2023/24: Guide to the Championship

BIRMINGHAM CITY

Nickname: Blues
Ground: St Andrew’s, B9 4RL
Distance from St Mary’s: 135 miles
Capacity: 29,409 (currently limited to approx. 19,000 due to stadium works)
Head coach: John Eustace
Last season: 17th
Top scorer: Scott Hogan, 10 goals
Summer ins: Tyler Roberts (Leeds United)
Summer outs: Jobe Bellingham (Sunderland)
Released: Maxime Colin, Harlee Dean, Troy Deeney, George Friend, Jordan Graham, Kevin Long.

BLACKBURN ROVERS

Nickname: Rovers
Ground: Ewood Park, BB2 4JF
Distance from St Mary’s: 250 miles
Capacity: 31,367
Head coach: Jon Dahl Tomasson
Last season: 7th
Top scorer: Ben Brereton Díaz, 16 goals
Summer ins: Niall Ennis (Plymouth Argyle), Sondre Tronstad (Vitesse Arnham), Arnor Sigurdsson (CSKA Moscow).
Summer outs: Ryan Stirk (Walsall).
Released: Daniel Ayala, Ben Brereton Díaz, Sam Burns, Danny Butterworth, Bradley Dack, Aidan Dowling, Dan Pike.

BRISTOL CITY

Nickname: The Robins
Ground: Ashton Gate, BS3 2EJ
Distance from St Mary’s: 76.2 miles
Capacity: 27,000
Manager: Nigel Pearson
Last season: 14th
Top scorer: Nahki Wells, 11 goals
Summer ins: Rob Dickie (Queens Park Rangers), Ross McCrorie (Aberdeen), Haydon Roberts (Brighton & Hove Albion).
Summer outs: Jay Dasilva (Coventry City),Will Buse, Josh Owers (Yeovil Town), Joseph Porton (Melksham Town).
Released: Prince Henry, Taylor Moore, James Morton, James Taylor.

CARDIFF CITY

Nickname: Bluebirds
Ground: Cardiff City Stadium, CF11 8AZ
Distance from St Mary’s: 138 miles
Capacity: 33,280
Manager: Erol Bulut
Last season: 21st
Top scorer: Sory Kaba, 8 goals
Summer ins: N/A
Summer outs: N/A
Released: Dillon Phillips, Tom Sang, Gavin Whyte, Connor Wickham.

COVENTRY CITY

Nickname: The Sky Blues
Ground: Coventry Building Society Arena, CV6 6AQ
Distance from St Mary’s: 127 miles
Capacity: 32,609
Manager: Mark Robins
Last season: 5th
Top scorer: Victor Gyökeres, 22 goals
Summer ins: Jay Dasilva (Bristol City)
Summer outs: N/A
Released: Fankaty Dabo, Julien Dacosta, Todd Kane, Sean Maguire, Martyn Waghorn, Tyler Walker.

Victor Gyökeres (L) was one of the division's standout performers last season

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN

Nickname: The Terriers
Ground: John Smith’s Stadium, HD1 6PG
Distance from St Mary’s: 236 miles
Capacity: 24, 121
Manager: Neil Warnock
Last season: 18th
Top scorer: Jordan Rhodes, 6 goals
Summer ins: N/A
Summer outs: N/A
Released: Rolando Aarons, Romoney Crichlow, Matty Daly, Danny Grant, Joseph Johnson, Florian Kamberi, Ernaldo Krasniqi, Donay O’Brien-Brady, Michael Parker, Michael Roxbrough, Josh Ruffels, Hakeem Sandah, Tyree Sanusi, Ryan Schofield, Sam Taylor, Ajay Weston, Sonny Wittingham, Tomáš Vaclík.

HULL CITY

Nickname: The Tigers
Ground: MKM Stadium, HU3 6HU
Distance from St Mary’s: 240 miles
Capacity: 25,586
Manager: Liam Rosenior 
Last season: 15th
Top scorer: Óscar Estupiñán, 13 goals
Summer ins: Xavier Simons (Chelsea)
Summer outs: N/A
Released: Billy Chadwick, Callum Elder,Tyler Smith.

