Firstly, As a Watford fan who has twice experienced being relegated from the premier league, I would like to offer my condolences to Middlesborough and Newcastle fans – it’s a horrible feeling.

My warning to you is: beware of the Championship! It is a very, very difficult league to get out of and, with the parachute payments running out after 2 years, if you don't get out of it soon, you may not do so for a very long time and could, like many before you (e.g. Southampton, Norwich, Notts. Forest, Leeds...etc), go down again!

Now, as the 08/09 championship season has now officially finished, I thought I’d kick things off for the summer and start predicting what will in 09/10. There are plenty of teams to watch out for next season!

As well as the obvious promotion candidates, Newcastle, Middlesborough, West Brom and Sheffield Utd, I think that the following teams could really impress next year:

Swansea City – play really good football and have a very good manager in Martinez. They are a club on the up and are the sort of side that could walk the league like Reading did a few years back – watch out for them!

Ipswich Town – Keane got his new team off to a flyer at the end of this season and I fully expect the Tractor Boys to start strongly next season. Keane showed with Sunderland that he can win this division, (and he took over when they were in the bottom 3 in the late autumn, don’t forget), and I wouldn’t be surprised if Ipswich are a real force to be reckoned with next season.

Derby County – Forgive me if it sounds as though I am just living in the past, but how similar is the current scenario at Derby compared to when Brian Clough took over? Very, very similar in my opinion, and we all know what Clough senior did for Derby’s fortunes! I think that Clough is an exceptional manager – in his 10 years at Burton Albion, he took them up 3 tiers (maybe 4 but I think it was 3), improved the team gradually, built the whole club effectively, led them to a 0-0 draw with Man Utd and finally left them 19 points clear at the top of the Blue Square Premier – I have no doubt that he will eventually lead Derby to the Premiership. I know it can take a long time to build success, so maybe next year will be too early for Derby, but I think they are a good bet for a play-off push!

Real dark horse: Coventry City – Led by another excellent manager, Chris Coleman, Coventry could be a decent outside shout for a promotion challenge. Alternatively, they may well go down!

The promoted teams – Of Leicester, Peterborough and Scunthorpe (fun away days for you Geordies!), I, like most people probably, expect that Peterborough, lead by Fergie-junior, will be the most dangerous next season. The Posh have achieved 2 successive promotions now and certainly have momentum. In fairness, any of the 3 clubs could do well – quality does not always win this league! A well organised, disciplined, hard-working outfit will always do well in the championship.

Relegation – I fear for Sheffield Wednesday, Barnsley and Doncaster. Watford could struggle too and no doubt at least one of the promoted clubs will be in the bottom 4 or 5 come next May. Also, I might sound crazy but Reading could go down as well (now I will really be in trouble) – I have a hunch their future will be bleak!

And the relegated teams? Get ready for a long, hard season. Most of your big-name players will leave (and Newcastle had better hope so because none of their player’s contracts say anything about relegation clauses e.g. wage-cuts!) and every team in the league will, as shearer said, see you as a major scalp! You will be their game of the season and therefore it will be very hard for your manager to motivate your players as much as the opposition will be! There are a lot of reasonably big stadiums in the league and the little clubs will generate a really big atmosphere when they play you. It will be a very difficult 10 months for your players – fitness and endurance can be crucial – wait until you have 4 games in 12 days, including a trips to Preston and Bristol City!

My advice to you is to stick with your team and get behind the players. Even when you think that they are playing terrible football (and the football will seem terrible compared to what you have been used to, believe me), don’t despair – you can win this league playing unattractive stuff and it doesn’t matter how you do it, you have just got to get promoted – simple! You will lose games, but keep the faith! Coventry and Blackpool did the double over us in 08/09, but we still got promoted so who cares?

West Brom have been there, done that and got the t-shirt quite a few times recently – any side that finishes above them will be go up, in my opinion.

Good luck to you all!