Barnsley

Manager: Mark Robins

Position last season: 18th

Nickname: The Tykes

Ground: Oakwell

Capacity: 23,009

Players in: Jason Shackell (Wolves, undisclosed), Jim O'Brien (Motherwell, undisclosed), Goran Lovre (Groningen, free), Liam Dickinson (Brighton, undisclosed), Jay McEveley (Derby, free), Jeronimo Morales Neumann (Estudiantes, free)

Players out: Darren Moore (Burton, free), Michael Coulson (Grimsby, free), Daniel Bogdanovic (Sheffield United, free), Simon Heslop (Oxford, free), Jon Macken, Anderson de Silva (released), O'Neil Thompson (Hereford, season-long loan), Rob Kozluk (Sheffield United, free)

Key man: Jason Shackell

Chances: Mark Robins oversaw a turnaround in Barnsley's form after taking over in September last season, but the Tykes tailed off towards the end of the campaign. A lot will depend on whether or not Liam Dickinson can fill the hole left by Daniel Bogdanovic.

Prediction: 17th

Bristol City

Manager: Steve Coppell

Position last season: 10th

Nickname: The Robins

Ground: Ashton Gate

Capacity: 21,497

Players in: Kalifa Cisse (Reading, undisclosed), Albert Adomah (Barnet, tribunal)

Players out: Brian Wilson (released), Jamie McCombe (Huddersfield, undisclosed), Frankie Artus (Cheltenham, free), Paul Hartley (Aberdeen, free)

Key man: Nicky Maynard

Chances: New manager Steve Coppell has a proven track record in this division and takes over a settled squad that has gone close before. Keeping Nicky Maynard fit and in form will help the Robins finish in the play-off places.

Prediction: 3rd

Burnley

Manager: Brian Laws

Position last season: 18th in the Premier League

Nickname: The Clarets

Ground: Turf Moor

Capacity: 22,546

Players in: Dean Marney (Hull, undisclosed), Chris Iwelumo (Wolves, undisclosed), Ross Wallace (Preston, undisclosed), Lee Grant (Sheffield Wednesday, undisclosed)

Players out: Joey Gudjonsson (Huddersfield, free), Christian Kalvenes, Fernando Guerrero, Steven Caldwell, Stephen Jordan, Nicky Weaver, Adam Kay, Ben Hoskin, Jonathan Lund, Liam Newman, Oliver Devenney, Jake McEneaney, Danny MacDonald (all released), Remco van der Schaaf (Brondby, loan), Steven Fletcher (Wolves, undisclosed), Robbie Blake (Bolton, free)

Key man: Ross Wallace

Chances: Question marks linger over Brian Laws' suitability to the Burnley manager's job, and losing the goals of Steven Fletcher will severely hinder his chances of masterminding an instant return to the Premier League. Expect the Clarets to struggle in mid-table.

Prediction: 15th

Cardiff

Manager: Dave Jones

Position last season: 4th

Nickname: The Bluebirds

Ground: Cardiff City Stadium

Capacity: 26,828

Players in: Tom Heaton (Manchester United, free), Danny Drinkwater (Manchester United, loan)

Players out: Joe Ledley (Celtic, free), Peter Enckelman, Tony Capaldi, Warren Feeney, Josh Magennis, Aaron Morris (all released), Mark Kennedy (Ipswich, free)

Key man: Michael Chopra

Chances: After another heartbreaking end to a season, Cardiff come into the new campaign with yet another point to prove. Joe Ledley has gone but few managers know the division better than manager Dave Jones, and he should have enough at his disposal to be in the promotion mix.

Prediction: 7th

Coventry

Manager: Aidy Boothroyd

Position last season: 19th

Nickname: The Sky Blues

Ground: Ricoh Arena

Capacity: 32,609

Players in: Gary McSheffrey (Birmingham, free), Stephen O'Halloran (Aston Villa, free), Roy O'Donovan (Sunderland, free), Richard Keogh (Carlisle, undisclosed compensation), Lee Carsley (Birmingham, free), Lukas Jutkiewicz (Everton, undisclosed), Clive Platt (Colchester, nominal)

Players out: Marcus Hall (released), Elliott Ward (Norwich, free), Clinton Morrison (Sheffield Wednesday, free)

Key man: Keiren Westwood

Chances: Aidy Boothroyd has replaced Chris Coleman in the manager's hotseat at the Ricoh Arena, but the Sky Blues still look susceptible at the back and will again rely heavily on goalkeeper Keiren Westwood. Goals may not be a problem, but a season of struggle could lie ahead.

