Championship play-off changes, new managers & star players – the EFL is BACK!

The 2026/27 EFL season is here!

We kick off on Friday night with Wolves vs Blackburn Rovers, and every Championship, League One and League Two game is LIVE this weekend!

But what have we got in store for the new campaign? We take a look at some of the key stories…

Championship

From top six to top eight… a new play-off system has arrived!

The most significant alteration to domestic football in decades has happened over the summer, with the Championship play-offs expanding from a top-six spot to a top-eight position this season, presenting clubs with more opportunity for promotion.

What has (and hasn’t) changed?

• 1st and 2nd are automatically promoted as normal.
• 3rd and 4th still qualify for the semi-finals.
• 5th vs 8th and 6th vs 7th in one-off eliminator ties at the home of the side who finishes higher up the league.
• The winners of the eliminator ties progress to the semi-finals, to face 3rd and 4th in two-legged ties with the second leg at the home of the side that finishes higher up the league.
• One other key thing to note is that, whatever happens, 3rd will face the lowest-ranked team remaining in the semi-finals. So if 8th beats 5th, and 6th beats 7th in the eliminators, 3rd will face 8th and 4th will face 6th. There is no pre-set path for the semi-finals before the eliminators.
• As per usual, the winners of the two semi-finals meet at Wembley for a place in the Premier League.

Are the relegated clubs automatic favourites?

It did not take long for West Ham and Wolves to be installed as favourites for an immediate return to the Premier League.

The Hammers are playing at this level for the first time in 14 years, and have kept hold of head coach Nuno Espirito Santo and key asset Jarrod Bowen.

Both are familiar with this level, Nuno won the Championship – with Wolves – in 2018, while Bowen played in it with Hull City before he left for east London.

Wolves, meanwhile, replaced boss Rob Edwards with the relatively unknown quantity of Cesar Peixoto in the summer. But the quality in their squad could prove telling – with the likes of Andre, Mateus Mane and Santi and Hugo Bueno sticking about.

They have also added Raul Jimenez and Kieran Trippier to the bank. Experience and class.

It is Burnley where a bit more uncertainty lingers. They have appointed a new head coach in Nicky Hayen, a 45-year-old Belgian who has previously managed Club Brugge and Genk.

But it is worth remembering the Clarets have won promotion in their last two Championship seasons – both times with 100+ points. They are experts at this level.

According to the Sky Sports supercomputer, West Ham and Wolves are the two favourites, with Burnley in fourth just behind Middlesbrough…

Middlesbrough go big to try and get over the line

It was some campaign for Middlesbrough last season. They spent more days in the top two than any other club, but managed to finish fifth.

They were then the victim of the Spygate saga, lost to Southampton in the play-off semi-finals, were reinstated to the final, then lost at Wembley to a stoppage-time Oli McBurnie goal for Hull City.

But any potential hangover looks like it has already been left behind with some of their work in the transfer window.

Owner Steve Gibson has taken his chequebook out and spent serious money to strengthen. Striker Will Lankshear has already made his mark with the winning goal against Wrexham in the Carabao Cup. He scored 11 goals for a struggling Oxford side last season and arrives from Spurs.

Sebastian Berhalter comes in, having last been seen playing for the USA at the World Cup, while goalkeeper Radek Vitek from Manchester United is also an eye-catching addition. He impressed on loan at Bristol City last season.

Kim Hellberg and some Boro fans may be wondering where this backing was in January when they were crying out for reinforcements, but it has certainly led to a swell of excitement at the Riverside about what’s possible this season.

Can Southampton escape Spygate scandal?

It was the story that dominated the landscape of last season. A shockwave went around the footballing world when Southampton were expelled from the play-offs after their role in the Spygate scandal.

But the club were quick to back Tonda Eckert, and although an FA charge still hangs over the boss, they have tried to move on and heal the wounds caused by the damage.

Fears of a player exodus have been quelled, with only midfielder Shea Charles departing so far, and the club has brought in goalkeeper Daniel Peretz and striker Cyle Larin permanently, after both starred on loan in the second half of last season.

They will have to overcome a four-point deduction. But they came from a long way back last season with a remarkable run in the second half of the campaign, and they certainly have the quality to challenge.

Managerial changes in the Championship

There are also a few other managerial changes to make a note of. Tony Mowbray is back at Blackburn Rovers four years after he left the club, while Watford have brought in Alessio Dionisi.

Elsewhere, Michael Skubala left Lincoln City after leading them to promotion to join Bristol City. While his exit opened the door for the Imps to make the unique move of appointing joint-managers in the role. Chris Cohen and Tom Shaw take the reins at Sincil Bank.

League One

Will Leicester turn things around?

For just the second time in their history, and just 10 years after they won the Premier League title, Leicester City have found themselves in League One.

Russell Martin has taken the helm, as they look to end a miserable run of back-to-back relegations. He also has work to do in winning over some doubters, after miserable ends to his spells at Southampton and Rangers in his last two roles.

The addition of experience has been the aim of the summer, with the likes of Liam Cullen, Conor Chaplin and Wes Burns already joining.

A new dawn for Wednesday and who else could compete for promotion?

