The EFL opening weekend fixtures have been announced!

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We talk you through all the opening weekend fixtures for the 2023/24 EFL season.

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it’s fixtures release day in the efl these are the opening day matches in the championship for the 2024 2025 season it all kicks off on Friday the 9th of August with Blackburn against Derby and Preston at home to Sheffield United are games on the opening weekend a Cardiff against Sunderland hull versus Bristol City leads at home to Portsmouth middleb take on Swansea while milw are at home to Watford Oxford take on Norwich PR versus West Brom soer at home to centry Sheffield Wednesday take on Plymouth and Luton play Burnley Bo what a COR that is loen against Burnley both relegated from the Premier League they play against each other wow what about League one well let’s have a look how it all starts and Mansfield are back in the third tier for the first time since 2003 they travel to barnesley and then let’s look elsewhere look um Saturday the rest of the division this season 5:30 p.m. k off here as Birmingham back at this level for the first time in 29 years they face reading bristle Rovers take on Northampton Burton versus Lincoln Crawley versus Blackpool EXA versus rotheram then late orian versus Balton peterbrook versus Huddersfield Steven H schury Stockport C with United Wigan Charlton two former Premier League teams going head-to-head and rexam and Hollywood take on Wickam wanders and then the opening weekend in League 2 looks like this Chesterfield host Swindon in the first game of the campaign elsewhere AFC Wimbledon play Colchester Barrow host crew chelham take on Newport and Doncaster host Arrington Fleetwood host Grimsby gillium at home to carile Brumley begin life in the football league at Harriet while the MK Dons host Bradford sulfur at home to Port Vale while trir play KN County and wil take on morham all of those games right across the efl then live on Sky Sports we’re going to tell you exactly how you can watch those shortly uh but let’s bring you more fixtures now shall we and have a look what else has been catching ouri H Bromley as we mentioned going be playing in the football league for the first time here’s how their campaign H looks they start as we mentioned already away at harut gaming see live on Sky Sports plush then they take on AFC Wimbledon in their first home game then it’s the trip to Bradford home to crew Colchester away then home to knots County let’s look at some of the other teams then shall we what about Chesterfield well they got promoted with Bramley here are their first six matches their first game is against Swindon at home live on Sky then they uh travel to crew then it’s a home game against Salford trip to Gillingham home against Grimsby then away at Port Vale on September the 14th what about Leeds United well they were beaten in the Championship Playoff final against Southampton of course they’ll be desperate to get promotion this season back into the Premier League they start with a home game against Portsmouth then a trip to West Brom and then Sheffield Wednesday away Hull and Burnley home backto back follows before a trip to Cardiff tricky looking opening games isn’t it for leads United coming down from the Premier League also here are Burnley they begin life back in the championship what an opener against fellow relegated team luten Town what a great opening fixture that is for the weekend as well and then they have their first game at Turf Moore against Cardiff City before a trip to Sunland up at the stadium of light their local Rivals Blackburn are up next and they start September with a trip to Leeds United before facing Portsmouth at home Sheffield United also coming down from the Premier League while they start uh against Preston a away game there at deepdale saying QPR at home followed by a trip to Caro to take on Norwich Watford are the next visitors to brl Lane before a trip to Hull City and then they finish off uh in September the 21st here they opening six games is a home match against Derby County well we mentioned Luton their big opening game against Burnley that’s an absolute cker and uh then on Monday night for their first game back in the championship and then a trip to Portsmouth and then Preston away as well they host QPR to round off August and then going into September it’s a trip to the den Stak on mil wall and then a home game back at Kennelworth Road against Sheffield Wednesday and well a lot of eyes on Plymouth because Wayne Rooney is their new manager he begins life at Plymouth with these fixtures they start with a a trip away to Hillsburg to take on Sheffield Wednesday live on Sky Sports football then it’s whole city at home then a trip to QPR before two games at home against Stoke City and sundland before a trip to the Hawthorns to take on West Brum well reminded that all the fixtures for the championship league one and League two are all now available on the Sky Sports app and website as well you’re going to be able to