Prediction: 20th

Crystal Palace

Manager: George Burley

Position last season: 21st

Nickname: The Eagles

Ground: Selhurst Park

Capacity: 26,309

Players in: David Wright (Ipswich, free), Adam Barrett (Southend, free), Andy Dorman (St Mirren, free), Lewis Price (Derby, free)

Players out: James Comley, Matthew Wright, Hakeem Adelakun and Michael Abnett (released), Nick Carle (Sydney FC, free), Johnny Ertl (Sheffield United, free), Jack Randall (Aldershot, free), Shaun Derry (QPR, free), Clint Hill (QPR, free), Danny Butterfield (Southampton, free)

Key man: Darren Ambrose

Chances: George Burley returns to club management in a division he has impressed in before. Keeping Darren Ambrose is key for the Scot, but after all their struggles last season, the Eagles can look forward to a much more successful campaign.

Prediction: 8th

Derby

Manager: Nigel Clough

Position last season: 14th

Nickname: The Rams

Ground: Pride Park

Capacity: 33,597

Players in: Gareth Roberts (Doncaster, free), John Brayford, James Bailey (Crewe, undisclosed), David Martin (Millwall, free), Tomasz Cywka (Wigan, free)

Players out: Jay McEveley (Barnsley, free), Lee Hendrie (released), Lewis Price (Crystal Palace, free), Paul Connolly (Leeds, free), Lee Croft (Huddersfield, loan until January), Gary Teale (Sheffield Wednesday, free)

Key man: Rob Hulse

Chances: The Rams have kept hold of star striker Rob Hulse, and will rely on him to score the majority of their goals. Assists are likely to come from the feet of winger Kris Commons, but the Rams look short of quality those two apart.

Prediction: 19th

Doncaster

Manager: Sean O'Driscoll

Position last season: 12th

Nickname: Rovers

Ground: Keepmoat Stadium

Capacity: 15,231

Players in: George Friend (Wolves, free), Billy Sharp (Sheffield United, £1.1m), Simon Gillett (Southampton, free), Josh Payne (West Ham, free)

Players out: Gareth Roberts (Derby, free), Lewis Guy (MK Dons, free), Sean McDaid (Carlisle, free), Paul Heffernan (Sheffield Wednesday, free), Charles Fisher, John Spicer (released) Ben Smith (Shrewsbury, free)

Key man: Brian Stock

Chances: Persuading Billy Sharp to sign a permanent contract ranks as one of Sean O'Driscoll's most successful moves as Rovers boss, and the diminutive striker's goals will be key to Doncaster's success. A fit Brian Stock will help too, as Rovers continue to hold their own.

Prediction: 12th

Hull

Manager: Nigel Pearson

Position last season: 19th in the Premier League

Nickname: The Tigers

Ground: KC Stadium

Capacity: 25,404

Players in: Nolberto Solano (Leicester, free), James Harper (Sheffield United, free)

Players out: Bernard Mendy, Yann Ekra, Nathan Hanley, Ryan Kendall, John Leonard, Darragh Satelle (released), Dean Marney (Burnley, undisclosed), Steven Mouyokolo (Wolves, undisclosed), Stephen Hunt (Wolves, undisclosed)

Key man: Boaz Myhill

Chances: The relegated Tigers did well to snare Nigel Pearson from Leicester in a bid to add some stability following the sacking of Phil Brown and the ill-fated reign of Iain Dowie. A lack of firepower should hamper Pearson's ability to mastermind a promotion push, though.

Prediction: 13th

Ipswich

Manager: Roy Keane

Position last season: 15th

Nickname: The Tractor Boys

Ground: Portman Road

Capacity: 30,311

Players in: Conor Hourihane (Sunderland, free), Mark Kennedy (Cardiff, free)

Players out: Richard Wright, Pim Balkestein (released), David Wright (Crystal Palace, free), Liam Trotter (Millwall, free), Ed Upson (Yeovil, free), Kevin Lisbie (Millwall, loan)

Key man: Connor Wickham

Chances: Roy Keane has been quiet in the transfer market this summer but owes owner Marcus Evans a good season after the inconsistent form they showed last time out. Connor Wickham will play an even bigger role for the Tractor Boys, who look to have what it takes to mount a promotion push.