The Chansiri era is finally over at Sheffield Wednesday, and there has been a swirl of optimism around the club under new owner David Storch, despite relegation.

Henrik Pedersen, who led the Owls through the grim 2025/26 season, has been given the opportunity to see if he can get more out of a squad that is actually built to compete.

Louie Barry is an eye-catching addition. Injuries have blighted his progress but he has shown what a star he can be at this level for Stockport County, while Barry Bannan is back home after his stint at Millwall.

Luton are quite fancied under Jack Wilshere after a positive run in the second half of last season.

As are Plymouth Argyle, who have been exceptional so far in 2026, just missing out on the play-offs.

Managerial changes in League One

There has been a particularly notable appointment at Oxford United, with Aaron Ramsey taking his first managerial role to replace Matt Bloomfield, who surprisingly departed in the summer.

It has not been an easy start for Ramsey, however, as he has already had to deal with a transfer embargo which has left him unable to make any additions at the relegated club.

Elsewhere, Daniel Stendel has returned to Barnsley, Martin Drury has taken charge at Huddersfield Town and Jimmy McNulty left Rochdale to join Stockport following the departure of Dave Challinor.

Bromley’s first season in the third tier!

Bromley were promoted to the EFL for the first time in their history in 2024, and it took just two seasons for them to seal promotion from League Two.

The Ravens won the title last season, and will now compete in the third tier of English football for the first time. It has only been 11 years since they were promoted to the National League for the first time.

They have been installed as the favourites for relegation, but Andy Woodman’s side have defied the critics before and will be keen to do so again. Don’t rule out anything at Hayes Lane.

League Two

All change at York and Rochdale

After 10 years away, York City are back in the EFL!

But it has not been all smooth sailing since. A couple of weeks before the start of the season, manager Stuart Maynard – who led them to promotion with more than 100 points – departed the club.

His replacement Scott Lindsey has not proven popular so far. In his first game in charge York exited the Carabao Cup at the preliminary phase, with fans booing and calling for the return of Maynard.

Not quite the return the Minstermen would have wanted to League Two.

The side they edged to automatic promotion in the National League, Rochdale, have also lost their manager after fighting their way through the play-offs.

McNulty moved on to Stockport, and they have dipped into non-League to appoint their new manager, with Ian Watson joining from National League North side South Shields.

Will Salford City finally get over the line?

It is seven years now since Salford City were promoted to League Two, and still they have not managed to get over the line.

Last season was the closest they have come, losing in the play-off final to Notts County. Manager Karl Robinson has since departed, with Peter Cklamovski taking his place, having most recently been in charge of the Malaysia national side.

They have gone big in the transfer market, too. Macaulay Langstaff and Luke Molyneux have already arrived. Could this be the year the club owned by Gary Neville and David Beckham finally reach League One?

Managerial changes in League Two

Elsewhere, there are a lot of new managers to keep an eye on. Chris Hogg has come in at Northampton Town, while another relegated club in Rotherham United have appointed Alex Bruce.

Darrell Clarke takes charge at Tranmere Rovers, Lee Grant is at Walsall and Hayden Mullins will lead Newport County this season.

Watch and follow the EFL on Sky Sports

The 2026/27 EFL season kicks off this weekend, starting with Wolves vs Blackburn from the Championship on Friday night.

Every Championship, League One and League Two game is live on Sky throughout the opening weekend, with more than 1,000 live games from the EFL, Carabao Cup and the EFL Trophy on Sky Sports. Throughout the season…

Fans can watch free highlights on the free Sky Sports app after every match round, as well as getting debate and analysis with the Essential EFL podcast and The EFL Show on Sky Sports News, a new weekly slot every Monday from 2pm.

Friday 14

• Wolves vs Blackburn – 8pm

Saturday 15 (3pm kick-off unless stated)

Championship

• Bolton vs Preston, 12.30pm
• Bristol City vs Millwall
• Charlton vs Derby
• Middlesbrough vs Lincoln
• Norwich vs West Brom
• Portsmouth vs QPR
• Stoke vs Swansea
• Sheffield United vs Birmingham, 5.30pm

League One

• Notts County vs Leicester, 12.30pm
• Oxford vs MK Dons, 12.30pm
• Reading vs Luton, 12.30pm
• Barnsley vs Bromley
• Blackpool vs Wycombe
• Bradford vs Peterborough
• Burton vs Stevenage
• Cambridge vs Wigan
• Huddersfield vs AFC Wimbledon
• Leyton Orient vs Sheffield Wednesday
• Mansfield vs Doncaster
• Plymouth vs Stockport

League Two

• Newport vs Rochdale, 12.30pm
• Oldham vs Port Vale, 12.30pm
• Accrington vs Colchester
• Barnet vs Salford
• Cheltenham vs Rotherham
• Chesterfield vs Fleetwood
• Crawley vs Crewe
• Gillingham vs Walsall
• Grimsby vs Exeter
• Northampton vs Swindon
• Tranmere vs Shrewsbury
• York vs Bristol Rovers

Sunday 16

• Watford vs Southampton, 1.30pm
• Burnley vs West Ham, 4pm

Monday 17

• Cardiff vs Wrexham, 8pm

Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: skynews.com