keep up to date with absolutely everything which is obviously great news and uh yeah goals goals goals next season and reminder you can get there by scanning this QR code which takes you directly to the app and all of the fixtures as well so uh brilliant scan that now with your phone and uh download the app from the usual places over 1,000 matches will be live on Sky Sports in the new efl season and here are some key things for fans to look out for well supporters will be given longer notice periods on matches within s days of today’s efl fixed release all broadcast selected matches will be allocated for the period to the end of September before a ball is kicked of the 20242 season all TV selections will be allocated for the period up to the FA Cup third round proper in early January this is a landmark commitment providing fans and clubs almost six months notice an increase from the five weeks notice given across majority of the 2324 season hundreds of games will be live on Sky Sports for the new season you can scan this QR code on your screen to find out how you can watch your team on Sky Sports and the brand new Sky Sports Plus for the new campaign so then there you go fixes are out all the games over a thousand Games Live you sure are you sure I think I’m sure what I’m sure that’s mint she is today Mrs Graves is going to be delighted about all those games on live on Sky a thousand yeah good stuff look which opening day fixture in the championship catches your eye I mean one comes comes to mind doesn’t it which one’s that Burnley loon fantastic isn’t it what an early marker this could be and early pressure for either of those two sides relegated from the Premier League up against each other live on Sky football we know that Rob Edwards has done an incredible job there Burnley still searching for a manager linked with various candidates who will be in the hot seat at turm more I think the other games that stand out for me of course will have to be the sides promoted from League one relegated in 2012 Portsmouth it’s taken them a long time to get back to the second tier only lost five games in League one last season under John MSO what a job he’s done already made a good signing as well Josh Murphy be interesting to see how they get on that was late last night wasn’t it Murphy was announced I think yeah I love going to fratton park I love I love it it absolutely is one of my favorite places to watch football great to see them back in the championship obviously Derby only a couple of seasons in League one they missed out in that first season second behind Portsmouth um and the fact that Paul War has got them up there will be fascinating to see how they get on I think the other team of course Oxford 25 years since they were last in the championship and they’ve got a really tough game against Norwich um you know leads again we we’ll look at that and think well this is an opportunity to put down an early marker but how many of those players that were leads in Ellen Road last season will still be there for the new campaign we know that they have got to sell they’ve got to raise some money because they’re under a little bit of pressure financially so I think there’s some great fixtures there and um I keep saying on Sky Sports I say it all the time and people probably bored of me saying it but I love the efl I love the championship uh and it’s my favorite games to go to when I’m out and about on soccer Saturday Duty and I think we’re in for a real treat I think I think the championship will be tight this year I don’t think they are clear favorites I don’t think the three sides that have come down will dominate in the way that perhaps Leicester did last season Southampton leads you know the teams that all came down were really strong do we see anyone do an nip switch like we talking about Portsmouth there anyone do something someone who’s maybe got promoted in you talking about the three teams there Ox Oxford Derby in IPS anyone that’s Oxford Derby in Portsmith anyone out of that could maybe challenge for promotion I think I think Oxford uh will find it tough but they’ve lost Murphy to Ports yeah they’ve lost one of their key players already um and obviously Dez Buckingham still very new at the football club so still adjusting to life in English football he did some really good things but it took a little bit of time to find that right formula um for them to get promoted but an incredible job nonetheless I don’t think Derby will be quite there or thereabouts to challenge Portsmouth now I would have never have said in a million years that Portsmouth would go up as League one Champions um but yet they did they lost five games all season John maro’s done a terrific job um Richard Hughes the sporting director had a lot of success in a very short space of time at the club I really like the balance of the team they’ve got a nice mix of experience they’ve always signed good young players as well on loan from Premier League sides they’ve got their recruitment spot on so I think they could be a team to watch but whether or not they can do ipswitch I