Prediction: 6th

Leeds

Manager: Simon Grayson

Position last season: 2nd in League One

Nickname: The Whites

Ground: Elland Road

Capacity: 39,460

Players in: Kasper Schmeichel (Notts County, free), Billy Paynter (Swindon, free), Paul Connolly (Derby, free), Fede Bessone (Swansea, free), Neill Collins (Preston, undisclosed), Lloyd Sam (Charlton, free)

Players out: Casper Ankergren, Rui Marques, Andrew Milne (all released), Jermaine Beckford (Everton, free), Tom Elliott (Rotherham, loan)

Key man: Robert Snodgrass

Chances: Simon Grayson has yet to replace the goals and pace of Jermaine Beckford, but has enough craft and guile in his side to help them to the fringes of the play-offs. If they can stay afloat until Paddy Kisnorbo is fit and get the best out of Robert Snodgrass, they will more than hold their own.

Prediction: 9th

Leicester

Manager: Paulo Sousa

Position last season: 5th

Nickname: The Foxes

Ground: Walkers Stadium

Capacity: 32,500

Players in: Tom Kennedy (Rochdale, free)

Players out: Astrit Ajdarevic, Robbie Burns, Carl Pentney, Levi Porter (all released), Stephen Clemence (retired), Billy Kee (Torquay, free), Alex Cisak (Accrington, free), James Wesolowski (Peterborough, undisclosed), Wayne Brown (Preston, free), Nolberto Solano (Hull, free), Harry Worley (Oxford, free), Yann Kermorgant (AC Arles Avignon, season-long loan)

Key man: Matty Fryatt

Chances: The shock exit of Nigel Pearson has put question marks over Leicester's ability to repeat last season's play-off finish, although new manager Paulo Sousa should enjoy having more firepower at his disposal than he did at Swansea. A top-six push may not be beyond them, but a mid-table finish is more likely.

Prediction: 11th

Middlesbrough

Manager: Gordon Strachan

Position last season: 11th

Nickname: Boro

Ground: Riverside Stadium

Capacity: 34,988

Players in: Andy Halliday (Livingston, undisclosed), Kris Boyd (Rangers, free), Nicky Bailey (Charlton, £1.4m), Stephen McManus (Celtic, undisclosed), Kevin Thomson (Rangers, £2m)

Players out: Emanuel Pogatetz (Hannover, free), John Johnson (Northampton, free)

Key man: Kris Boyd

Chances: Much has been made of Gordon Strachan's constant forays into the Scottish market for players, but the signing of Kris Boyd, a proven goalscorer, should provide Boro with what they were missing last season. Kevin Thomson is another shrewd acquisition, and the north-east club should be celebrating promotion come May.

Prediction: 2nd

Millwall

Manager: Kenny Jackett

Position last season: 3rd in League One (promoted via the play-offs)

Nickname: The Lions

Ground: The Den

Capacity: 20,146

Players in: Shaun Batt (Peterborough, undisclosed), Liam Trotter (Ipswich, free), Tamika Mkandawire (Leyton Orient, free), Steve Mildenhall (Southend, free), James Henry (Millwall, undisclosed), Kevin Lisbie (Ipswich, loan)

Players out: Ali Fuseini, Jason Price (released), David Martin (Derby, free), Adam Bolder (Burton, free), John Sullivan (Yeovil, loan)

Key man: Paul Robinson

Chances: The Lions made it into the Championship via the play-offs last season, but doubts exist over whether or not they have enough goals in them to survive. Veteran Neil Harris will shoulder a lot of the responsibility, while Steve Morison may find the step up difficult in a season of struggle.