IPSWICH TOWN

Nickname: Tractor Boys
Ground: Portman Road, IP1 2DA
Distance from St Mary’s: 173 miles
Capacity: 29,673
Manager: Kieran McKenna
Last season: 2nd (promoted from League One)
Top scorer: Conor Chaplin, 29 goals
Summer ins: Henry Gray (Waterside Karori)
Summer outs: N/A
Released: Joel Coleman, Richard Keogh, Matt Penney, Kane Vincent-Young.

LEEDS UNITED

Nickname: The Whites
Ground: Elland Road, LS11 0ES
Distance from St Mary’s: 240 miles
Capacity: 37,608
Manager: N/A
Last season: 19th (relegated from Premier League)
Top scorer: Rodrigo, 15 goals
Summer ins: N/A
Summer outs: Tyler Roberts (Birmingham City)
Released: Will Brook, Adam Forshaw, Stuart McKinstry, Joel Robles.

LEICESTER CITY

Nickname: The Foxes
Ground: King Power Stadium, LE2 7FL
Distance from St Mary’s: 145 miles
Capacity: 32,262
Manager: Enzo Maresca
Last season: 18th (relegated from Premier League)
Top scorer: Harvey Barnes, 13 goals
Summer ins: N/A
Summer outs: N/A
Released: Daniel Amartey, Ryan Bertrand, Nampalys Mendy, Ayoze Pérez, Çağlar Söyüncü, Tetê, Youri Tielemans.

MIDDLESBROUGH

Nickname: The Boro
Ground: Riverside Stadium, TS3 6RS
Distance from St Mary’s: 297 miles
Capacity: 34,742
Head coach: Michael Carrick
Last season: 4th
Top scorer: Chuba Akpom, 29 goals
Summer ins: Tyrell Agyemang (Manchester City), Daniel Nkrumah (Leyton Orient).
Summer outs: N/A
Released: Luke Daniels, Darnell Fisher, Grant Hall, Joe Lumley.

MILLWALL

Nickname: The Lions
Ground: The Den, SE16 3LN
Distance from St Mary’s: 82 miles
Capacity: 20,146
Manager: Gary Rowett
Last season: 8th
Top scorer: Tom Bradshaw, 17 goals
Summer ins: Kevin Nisbet (Hibernian)
Summer outs: N/A
Released: Mason Bennett,Scott Malone.

NORWICH CITY

Nickname: The Canaries
Ground: Carrow Road, NR1 1JE
Distance from St Mary’s: 204 miles
Capacity: 27,359
Head coach: David Wagner
Last season: 13th
Top scorer: Josh Sargent, 13 goals
Summer ins: Ashley Barnes (Burnley), Shane Duffy (Fulham), Jack Stacey (AFC Bournemouth).
Summer outs: N/A
Released: Sam Byram, Kieran Dowell, Josh Martin, Michael McGovern, Teemu Pukki, Danel Sinani.

PLYMOUTH ARGYLE

Nickname: The Pilgrims
Ground: Home Park, PL2 3DQ 
Distance from St Mary’s: 152 miles
Capacity: 17,900
Manager: Steven Schumacher
Last season: 1st (promoted from League One)
Top scorer: Ryan Hardie, 17 goals
Summer ins: Julio Pleguezuelo (FC Twente)
Summer outs: Niall Ennis (Blackburn Rovers)
Released: James Bolton, Finley Craske, Conor Grant, Luke Jephcott, Ryan Law, Danny Mayor, Adam Parkes, Brandon Pursall, James Wilson.

PRESTON NORTH END

Nickname: The Lilywhites
Ground: Deepdale, PR1 6RU
Distance from St Mary’s: 248 miles
Capacity: 23,404
Manager: Ryan Lowe
Last season: 12th
Top scorer: Ched Evans, 9 goals
Summer ins: Calvin Ramsay (Liverpool, loan)
Summer outs: N/A
Released: Dana Amaral,Aaron Bennett, Lewis Coulton, Harry Nevin, Matthew Olosunde.