think ipswitch was so exceptional and they had someone in Kiera McKenna who was breathtakingly different and unique very very special you haven’t seen a manager like him in the efl since Eddie how uh so I think that that was the The X Factor that they they had and a really good group of players and they recruited really well I can’t see one of those three teams challenging the top six um I think centry could be the team to watch this year I really like Mark Robbins the team that he’s built they’ve reinvested the Victor jarez money really sensibly I think they’ll go again this summer with trying to sign some new players and spend a little bit of cash uh and again I think there’ll be there’ll be one or two surprises but that’s why the championship’s so brilliant you know look at the way Q QPR finished the season really really strong under Marty cifuentes some good stuff there they were playing some great football looked good Michael Carrick at Middlesboro they’ll be there or thereabouts again so this is the the great thing about this anyone can sundland as well got sorry Sunland massive supporter base up there and they got a new manager who is coming and you’re from France you never know I’m intrigued cuz they’ve just been relegated lauron got relegated from the top tier in France and suddenly he’s then come over to the championship so how is that experiment going to work out it’s taken a long time for them to find the right man but Sunderland force of nature the fans are incredible and they’ll will their team on can’t wait let’s get more fixtures now and here’s what boxing day looks like in the championship Blackburn hosts Sunderland l go to Bristol City centry play Plymouth while newly promoted Derby take on West Brom middles BR are home to Sheffield Wednesday Norwich host milw Oxford at home to Cardiff Preston host Hull Sheffield United and Burnley were both in the Premier League last season they go head-to-head on boxing day Stoke play leads Swansea take on QPR and Watford host ports it’s always nice to get a home game on boxing day isn’t it what about League one uh Birmingham Burton Bolton Wanderers got a home game against barnesley Charlton take on Cambridge exitor at home to Bristol Rovers Huddersfield take on Stockport late norit versus Crawley peterb Mansfield reading a home they take on Northampton rotheram home to Wigan shrewbury take on Lincoln stevenage versus Wickham and rexam have a home game against Blackpool in leag two AFC wimon are at home to swinden Brad for play Port Vale Football League new boys play Newport while caral host moram chelham take on crew Colchester play Gillingham Fleetwood are against Chesterfield while Grimsby are at home to Harriet MK Dons play KN County sford host Barrow chamir play akton and Warsaw are at home to Doncaster mhm right well listen scan this QR code which will take you straight to the efl fixtures on our website we’ve got all the championship league one and League 2 fixtures there and reminder that all of the opening round of efl fixtures are live on Sky Sports yeah all of them every game let me repeat they’re all on Sky uh scan that code now and you can find all of your club’s fixtures and write them in your Diaries if you’re old school like me or download them and they pop up on your phone it’s all very [Music] clever I’m delighted to say we’re joined in the studio now by efl Chief Executive Trevor bur Trevor thanks so much for coming into the studio good to see you now with all these live matches it does feel like a new era for the efl how excited are you for the new season it’s a great day isn’t it I mean everybody’s excited the clubs we’re excited fans I mean it’s just it’s probably the best day in the year because hopes brings Eternal on this day doesn’t it you know every Club thinks are going to be promoted um everyone’s equal top everyone’s equal yeah you’re Jo you’re joint top for the day look it was a really challenging time of course for clubs in AFL we’ve had Co to contend with does it feel though like with the crowds growing again that we’re starting to get over those difficult times and and move in a more positive direction yeah I’d like to think so pet I mean if you look at the numbers now they’re they’re incredible they um I think it we’re at an all-time high in terms of the championship for example since 1892 uh as a as a as a league body we’re at uh we’re an all-time high as a body as well it’s the it’s the highest ofin Europe there a league body in attendance so you know just some incredible stats there and I think after the covid uh I think people realized what they what they were missing and and it seems to have really bounced back quite quite well very strongly right the last time I saw you Trevor we were at Wembley celebrating the playoffs which which I absolutely love it’s the the best climax to the season one of the things I want to pick pick you up on is the the the importance of the efl to this England side I love the efl I say it every week on Sky Sports News and it really is my favorite to watch when you look at this current England team it really