Prediction: 22nd

Norwich

Manager: Paul Lambert

Position last season: 1st in League One

Nickname: The Canaries

Ground: Carrow Road

Capacity: 27,000

Players in: Andrew Crofts (Brighton, undisclosed), Elliott Ward (Coventry, free), Steven Smith (Rangers, free), David Fox (Colchester, undisclosed), Andrew Surman (Wolves, undisclosed), John Ruddy (Everton, undisclosed), Simeon Jackson (Gillingham, undisclosed)

Players out: Gary Doherty (Charlton, free), Jamie Cureton, Paul McVeigh, Darel Russell (released), Danny Kelly (Barnet, free), Michael Spillane (Brentford, undisclosed), David Stephens (Hibernian, undisclosed), Tom Adeyemi (Bradford, loan), Cody McDonald (Gillingham, loan), Damon Lathrope (Torquay, free), Rhoys Wiggins (Bournemouth, undisclosed)

Key man: Grant Holt

Chances: Paul Lambert has made some shrewd signings over the summer and added the possibility of even more goals to his attack with the addition of Simeon Jackson. Wes Hoolahan will remain their provider, and if Elliott Ward can replace Gary Doherty, they will be more than competitive.

Prediction: 14th

Nottingham Forest

Manager: Billy Davies

Position last season: 3rd

Nickname: The Reds

Ground: City Ground

Capacity: 30,602

Players in: Radi Majewski (Polonia Warsaw, £1m)

Players out: Joe Garner (Huddersfield, loan), Mark Byrne (Barnet, loan)

Key man: Paul McKenna

Chances: Despite no new faces coming into his squad, Billy Davies has enough quality at his disposal to make sure they do not need the play-offs this season. He has an embarrassment of riches up front and if they remain as good as they were at home last season, they should have a good chance of lifting the title.

Prediction: 1st

Portsmouth

Manager: Steve Cotterill

Position last season: 20th in Premier League

Nickname: Pompey

Ground: Fratton Park

Capacity: 20,224

Players in: Ibrahima Sonko (Stoke, season-long loan)

Players out: Florent Cuvelier (Stoke, free), Nadir Belhadj (Al Sadd, free), Luke Wilkinson (Dagenham, free), Papa Bouba Diop (AEK Athens, free), David James (released)

Key man: David Nugent

Chances: There is no doubting Steve Cotterill's managerial ability, but having his hands tied in the transfer market means he may have to endure a maiden season of struggle. David Nugent has it in him to score goals, but it is unlikely to be enough to put Pompey in the promotion shake-up.

Prediction: 16th

Preston

Manager: Darren Ferguson

Position last season: 17th

Nickname: The Lilywhites

Ground: Deepdale

Capacity: 23,408

Players in: Paul Hayes (Scunthorpe, free), Matt James (Manchester United, season-long loan), Wayne Brown (Leicester, free), Craig Morgan (Peterborough, £400,000), David Gray (Manchester United, free), Andreas Arestidou (Shrewsbury, free)

Players out: Veliche Shumulikoski, Liam Chilvers (released), Chris Sedgwick (Sheffield Wednesday, free), Neil Mellor (Sheffield Wednesday, season-long loan), Ross Wallace (Burnley, undisclosed), Neill Collins (Leeds, undisclosed), Eddie Nolan (Scunthorpe, loan), Michael Hart (released)

Key man: Sean St Ledger

Chances: Paul Hayes is a proven striker at this level but Preston were disappointing last season and have not strengthened their squad enough over the summer. They will be too good to go down, but do not look to have the depth required to mount a challenge.

Prediction: 18th

QPR

Manager: Neil Warnock

Position last season: 13th

Nickname: The Rs

Ground: Loftus Road

Capacity: 20,000

Players in: Jamie Mackie (Plymouth, undisclosed), Leon Clarke (Sheffield Wednesday, free), Paddy Kenny (Sheffield United, £750,000), Shaun Derry (Crystal Palace, free), Clint Hill (Crystal Palace, free)

Players out: Angelo Balanta (MK Dons, season-long loan)

Key man: Akos Buzsaky

Chances: Neil Warnock is likely to end his career with Rangers and will view this as his final chance to make a return to the Premier League. He has recruited well, especially with his long-term goalkeeper Paddy Kenny, and they look good enough to make the play-offs.

Prediction: 4th

Reading

Manager: Brian McDermott

Position last season: 9th

Nickname: The Royals

Ground: Madejski Stadium

Capacity: 24,161

Players in: Marcus Williams (Scunthorpe, free), Andy Griffin (Stoke, nominal)

Players out: Liam Rosenior, Mitchell Bryant and Radoslav Vasilev (released), Oliver Bozanic (Central Coast Mariners, free), Marek Matejovsky (Sparta Prague, undisclosed), Kalifa Cisse (Bristol City, undisclosed), Andrew White (Gillingham, free), James Henry (Millwall, undisclosed)

Key man: Shane Long

Chances: The Royals impressed everyone with their strong end to last season and the return to fitness of Noel Hunt should give them an added dimension this time around. Shane Long will continue to get better and they should easily make the play-off places.

