Neil Warnock Warns West Ham, Wolves and Burnley Ahead of Championship Return
Neil Warnock has issued a strong warning to West Ham United, Wolves and Burnley ahead of their return to the Championship, insisting that promotion will be anything but straightforward.
The new Championship campaign gets underway on Friday night, with Wolves preparing to host Blackburn Rovers at Molineux in their first league match in the second tier since 2018. The Midlands club will be hoping to begin their promotion campaign with three points under new head coach Cesar Peixoto, who is experiencing English football for the first time.
West Ham will also begin life in the Championship under Nuno Espírito Santo. The Hammers are aiming to bounce straight back to the Premier League, having previously achieved promotion in 2012 following their relegation the year before.
Burnley, meanwhile, have returned to the second tier after an immediate relegation from the Premier League. The Clarets finished second in the Championship in 2025 before earning promotion, and Nicky Hayen is now tasked with guiding them back to the top flight.
Neil Warnock delivers Championship warning
Despite the financial strength and Premier League experience possessed by the three relegated clubs, Warnock believes they should not expect an easy route back to the top flight.
The veteran manager has stressed that the Championship is one of the most unpredictable and demanding divisions in English football, with even the teams at the bottom capable of causing major upsets.
“Yes, of course, money counts in the Championship,” Warnock said, via The Athletic.
“And the three teams coming down are always going to be firm favourites to go straight back up.
“But the Championship is about so much more than that.
“It is a hard league with hardly any breaks, totally relentless.
“And there’s no such thing as an easy game, with the bottom teams capable of beating the top every week.
“That’s why teams like mine, who most didn’t fancy at the start of the season, were able to win those four promotions.”
Warnock’s experience makes his assessment particularly significant. The 77-year-old has secured eight promotions during his managerial career, more than any other manager in English football history.
His record means he understands exactly what is required to navigate the Championship and secure a return to the Premier League.
Several clubs could challenge for promotion
West Ham, Wolves and Burnley may be among the leading candidates for promotion, but they are unlikely to have things all their own way.
Middlesbrough came close to promotion last season after reaching the play-off final and have strengthened their squad during the summer under Kim Hellberg.
Southampton are another side expected to compete near the top despite beginning the campaign with a four-point deduction for breaching EFL regulations.
Norwich City, Derby County, Wrexham and Birmingham City will also have ambitions of challenging for the play-offs, while Bristol City could prove to be another difficult opponent.
As Warnock suggested, there is also every possibility that an unexpected contender could emerge during the campaign.
West Ham, Wolves and Burnley face a difficult road back
All three relegated clubs have experienced difficult summers and have lost important players since dropping out of the Premier League.
That could make their attempts to secure immediate promotion considerably more challenging.
Last season demonstrated just how unpredictable the Championship can be, with Hull City and Coventry City breaking into the promotion picture after lengthy spells outside the top flight.
The same could happen again during the 2026/27 campaign.
West Ham and Wolves remain natural promotion favourites because of their recent Premier League pedigree, while Burnley also have the experience and resources to challenge at the top.
However, Middlesbrough, Southampton, Norwich and Derby could all make the promotion race extremely competitive.
With the Championship renowned for its relentless schedule and unpredictable results, Warnock’s warning could prove particularly relevant as the season gets underway.