underlines the importance of the efl the football league the pyramid system because those players like Jude Bellingham that start in the efl now on the biggest International stage shows you how important it is well it is talking about Jude Bellingham I remember at Swansea playing against Birmingham when he was 16 and he could tell even then you know what what what a player he’s going to be um but yeah it’s it’s it’s it’s a breeding ground it’s a training ground for for for all the players of of the squad of 29 I think 26 of have have played at some stage within within the efl in terms of minutes I think you know appearances I think there’s over 3,000 appearances in in the league so it’s a great grounding for them and as you say it’s it’s a fantastic competition at all levels all all all three divisions really the the the strength and quality in the three divisions is is amazing Chesterfield and Bromley into the football league after how rexon and Stockport have done just how exciting is it to have joining League too well it’s great to see Brumley as a new entrance I would think hoping to follow sford and Harriet who won their first opening games um great to see Chesterfield back um again it’s going to be a it’s going to be a strong League when you look at the the championship Trevor it’s it’s it’s an exciting leag you know because you are one step away from the Premier League and of course you’ve got three sides coming down from the Premier League as well I know it’s something that Rick Parry said a lot the efl chairman about making sure it’s fair for everyone how how do you go about making the championship fair when you’ve got three teams that come down with 60 million pounds worth of parachute payments you’ve got teams coming up from League one that don’t have that and you want to see that parity you want to see that competitiveness how do you how’ you go about making it fair it’s probably a question for the premier league isn’t it really in terms of the uh the distribution of of funding which is of course what what we’re trying to achieve is to reduce that Cliff Edge uh I mean last season ipswitch performed amazingly to get amongst the uh you know the bigger relegated clubs that came down uh which was just just a great achievement but ordinarily they’ve got such an advantage and the numbers are so skewed in terms of uh favoring their their immediate return so so at some stage one would hope there is a fairer distribution that would enable a more competitive well you know at the top um within the championship well great will we really appreciate your time good luck we look forward to that Len Burnley game on the opening we just absolute belter and uh we really look forward to seeing all the games live and and hope you can enjoy over a thousand over a thousand you enjoy as well before it all kicks off it’s not not long to go is watch every single one won’t you I I’ll watch at least 999 thank you so much for coming in thanks right let’s head to Portsmith who will be playing championship football this season after winning promotion from League one we can now cross live to our reporter Lis Mason who’s at frat and part for us morning so an exciting season for Portsmouth as they return to Championship after over a decade St away yes good morning 12 years out of the second tier for Portsmouth beautiful day you’ve joined us on the south coast let’s run through the fixtures that they’ve been given to start their season and it’s not going to be an easy return to the championship they start away at leads then it is home to Luton away to Middlesboro home to Sunderland and West Brom and Away to Burnley that is how the first six are looking so two of those sides who came down down from the Premier League last season fa Portsmouth in those opening six fixtures boxing day away to Watford then they finish the season at home here at fratton Park against Hull let’s get some reaction to the fixture release we’re joined by CEO Andrew Cullen and sporting director Rich Hughes Andrew let’s start with you thank you for joining us firstly how do you react to that leads away that’s a nice easy one to ease you back into Championship life well what a challenge but that’s exactly the reason that you know we we today’s about the fixtures coming out it’s the sense of what you have achieved over the past season by winning promotion and these are the fixtures you want to play this is what we’ve been working towards you know for the last 12 years at ports and football club so to kickoff against leads what a fantastic spectacle that’s going to be uh for the efl and we’re looking forward to that one the rest of the fixtures yeah it’s challenging but every game in the Championships a challenge that’s what we’re here for and we’re incredibly excited by the prospect of being able now to get this club back into uh a position where it’s playing in you know in the top top level of the efl and looking to be competitive um to consolidate and to look to see how far we can go and and develop onwards from there so bring it on you got the away fixture to start and that is what you