Wolves the pick of Championship freshmans for promotion

There’s nothing like a brand-spanking new Championship season to whet the whistle of punters wishing to profit from the fortunes or otherwise of those clubs making the leap from League One.

The three new recruits making the ascent to the second tier for the start of 2014/15 are Wolves, Brentford and Rotherham as we throw the spotlight on their expectations and resulting bets.

Wolves: Promotion 11/2 – Relegation 12/1

Norwich did it, Southampton did it, but can Wolves gain back-to-back promotions to wind up in the Premier League for the start of the 2015/15 campaign.

Well, it’s a tall order, but like the Canaries and the Saints before them, the midlands club have a top-flight pedigree and a following which makes it plausible.

Positively for manager Kenny Jackett – who knows the second tier as well as anyone – his squad still retains a nucleus of players remaining form their recent three-year stint in the Premier League, such as Stephen Ward and Kevin Doyle.

Riding the crest of a wave, promotion is certainly more likely than relegation for the club that broke the 100-point mark last season in winning League One.

Prediction: Play-offs

Brentford: Promotion 12/1 – Relegation 7/2 – To stay up 1/6

The Bees fully deserved their automatic promotion after the agony of the previous season when losing to Doncaster in the final seconds.

However, how Mark Warburton’s side will fare at this level – it’s only the second time since the war that Griffin Park will have hosted second-tier football – is a bit of a stab in the dark.

The loss of top scorer of last season Clayton Donaldson is a bitter blow, but their home form should have a big say in their survival.

Prediction: Staying up @ 1/6

Rotherham: Promotion 14/1 – Relegation 5/2 – To stay up 1/4

It was the Millers away from which largely contributed to their promotion via the play-offs in 2013/14, though only 10 wins from 23 games at the New York Stadium is a concern.

The last time the Yorkshire outfit gained promotion to the second tier they stayed up by the skin of their teeth and for a club with a capacity of only 12,000 seats it’s bound to be a tough season.

If top scorer Kieran Agard can continue in the same vein as last season, they have a chance of survival.

Prediction: Staying up @ 1/4

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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