Carlton Palmer has identified Birmingham City, Huddersfield Town, and Rotherham United as his early picks to secure promotion from League One to the Championship in the upcoming season. All three clubs faced relegation to the third tier of English football last season and are aiming to bounce back immediately.
Rotherham finished at the bottom of the table last season, while Birmingham and Huddersfield struggled throughout the campaign before their relegations were confirmed on the final day. Now, these clubs are poised to mount strong challenges for promotion, motivated to return to the Championship at the earliest opportunity.
| Championship standings 2023/24 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | P | GD | Pts | |
| 17 | Stoke City | 46 | -11 | 56 |
| 18 | QPR | 46 | -11 | 56 |
| 19 | Blackburn Rovers | 46 | -14 | 53 |
| 20 | Sheffield Wednesday | 46 | -24 | 53 |
| 21 | Plymouth Argyle | 46 | -11 | 51 |
| 22 | Birmingham City (R) | 46 | -15 | 50 |
| 23 | Huddersfield Town (R) | 46 | -29 | 45 |
| 24 | Rotherham United (R) | 46 | -52 | 27 |
Carlton Palmer remains optimistic about Birmingham City, Huddersfield Town, and Rotherham United’s chances of swiftly returning to the Championship within the next year.
All three clubs faced relegation from the Championship last season and have undergone significant changes during the summer break. Rotherham, under the reappointment of manager Steve Evans in April, have already bolstered their squad with seven new senior signings to offset the departure of ten players.
Meanwhile, Huddersfield Town and Birmingham City have focused on managerial changes. Michael Duff, with ample experience at this level, has taken over from Andre Breitenreiter at Huddersfield. Birmingham, too, have a new manager in place, though they have yet to make any player additions.
Palmer’s optimism reflects the belief that these clubs, with their new leadership and strategic moves in the transfer market, are well-positioned to compete strongly in League One and potentially secure promotion back to the Championship.
Carlton Palmer, discussing early favorites for promotion from League One in the 2024/25 season, highlighted Rotherham United, Birmingham City, and Huddersfield Town. He noted Rotherham’s strong recruitment under manager Steve Evans, known for his promotion-winning record. Palmer expressed confidence in Birmingham City’s potential with their talented squad and new management, and he backed Huddersfield Town under experienced manager Michael Duff, despite his earlier stint at Swansea City.
These predictions are grounded in the clubs’ strengths and ambitions but acknowledge the competitiveness of League One. Teams like Bolton, Barnsley, and Peterborough, who narrowly missed promotion via playoffs last season, as well as Lincoln and Blackpool, are expected to pose significant challenges in the promotion race.
Additionally, League Two champions Stockport County and Wrexham, known for their recent promotion successes, are anticipated to challenge for honors in League One.
Despite Birmingham, Huddersfield Town, and Rotherham United being seen as strong contenders for promotion, the competitive nature of the league suggests that none of these clubs will have an easy path. The presence of ambitious clubs like Charlton, resurgent teams like Wigan, and newly promoted sides like Stockport and Wrexham ensures that the race for promotion will be closely contested and far from predictable.
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