wanted you asked for an away fixture because there is work going on at fratton Park we can see in the um background at the moment so tell us what is going on here this summer well there’s tremendous amount of work going on in the stadium the biggest thing is we’ve been on a three-year project now where the stadium was effectively falling down we were probably heading towards a a capacity within a 20 1,000 Stadium uh going down to 10,000 when I arrived it was already at 14 and it it’s about the investment that’s gone into it you know nearly approaching 15 16 million pounds investment from the owners in terms of making the ground fit for purpose bringing it up to speed we’ll be at full capacity next season 21,000 one of the things that we tried to do is be sympathetic it’s a famous old stadium um goes back a long long way uh Archie W leech one of the famous Architects uh of English football designed the stadium and we try to be sympathetic in terms of the the architecture and design and part of that is new TV Gantry uh which has had a 50 ton uh crane on the pitch over the last few weeks uh the GRS man’s uh been having kittens but he has finally got his pitch back and that means we started the process of renovation last week a little bit later than we would like to um so the application we made to the efl um was a request to have that first game played away um but we’ll be ready um the TV Gantry itself is Premier League ready it’s where we want to be it’s what we’re aiming for and um you know we got a stadium here which is going to be absolutely rocking as it always is next season rich I would say have you had a nice summer but I’m sure it’s been pretty busy because one of the first things is of course what does the squad look like going into the new season you’ve been working with John MHO closely business over the line late last night Josh Murphy arriving at the club how happy are you to get that job done uh delighted um the business we’ve done so far in terms of the free agents we brought in were a couple of players that we’d highlighted that we felt could really add to the group so Jordan Williams coming in uh and then Josh late last night we really really pleased um obviously John’s got a good relationship with Josh from his time at Oxford together and that that helped us but I think probably Testament to the work’s going on behind the scenes in terms of the ownership the the rest of the structure and the ambition that we’re trying to put in place that we were able um to take probably one of the better players in League one last year and obviously had that wonderful game in the uh playoff final back in May so really delighted to bring him in I think he’s a player that the the fans will very much enjoy getting to know and getting to enjoy and and get to watch as the season kicks off and we get going can you tell us anything with regard to Marlon pack Captain here last season lifted that trophy not got contract at the moment is it close yeah we’re really close with Marlon um it was the nice bit with Marlon and he’s a he’s a Portsmouth boy but we also know how important he is to the group as a player and as a leader and not just the work that goes on the pitch he he helps us as that real link between John the coaching staff and and the player so making sure it was right for everyone um was really important and we we’re very close that we’ll get that agreement sorted in the n two distant future and delighted to have Maron with us um leading this group out into the championship well Jen thank you so much for your time today um there it is then so Portsmouth will start the new season their return to the championship away at Ellen Road against Leeds what will John MSO think of that we’ll ask him very soon on Sky Sports News brilliant thanks so much guys enjoyed that and it is all eyes on the prize yes who will be lifting those trophies spe in Spring 2025 we’re going to be speaking to a promotion winning manager in a moment right here’s a reminder of how the opening day looks in the championship for the 2024 25 season all kicks off on Friday August the 9th with Blackburn against Derby and Preston at home to Sheffield United yes it does then we’ve got cariff against Sunderland whole City Bristol City leads United are at Ellen Road they start against newly promoted Portsmouth what a great game that looks like and the one below it’s not bad either middlesbor versus Swansea yes should I keep going listen my favorite game of all of them is H Luton versus Burnley that’s an absolute cracker isn’t it two teams relegated from the Premier League face each other on the opening day elsewhere shaffield Wednesday Plymouth Stoke cry QPR West Brom Oxford United Norwich mil wall Watford how was I supposed to keep up with you there I just did these are the games okay I think I I’ll do League one then Manfield travel to Barnsley then on Saturday the rest of the division get their season started at 5:30 buram face reading Bristol Rover take on Northampton Burton host Lincoln cwy promoted from League two start at home to Blackpool yeah I just can’t keep up