The npower Championship fixtures for the 2011-12 season were announced this morning, and new United boss Sam Allardyce has a tough-looking first game against the play-off hardened Bluebirds on August 6.

Spirits are currently high at Upton Park, though, following the surprise signing of Newcastle captain Nolan yesterday, and Gold feels he could be the catalyst behind an instant Premier League return.

"I think he is quality," he told Sky Sports News.

"The relationship he has with Sam from their time at Bolton is important and I think he is captain material.

"He has that determination, that will and desire, which Sam has and the owners have.

"I know the fans are delighted with this signing, it`s a coup of West Ham.

"If we were in the Premier League you`d expect us to be pursuing a player of this quality.

"This is the player we can build the squad around, this iconic player."

Another high-profile manager starting again in the Championship is former England boss Steve McLaren.

His Nottingham Forest side face Barnsley at the City Ground, with the Tykes also under new management in the form of Keith Hill.

Blackpool`s return to the second tier after their eventful flirtation with the Premier League starts at Hull, another side who will be quietly confident of being in the mix at the end of the season.

League One champions Brighton will open their new American Express Community Stadium with a game against Doncaster - the side they played when they left their last permanent home of the Goldstone Ground in 1997.

Managing director Ken Brown is delighted to have been paired with Rovers, with the two clubs having formed a close bond ever since that day.

"This is a great first fixture,'' Brown told his club's official website, www.seagulls.co.uk.

"Doncaster are a club with whom we have a fantastic rapport, and of course everyone knows the bond between Albion and Rovers fans.

"Just like the club's last game at the Goldstone it is sure to be an emotional day - but of course with very different emotions.''

Beaten play-off finalists Reading will start their bid to go one better this time around against Millwall at the Madjeski Stadium.

"It`s good to be at home, especially against a fairly local club like Millwall," manager Brian McDermott said.

Leeds start their campaign against League One runners-up Southampton and manager Simon Grayson expects Nigel Adkins` side to provide them with stiff opposition.

"Southampton have just come up and they will have momentum with them," he said. "They will be looking to make an impression on the division."

Ipswich have backed manager Paul Jewell in the transfer market so far, with the free-scoring Michael Chopra arriving from Cardiff, and Jewell cannot wait for the action to get underway at Bristol City.

"This is an exciting time and everyone is looking forward to August 6," he told www.itfc.co.uk. "Every manager in this league will tell you every game is tough."

The M69 derby takes place on the opening day, with Coventry and new manager Andy Thorn taking on Leicester.

"It`s brilliant, to have Leicester at the Ricoh is a great start," he said.

Peterborough, who clinched the final place in the division with a play-off final win over Huddersfield, start at home to Crystal Palace.

"It is important we get the points on the board as soon as we can," manager Darren Ferguson told www.theposh.com.

Elsewhere, Burnley face Watford at Turf Moor, newly-relegated and managerless Birmingham start with a tricky trip to Derby, and Portsmouth make the long trek to Middlesbrough.