Championship Preview 2011-12: Birmingham City

Best title odds: 16/1 - Coral

Best promotion odds: 9/2 - Coral

Best relegation odds: 7/1 - Boylesports

Last Season: Relegated from Premier League (18th)

Manager: Chris Hughton

One to watch: Adam Rooney

Summer News:

The defection of Alex McLeish to local rivals Villa has been one of the stories of the summer. Much less fuss was made of the Blues’ replacement Chris Hughton, but he has been in this spot before with Newcastle. Inevitably, there has been a long list of departures following relegation, with the urgent need to reduce the wage bill very apparent. Roger Johnson, Ben Foster, and Lee Bowyer have gone; Scott Dann will surely follow soon. Cheap replacements have been coming in though. Steven Caldwell, Adam Rooney and Marlon King have signed up.

Verdict:

The arrest of chairman Carson Yeung on money laundering charges has not helped the mood around St Andrews. The club insist there is nothing to worry about, and on the pitch the situation may not be that bleak. Hughton excelled in a similar situation at Newcastle and if the likes of Stephen Carr and Liam Ridgewell remain in the ranks then there will be some real quality by Championship standards. The short odds on relegation - Bet365 even go 4/1 - looks like a major over-reaction. Instead, a run at the the play-offs looks pretty likely.