with when you’re stopping ex R and B myor list then we’ve got late nor and Balton Peter brers field Steven and shrewbury Stockport Cambridge Wigan Charlton and Hollywood reom take on Wickam with the battle of the W’s but who will get the W on the opening day good good one right the opening weekend in League 2 looks like this Chesterfield host Swinson in the first game of the campaign elsewhere AFC Wimbledon play Colchester Barrow host crew chelham take on Newport and Doncaster host Atron Fleetwood Grimsby next one uh Gillingham Carlile I just I’m enjoying Mark MC chuckling away over my shoulder Harriet Bromley MK Dons Bradford sford and Gan Evan all the guys a home against Port Vale trir knots County and wol a home to moram should we throw to Mark yeah yeah he knows what he’s doing I definitely don’t I’ve got a front row seat for the best comedy duo in town and now rexon made it back-to-back promotions last season meaning they’ll be playing League one football for the new campaign and I’m delighted to say we can now cross live to their manager the most important man in rexam Phil Parkinson great to see you there you’ve got the tactics board behind you already he’s ready to rock and roll for a brand new campaign an exciting day for the club back in League One For the First Time 2005 what’s your immediate reaction to the fixtures Phil yeah pleased I think it’s always great to have a home game f first day of the season so we’ve got that some some you know really exciting away games come up quite quickly after that Bolton uh Peter and Birmingham so listen that’s what we’ve got in the division for to to meet these teams and test ourselves against that that kind of opposition so like you rightly say it’s the first time for 19 years the club’s been back at this level and uh yeah it’s is fantastic and it really hits home to you when the when the figes come out absolutely it is an exciting day for the fans of course what’s it like for you in terms of the prepar ations how have the the preseason preparations been going so far yeah good The Lads are back in today for for testing today tomorrow Friday and then we start um on the grass on Monday so yeah the lads have been working hard in the offseason like all players do to keep themselves in good shape which is really important and uh yeah there’s great excitement and anticipation in and around the club for the new season bleep tests preseason testings never an ideal day for the players but it’s not long now until you’ll be heading State side for your preseason how excited are you to see the fans in America after your trip last summer and and all of the the kind of hype around the club State side yeah it was an amazing experience last year to to be the states and the response and you know the the reaction we got over there was just incredible and we we’re very excited about going back there this year um we’ve got a few weeks prepar ation before we go there we’ve got some great games when we get get across there so yeah no it’s it’s amazing for for us to be be on a trip like that again and um you know we’re going to embrace every single minute of it like we did last year obviously the profile of the club has grown substantially over the last couple of years how much has that helped you to convince players to join you at Rex and and and be a part of this exciting project yeah I think the a lot of players who whove watched the club from afar and and are Keen to to come on board and and see it as a club on an upward trajectory and uh yeah that that’s the aim to keep building the squad to make it as competitive as possible going into this new division but yeah it’s a different different Club in terms of the project with the documentary and and everything which goes around it and um yeah it’s it’s a great place to be there’s been a a huge uplifting the area in in rexen with with a success of the te and and the profile of the club um you know not just over here but like you say in America and and other parts of the world now Phil I want a little bit of an exclusive from you now there’s been a big story that’s been circulating over the summer and I need an update on whether Rob meleni has managed to convince Gareth Bale to come out of retirement and play for rexam come on don’t disappoint us yeah unfortunately you’ve got no exclusive for you on that one I don’t think that’s going to Happ happen I mean gareth’s uh been retired for a year now and I think it’s probably a bit tongue and cheek when when it got mentioned again um but yeah obviously an absolute Legend of Welsh football and uh but yeah there’s there’s been no developments since uh since the the those quotes brilliant Phil thank you so much for your time on this special day the efl fixtures out today and you’ve got to go back to the bleep tests and make sure the players haven’t eaten too much over the course of the summer thanks very much thank you cheers well here we go here’s a reminder hundreds of games will be live on Sky Sports for the new season you can scan this QR code to find out how you can watch your team on Sky Sky Sports for the