Championship experts predict which club is an ‘early dark horse’ for the play-off places in 25/26 season

Add as preferred source on Google

The 2025/26 Championship campaign is poised to be a highly competitive season, given the quality of teams set to face each other.

Next season’s second-tier campaign is set to be a typically competitive affair, thanks to the quality of teams residing in the league.

Relegated sides Ipswich Town, Southampton, and Leicester City will be hunting for an instant return to the top flight, despite Leicester facing a double-figure points deduction.

Hollywood-backed duo Birmingham City and Wrexham are set to flex their financial muscles in the Championship as the pair battle for successive promotions.

Bristol City, Coventry City and Sheffield United fell to defeat in the play-off campaign, hoping to go one better next season, as Liam Manning closes in on the Norwich City role.

However, there is one unmentioned side that two Championship experts have backed for success.

• READ MORE: When Birmingham City think they will win promotion to the Premier League with Tom Brady at the helm

Championship experts predict Millwall for success next season

Last season’s battle for play-off places went down to the wire, with Bristol City and Coventry edging the two final slots, leaving the likes of Blackburn and Millwall in their wake.

Millwall are linked with billionaire investor Turki Alalshikh, and their financial fortunes could soon be very different if his interest in the Lions materialises into a takeover.

Regardless of the potential significant investment, or not, two Championship experts have tipped Millwall to be “dark horses” for a play-off place next season.

On the Second Tier podcast, Ryan Dilks said: “I think I would class Millwall as an early dark horse for the Championship next season.”

Co-host Justin Peach replied: “I absolutely agree, I think the change in strategy for player purchasing has put Millwall on a really good course.

“They’ve sold the likes of Zian Flemming and Romaine Esse, for decent amounts of money over the last 12 months, which has given them a good route for player recruitment.

“Millwall have gone from signing good war horses, tried and tested and know what they’re doing at Championship level, to taking a risk with young players and I think that’s massive, and that will give them the same sort of onus that it gave Bristol City going into this season.

“I’m quite excited about what they can achieve next year, in what will be a highly competitive Championship again.”

Millwall are taking steps to unearth the next Ademola Lookman, through their recruitment efforts in non-league, and will need to exhibit some astute recruitment this summer ahead of next season to replace one star who will not be returning to the Den.

• READ MORE: Ben Chilwell was once humiliated after failing ‘sink or swim’ test during ‘hostile’ Millwall FA Cup clash

Millwall confirm Zian Flemming transfer to Premier League Burnley

If Millwall are to be the “dark horses” for a play-off place next season, the Lions must do it without the return of 14-goal loanee.

Via a club statement, Millwall have confirmed the permanent departure of forward Zian Flemming after his successful loan spell at the Clarets.

Flemming has impressed in the Championship since he arrived at Millwall from Fortuna Sittard in 2022, going on to score 23 goals and notch nine assists over the last two seasons for the Lions.

The Dutchman’s attacking prowess saw now-Premier League Burnley acquire his services on loan this season, with an obligation to buy clause, that has now been triggered to see Millwall’s 2022/23 Player of the Season become a permanent member of Scott Parker’s squad.