwards could lead to a strong showing next season. Burnley, with their talented squad and financial backing, are likely to be competitive. As for promotion prospects, Leeds seem poised for success, while Luton could secure a quick return if Edwards remains. However, Sheffield United might struggle due to the substantial work needed before the new season begins.
While Leeds aim for automatic promotion post-playoff defeat, their success hinges on retaining key players like Crysencio Summerville and Wilfried Gnonto. Luton and Burnley could also be strong contenders given the right managerial decisions.
Sheffield Wednesday seems to be gearing up for a competitive season with new arrivals, but it remains uncertain if owner Dejphon Chansiri will invest in further upgrades for a promotion push. If the manager is adequately supported in the transfer market, it may pave the way for an exciting season. However, a return to the Premier League might be a distant goal for now.