brand new campaign Sky Sports Plus is the place to go and we’ll run you through how the fixtures look in the efl final for the next day right let’s head back to the Northeast shall we now speak live to a championship manager former England player as well of course who’s uh with our man Keith Downey Keith over to you yeah morning Pete welcome to the middlesbor training ground where in the last uh half an hour the fixtures for the new Championship season of course have been released and as ever it looks like another grueling season ahead and another grueling year for midlesboro for Michael Carrick the the manager who who joins me this morning Michael um you’ve had a a chance to have a quick GL glance at the the fixture swans at home on the on the first day how do you feel about what’s to come yeah I think it um it always gives you that extra little buzz you know then the fixes come out that step closer you know we have the end of the season where you’re kind of digesting what’s happened and then have the time off and then now it’s about what’s next really so the boys have been back training for a few days and um fixes come out so it is what it is in front of us you know it’s um we know that we know what’s in front of us we know the start we’ve got um so we can prepare and start focusing on that couple of days back like like you say that is is that quite early is that earlier than normal it was just we had was 14 weeks from the last game to the first leag game um which is quite some time so it’s um we’ve kind of split it down the middle really and done seven weeks um I say seven weeks off the boys have still been um on their own programs and keeping themselves in really good shape actually they’ve come back really well and um a bit of a week bit more of a relaxing week but around the training ground this week and then six weeks really of of um good training building up to the start of the season and and hope we get that balance right the boys have come back really well SW at home in in the first match I guess good to be at home and against a team who I think in the three matches you’ve taken charge of it up against you you’ve won each time yeah the first game is always a little bit unknown if if we’re totally honest you know we can look at each other preseason and kind of get a gauge of what what we’re doing but until um until you maybe two three four games into the season to get cuge what team looks like what they’re trying to do and and and be a little bit more certain of that um the first first couple of games is a little bit more challenging in terms of preparation and um so yeah it’s it’s it’s it’s about getting the training right getting the pre preseason right getting through the games getting players to the to the start of the season when we’ve got a really strong Squad in um in good shape so this onesy game will be a tough game you know they play good football we’ve had tough games against them we we know that um but at least it gives us something to to to focus our minds on and of course you want to get off to a winning start I was reading that you’ve not won a home you’ve not won an opening day match for 10 years that’s something you want to change of course yeah I it does make me laugh the the kind of historical records but um now listen of course we we didn’t we didn’t have a great start last season um and we know that uh the season before that um when I came in in the October the start wasn’t um wasn’t too good either so we we we need to we need to improve that for sure and give ourselves a good chance cuz the rest of the Season as it flowed we we had pretty much good momentum and finished strongly so we we want to kind of build on what we done at the end of last season when you look at the championship last season you saw the likes of Leicester lead Southampton in there of course two of of those three have gone up leads still in there so of take leads aside but the league as a whole with big clubs like Portsmouth and Derby in there as well it looks a lot more even would you say compared to last season I I think last season in terms of the quality and the strength of the squads and the in the clubs that came down was was um you know F ipswitch to to do what they’ve done and and caring what the job he’ done there was incredible really and um probably shouldn’t have you know well not probably but definitely shouldn’t have so um yeah this season list is there good teams that have came down you know look the the teams that have come down know the league very well um been um in this league recently so they know what it takes to go up um so we’re not under underestimating that by any stretch but we’ll um we’ll look forward to it you know as you said good teams have came up big clubs have came up into the league and it’s it’s even and challenging at the best of times so um we’ll give it our best I’ll take the blame for the phone ringing there hope was you and not me I hope that’s not a finder before the season starts um when you look at the the club as a whole and you look at the what you what you need to do you’ve had a couple