Birmingham City will return to pre-season training at the end of June, ready for another attempt at the Championship. The division is in chaos, with the play-offs overshadowed by a 'spygate' controversy involving Southampton and Middlesbrough. Southampton narrowly defeated Middlesbrough in the semi-finals to set up a Wembley final against Hull City, but Middlesbrough has filed a complaint, alleging Southampton gained an unfair advantage. An independent committee will hear evidence from both Southampton and the EFL before the final can proceed.
Meanwhile, several Championship clubs are in disarray. Bristol City, Blackburn Rovers, and Watford are searching for new managers. Bristol City has appointed a new sporting director and is strongly linked with Portsmouth's John Mousinho, leaving Portsmouth struggling to plan for next season. Newly-promoted Lincoln City is also fending off interest in manager Michael Skubala, again from Bristol City.
The relegated Premier League teams present a different challenge this year. Unlike last season's relegation trio (Leicester City, Ipswich Town, and Southampton), who retained most of their promotion-winning squads, this year's relegated sides—Burnley, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and West Ham United (or Tottenham Hotspur, depending on results)—will require significant overhauls. Burnley, familiar with the Championship, may adapt quickly, but Wolves and West Ham face slow starts as they rebuild.
Continuity Key for Blues
For Birmingham City, this instability could be a boon. Manager Chris Davies has the squad aligned with his philosophy, and the club's ownership, Knighthead, appears committed to giving him time. The core of the starting XI is already settled, allowing Blues to focus on fine-tuning rather than overhauling.
In the last three summers, Birmingham made 13, 17, and 12 signings respectively. This year, Davies expects fewer than 10 new arrivals, with a target of around six, not including potential permanent deals for Jhon Solis and Ibrahim Osman. Ideally, key signings will be completed before pre-season begins, giving Davies time to integrate them.
Last season's top three Championship clubs were among the most settled, and Birmingham hopes their continuity will translate into consistency when the 2026/27 campaign kicks off.