QUEENS PARK RANGERS

Nickname: R’s, The Hoops.
Ground: Loftus Road, W12 7PJ
Distance from St Mary’s: 76.5 miles
Capacity: 18,439
Manager: Gareth Ainsworth
Last season: 20th
Top scorer: Lyndon Dykes, 8 goals
Summer ins: Taylor Richards (Brighton & Hove Albion)
Summer outs: Rob Dickie (Bristol City), Conor Masterson (Gillingham).
Released: Luke Amos, Ody Alfa, Leon Balogun, Charlie Owens, Olamide Shodipo.

ROTHERHAM UNITED

Nickname: The Millers
Ground: AESSEAL New York Stadium, S60 1FJ
Distance from St Mary’s: 203 miles
Capacity: 12,021
Manager: Matt Taylor
Last season: 19th
Top scorer: Chiedozie Ogbene, 9 goals
Summer ins: N/A
Summer outs: Josh Vickers (Derby County)
Released: Wes Harding, Robbie Hemfrey, Mackenzie Warne, Richard Wood.

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY

Nickname: The Owls
Ground: Hillsborough, S6 1SW
Distance from St Mary’s: 208 miles 
Capacity: 39,732 (temporarily reduced to 34,854 on safety grounds)
Manager: N/A
Last season: 3rd (promoted via League One play-offs)
Top scorer: Michael Smith, 21 goals
Summer ins: N/A
Summer outs: David Stockdale (York City)
Released: Dennis Adeniran, Jaden Brown, Sam Durrant, Ryan Galvin, Ben Heneghan, Jack Hunt.

STOKE CITY

Nickname: The Potters
Ground: bet365 Stadium, ST4 4EG
Distance from St Mary’s: 183 miles
Capacity: 30,089
Head coach: Alex Neil 
Last season: 16th
Top scorer: Jacob Brown/Tyrese Campbell, 9 goals
Summer ins: N/A
Summer outs: N/A
Released: Sam Clucas, Demeaco Duhaney, Aden Flint, Morgan Fox, Phil Jagielka, Tashan Oakley-Boothe, Nick Powell.

SUNDERLAND

Nickname: The Black Cats
Ground: Stadium of Light, SR5 1SU
Distance from St Mary’s: 316 miles
Capacity: 49,000
Head coach: Tony Mowbray
Last season: 6th
Top scorer: Amad Diallo, 14 goals
Summer ins: Jobe Bellingham (Birmingham City),  Lúis Hemir Silva Semedo (Benfica), Nectarios Triantis (Central Coast Mariners).
Summer outs: N/A
Released: Harrison Bond, Jacob Carney, Cameron Jessup, Ethan Kachosa, Nathan Newall, Owen Robinson, Thomas Scott, Harrison Sohna, Carl Winchester.

Sunderland reached the play-offs in their first season back in the Championship last campaign

SWANSEA CITY

Nickname: The Swans
Ground: Swansea.com Stadium, SA1 2FA
Distance from St Mary’s: 175 miles
Capacity: 21,088
Head coach: N/A
Last season: 10th
Top scorer: Joël Piroe, 20 goals
Summer ins: N/A
Summer outs: Michael Obafemi (Burnley)
Released: Joel Latibeaudiere, Ryan Manning, Kyle Naughton.

WATFORD

Nickname: The Hornets 
Ground: Vicarage Road, WD18 0ER
Distance from St Mary’s: 80 miles
Capacity: 22,200
Head coach: Valérien Ismaël
Last season: 11th
Top scorer: João Pedro, 11 goals
Summer ins: Jorge Cabezas (Real Cartagena), Rhys Healy (Toulouse).
Summer outs: Adrian Blake (FC Utrecht), João Pedro (Brighton & Hove Albion).
Released: Britt Assombalonga, Leandro Bacuna.

WEST BROMWICH ALBION

Nickname: The Baggies
Ground: The Hawthorns, B71 4LF
Distance from St Mary’s: 147 miles
Capacity: 26,850
Head coach: Carlos Corberán
Last season: 9th
Top scorer: Brandon Thomas-Asante, 9 goals
Summer ins: N/A
Summer outs: N/A
Released: Kean Bryan, Jake Livermore, Tom Rogic.

Photos: Getty Images | Andrew Couldridge | Stu Forster