Who's next to join England's elite tier of Football?

Every season fans of all teams in the Sky Bet Championship feel they have a chance of being promoted to the promised land which is the Premier League. Southampton and Bournemouth have proved that successive promotions are possible and Middlesbrough last season showed that even teams that have failed for successive seasons to be promoted can eventually do it, so with only a month until the start of next season, I analyse the chances of my personal favourites to be promoted.

Newcastle (7/4 with Sky Bet)

With a magnificent stadium, financial backing and some of the most passionate fans in the country it's beyond me how Newcastle have ended up in the second division of English football. I feel for the fans a lot, but even more for Rafa Benitez, the Champion's League winner with Liverpool started last season at Real Madrid with Ronaldo and Bale, a year on he has Karl Darlow and Anita. However, it won't be long until they're back in the Premier League. They have quality throughout their squad, exciting young players such as England U19 keeper' Freddie Woodman, Rolando Aarons, Thauvin and Mitrovic, two players with a lot to prove to their fans. Under the guidance of a top manager I am certain Newcastle will win the title next year, and don't be surprised if they break a record doing it.

Norwich (9/4 with Sky Bet)

Norwich are the sort of team that just seem a pointless, up and down the divisions constantly and never winning anything, then again as a Cardiff fan I guess that's partly hypocritical. Although they've lost their best player in Nathan Redmond, they still possess a talented squad at this level accompanied with a young manager with a lot to prove after last seasons failiure. For me, a team that will most likely get promoted.

Aston Villa (5/2 with Sky Bet)

I've been following football religiously for four seasons now, and Aston Villa's 15/16 campaign was by far I've ever seen in any league at any level, to put it nicely it was a shambles. Roberto Di Matteo is another Champions League winning manager in the Championship this season which gives them a good chance of getting promoted on paper. However, there are so many problems off the field at this club which all stemmed when Martin O'Neil left all those seasons ago, which means I really can't see them going back up this season. Teams such as Man City and Wigan have suffered double relegations due to off the field problems in the past, so is this a possibility for Villa as well? It's defiantly something I can see happening.

Derby (3/1), Brighton and Sheffield Wednesday (7/2), Cardiff (9/1)

I've grouped these four teams together as they're my safe bets for the play offs. Derby once again failed to meet expectations last season, Brighton and Wednesday and suffered playoff agony and Cardiff made the strange but too common a mistake by beating the good teams and losing to the ones fighting to stay in the league. For me, these are the four favourites for the playoffs this year as they all have good squads with depth but all lack a 20 goal a season striker that will push them over the line into the automatic promotion places.

Wigan (10/1)

It's been a depressing few years for Wigan fans going from FA Cup winners to the third division of English football. However, last season saw a turn around with them being promoted to the Championship as Champions of League 1 One. Interestingly they've been backed quite favourably for back to back promotions, something that a handful of teams have showed is possible. With the best chant in recent footballing history and the man himself Will Grigg it's obvious they have the firepower up front to challenge the top six, but most of my doubts lie in their defence. Although they only conceded 45 goals in 46 league games last season, I struggle to see them showing the same form at the back in the Championship.

A league almost impossible to predict, especially with it's unpredictable nature. However, one thing is for sure, for another year running this league will keep us excited, nervous and on the edge of our seats for another 9 months, and that's only for the neutrals. Good luck to those of you who have to endure the emotional rollercoaster whilst actually supporting one of the teams, you'll need it.