Championship relegation odds as Birmingham City tipped for tough season

Following Nottingham Forest's win over Huddersfield Town in the Championship play-off final, we now know the other 23 teams that Birmingham City will face next season.

The Terriers remain in the second tier, while Burnley, Norwich City and Watford will drop down from the Premier League to replace Bournemouth, Fulham and Forest. Coming up from League One is the promoted trio of Rotherham United, Sunderland and Wigan Athletic.

The 2022/23 campaign will likely be as fiercely competitive as ever, with the battles for promotion and survival sure to captivate viewers and supporters. Unfortunately for Blues fans, their team is more likely to be competing at the wrong end of the table.

At least one major bookmaker reckons so, with SkyBet installing Lee Bowyer's side as the joint-second favourites to be relegated next season. Their odds are set at 11/4, the same as for Bristol City and Reading. PaddyPower, though, tips Blues to finish fifth from bottom.

Rotherham are the current frontrunners for the drop, at odds of 13/8. Wigan are joint-fourth favourites to go down, while Sunderland are forecast to finish as high as 16th in the table, with odds of 6/1 to go down.

The bookmaker had earlier this week predicted Birmingham City to finish safely in 19th next season, but their chances have been downgraded severely. The uncertainty surrounding the club as the takeover saga rumbles on is only hurting their chances of survival.

At the other end of the table Watford are the 13/2 favourites to win the Championship title, with Norwich City installed as the most likely side to finish second. Middlesbrough, Sheffield United and West Brom are in a three-way tie to nab the third promotion spot at 11/4.

Blues are rank outsiders to win