Championship: easier or tougher?

With Coventry City hoping to mount a challenge for at least a play-off place next season, will they be playing in a Championship that is easier or harder than the current campaign?

The two sides who have been already promoted to the top-flight, Birmingham and Sunderland were both very strong outfits with big-name managers who also had the financial clout to buy players such as Gary McSheffrey and Carlos Edwards from other sides in the division to strengthen their squads.

At first glance they would appear to pose a tougher test than either Watford or Charlton Athletic, even if Alan Pardew manages to hang onto star man Darren Bent.

Both of the sides relegated however have no financial worries and will of course benefit from the parachute payments they get from the Premiership.

Wigan, West Ham and Sheffield United can still be relegated and the Hammers will make a massive effort to go straight back up according to their new Icelandic owners if the worst happens.

The three sides who do not it make through the play-offs will also feature prominently in the betting for promotion come next season although Southampton boss George Burley has warned that the loss of his club's parachute payments could mean the cutting of the St Mary's cloth.

Of those sides who finished outside the top-six, Sheffield Wednesday will have high hopes of doing well next time around but most of the others appear to be in the same boat as the Sky Blues, meaning it's down to good management and good signings in the summer to gain that edge amongst the likes of Stoke, Norwich, Ipswich etc.

Of the promoted sides, Scunthorpe look to have the momentum about them to try and emulate Colchester's achievements while Sky Blues' fans know from close quarters that Bristol City have an excellent manager and some excellent players.

Those two and one from Nottingham Forest, Blackpool, Yeovil and Oldham will replace Luton, Southend and Leeds in the division next season.

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