Fans decide one relegated team are Championship 2025/26 promotion favourites already, they’re a ‘natural choice’

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We are only just closing the door on the 2024/25 campaign, but fans have already started debating who will be at the top of the Championship table come the end of the next season.

The Championship waves goodbye to Leeds United, Burnley, and Sunderland, who are all heading for the Premier League, while Leicester City, Ipswich Town, and Southampton are coming straight back down from the top tier.

It’s a damning indictment of the gulf between the Championship and Premier League that all three promoted teams were relegated quite comfortably, but they’ll all be in with a great chance of glory again in 2025/26.

We’ve already laid out our predictions for the 2025/26 Championship campaign, but what do fans think?

• READ MORE: When Championship fixtures for the 2025/26 season are revealed as EFL clubs anticipate key dates

Ipswich, Southampton, or Leicester: Which team goes back up?

We took to Twitter/X to ask fans across the game what they expect next season, with a particular focus on the fates of Leicester, Ipswich, and Southampton.

From the 229 votes cast, it is Ipswich Town who ran away with it at a massive majority of 76%, or 174 votes. Southampton just about edged Leicester, with 13.5% (31 votes) to the Foxes 10.5% (24 votes).

Among the replies, one fan wrote: “If Ipswich keep McKenna and reinvest the Liam Delap money, they could get over 100 points quite easily.”

One Norwich supporter begrudgingly said: “I hate to say it but Ipswich on the face of it – Leicester likely to have issues, Southampton new coaching team and I like Will Still but zero guarantees. McKenna has been there, done that, they’ll be strong – though I’d love them to do a Luton.”

Another Canary fan added: “Continuity at head coach after relegation can work wonders (see Daniel Farke at Norwich). Leicester have a points deduction to overcome and Southampton’s squad feels like it needs a massive overhaul.”

Elsewhere, one comment simply said, “Ipswich automatics on 100 points,” while another replied, “Southampton were dreadful last season and also weakest of the three when they went up via the play-offs. So it’s mainly down to the other two and Leicester have financial issues and potential EFL sanctions, which leads to Ipswich being the natural choice for most.”

Meanwhile, a Leicester fan backed Southampton, writing: “Ronnie Edwards will be Southampton’s standout player next season and impress under Will Still. I feel that clubs will be wiser to Ipswich’s style and it may not be as simple as people think. Leicester’s financial issues spell trouble all over the shop.”

• READ MORE: All 24 teams confirmed for 2025/26 Championship season as second tier looks set for most competitive campaign yet

Will stability be the key for Ipswich Town?

Looking at the three relegated clubs, they’re all in very different positions heading into the summer.

Ipswich may have to find a replacement for Liam Delap, but there’s a lot to be said for the stability of keeping the same manager in Kieran McKenna, and you’d think most of the squad will stay put.

Southampton have a new manager in Will Still, and there are high hopes for the promising young coach, but a lot will depend on how he transitions from Ligue 1 to the EFL.

Regardless, they have some of the best players in the Championship ahead of the new campaign, with loanees like Ronnie Edwards and Shea Charles returning, too.

Leicester, on the other hand, appear to be in a mess. They’re facing a huge points deduction for financial breaches, no one really knows if Ruud van Nistelrooy will remain or who would replace him, and a number of players are likely to leave, too.

On the face of it, Ipswich and Southampton look best placed to succeed, but let’s hope there are some new names at the top of the table come the end of the 2025/26 season to mix things up a bit.