WAYNE ROONEY will bid to kick-start his managerial career at Plymouth in the Championship this weekend, while Leeds, Burnley and Luton have been installed as promotion favourites.
Plymouth escaped relegation on the final day last season and have gambled on the former England striker steering the south-coast club clear of troubled waters. It remains to be seen if the Pilgrims’ punt was a risk worth taking.
Leeds buckled under the weight of expectation last season, unable to halt their play-off hoodoo at the sixth attempt after blowing up in the race for a top-two finish.
Boss Daniel Farke has twice led Norwich to the Premier League and the bookmakers believe Leeds can put their Wembley woe behind them and get it right this time.
Of the three clubs relegated from the Premier League, Burnley and Luton appear best-placed to bounce straight back.
Burnley have a new man at the helm in Scott Parker, who has won promotion to the top flight with both Fulham and Bournemouth, while Luton have retained most of the squad which did them proud last season.
The Hatters will not be scarred by their top-flight experience, but the same cannot be said of Sheffield United after they shipped a Premier League-record 104 goals to finish rock-bottom.
With protracted takeover talks at Bramall Lane hindering Chris Wilder’s rebuilding plans, the Blades’ season could be one of consolidation.
Wilder’s side will help launch the new campaign tomorrow night at Preston, who will do well to replicate last season’s 10th-placed finish with one of the division’s lowest budgets.
Blackburn take on promoted Derby at Ewood Park in tomorrow’s other opening fixture and both clubs could find it tough going this season.
Blackburn narrowly avoided the drop after winning at champions Leicester on the final day and are waiting to learn the outcome of their owners’ pending court case in India.
Derby have ended two seasons in League One, but no longer have the finances which made them promotion candidates under their previous owner.
Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough and Sunderland, under new boss Regis Le Bris, are both expected to mount play-off challenges, while Carlos Corberan’s West Brom and Mark Robins’ Coventry could again be in the mix.
Norwich and Hull will hope to be in top-six contention under new managers Johannes Hoff Thorup and Tim Walter respectively and there is renewed expectation at both Sheffield Wednesday and QPR.
The Owls and the Hoops both had strong finishes and will bid to pick up where they left off under Danny Rohl and Marti Cifuentes, who arrived at their respective clubs last October.
Portsmouth will bid to maintain momentum after winning the League One title, but play-off winners Oxford, back in the second tier for the first time in 25 years, could struggle.