Prediction: 5th

Scunthorpe

Manager: Nigel Adkins

Position last season: 20th

Nickname: The Iron

Ground: Glanford Park

Capacity: 9,088

Players in: Bobby Grant (Accrington, free), Chris Dagnall (Rochdale, free), Michael Collins (Huddersfield, undisclosed), Eddie Nolan (Preston, loan)

Players out: Peter Winn (Stevenage, free), Jake Picton, Ben May (released), Paul Hayes (Preston, free), Marcus Williams (Reading, free), Grant McCann (Peterborough, free), Josh Lillis (Rochdale, loan), Matt Sparrow (Brighton, free), Gary Hooper (Celtic, £2m)

Key man: Joe Murphy

Chances: Scunthorpe's stay in the Championship should end this season, with a lack of goals and not enough steel in defence looking to be their major problems. With Gary Hooper gone and no obvious replacement on the horizon, manager Nigel Adkins will need to call on his famous motivational abilities if the Iron are to survive.

Prediction: 24th

Sheffield United

Manager: Kevin Blackwell

Position last season: 8th

Nickname: The Blades

Ground: Bramall Lane

Capacity: 32,702

Players in: Daniel Bogdanovic (Barnsley, free), Johnny Ertl (Crystal Palace, free), Leon Britton (Swansea, free), Steve Simonsen (Stoke, free), Simon Walton (Plymouth, loan), Rob Kozluk (Barnsley, free)

Players out: Glen Little (Aldershot, free), Henri Camara, Jonathan Fortune, Derek Geary, Justin Haber, Liban Abdi (released), Ian Bennett (Huddersfield, free), Sam Wedgbury (Macclesfield, free), Gary Naysmith (Huddersfield, free), Paddy Kenny (QPR, £750,000), Jordan Stewart (Skoda Xanthi, free), Billy Sharp (Doncaster, £1.1m), James Harper (Hull, free), Kyel Reid (Charlton, free), Glen Little (Aldershot, free)

Key man: Nick Montgomery

Chances: This could be a big season for manager Kevin Blackwell after last year's disappointing finish, although the signings of Leon Britton and Daniel Bogdanovic will certainly add something to the Blades' squad. Their inconsistencies should prevent them from making the play-offs, though.

Prediction: 10th

Swansea

Manager: Brendan Rodgers

Position last season: 7th

Nickname: The Swans

Ground: Liberty Stadium

Capacity: 20,532

Players in: Scott Donnelly (Aldershot, compensation fee), Neil Taylor (Wrexham, compensation fee)

Players out: Guillem Bauza (released), Marcos Painter (Brighton, free), James Burgin, Daniel Sheehan, Kirean Howard (all released), Leon Britton (Sheffield United, free), Fede Bessone (Leeds, free), Lee Trundle (released)

Key man: Darren Pratley

Chances: New manager Brendan Rodgers is still relatively unproven and will have his work cut out trying to coax goals out of a notoriously shot-shy strikeforce. If they can keep Darren Pratley beyond the closure of the transfer window they could do reasonably well, but on the whole they will struggle.

Prediction: 21st

Watford

Manager: Malky Mackay

Position last season: 16th

Nickname: The Hornets

Ground: Vicarage Road

Capacity: 19,992

Players in: Rene Gilmartin (Walsall, undisclosed), Tom Aldred (Carlisle, undisclosed)

Players out: Richard Lee (Brentford, free), Jay DeMerit, Will Hoskins (Bristol Rovers, free), Billy Gibson, Jonathan North (released), Jordan Parkes (Barnet, free), Mat Sadler (Shrewsbury, loan), Jure Travner (St Mirren, loan), Jon Harley (Notts County, free), Lewis Young (Burton, free), Rob Kiernan (Yeovil, loan)

Key man: Danny Graham

Chances: The Hornets have added little to their squad this summer and appear to have gone backwards, especially with the loss of United States international Jay DeMerit. Malky Mackay will need to strengthen during the season if he is to stave off relegation.

Prediction: 23rd