of changes this season back room staff um and one of them is you’ve brought in your brother in the last couple of days gram what his role going to be underneath you yeah I mean um first and foremost he is my brother of course um but that’s not the sole reason why we brought him in I think um Aon obviously left to to to go to to Bayern um and you know we’ve had a way working what we used to working and um G’s been in and around us he obviously knows me very well knows how I think I know how he thinks about football uh and his background and his kind of education and coaching really his next step is to take um this after being with the under 18s at Newcastle for a couple of years so um it fits fits really well he knows the boys he knows the setup he knows um so so should be a bit of a seamless kind of transition which um at the moment we’ve been in this week and it’s it’s um obviously we’ve lost AR he’s a good coach and we wish him well in the future but to have G we’re delighted and we’re looking forward to to what’s ahead as as a back room staff as well and it looks as well you’re trying to do your business early in terms of of of transfers Luke aling signed in a permanent deal and you You’ brought in a striker early dos as well yeah it’s something we’re really conscious of um this season and we were fortunate enough to have um bit of stability the end of the season to really plan ahead um obviously Luke’s in and Delano’s in but even the ones if we can get others across the line it doesn’t mean that it’s it’s a it’s an afterthought It’s just sometimes the process takes a little bit longer but certainly we’ve been working for for quite some time we’re delighted to have uh Luke for for for longer and permanent he was terrific for us last season so many ways so it was a no-brainer for us um to to bring him in and Delano he’s he’s he’s he’s got attributes that we um that can kind of compliment the other Strikers really and I think there’s a lot more to come from him um so we’re really excited by by the potential that he’s got and he’s a really good age where I think his pick years are really coming now so um hopefully it’s not the end of it you know hopefully there’s more uh we want to keep strengthening we need a good squad and a top Squad to to challenge this season and just finally when um you look at what’s to come I think with the new TV video I think you’re likely to be shown on on Sky Sports at least 24 times next season I know that means a lot in terms of fixture changes and all that kind be a lot of eyes on your team a lot of eyes on the championship as a whole next season that’s something that you want to ensure that the club are shown in a good light yeah listen it’s a fantastic League it’s really is a fantastic League it’s challenging it’s entertaining um you know the the the excitement within games and week to week and over the course of the season it’s pretty relentless this but it’s um it’s a really good League to watch I’ve really enjoyed being involved in it and um there’s a lot of good football played and I think the league um took a a big step up last season and I’m sure it’ll be similar this season so it’s uh as I said it’s challenging and um for us if yeah the the more exposure for for the for the club for the players for the for the league the better you know and um hopefully we can keep improving what’s a really good I say product because it’s a fantastic league and commercially and um keep building on what we’ve got Michael thank you very much for giving us uh your time this morning I have to say round about this rockliff training ground this morning very calm very peaceful ahead of the new season in a few weeks that’s about to change with all these games set to come middle Sprout and all the other clubs way it’s a lovely golf course as well isn’t it so get yourself out there is yeah good stuff ke thank you so much you know me too well I do I know you too well you’re younger brother isn’t he Keith right we going to do now let’s run you through the final games of the championship season right Bristol City host Preston Burnley are at home to milw centry host middleb Derby against Stoke Cardiff away to Norwich pouth at home two leads the rest of them are there look at them read your team and uh that’s it last one’s West Brom Luton there you go yeah next up okay right into League one the final day looks like this blackbow against Bristol robers Bolton against stevenage Cambridge against Burmy and Burton away to Charon Huddersfield host Lon orian and rexam are way to Lincoln Ryan Reynolds goes to Lincoln yeah he certainly does that’s the rest of the fixtures uh come on we running out of time so you you can we can read them can’t you here’s the last ones okay well let’s take you to League 2 final day then aington home to Chesterfield Fleetwood away to Bradford Brumley host chelham soul for the way to carile Colchester at home to Barrow and crew take on wara there you go and those teams are at home Grims morome new Newport not County Portville and swinden okay don’t forget you get them all online that’s the important bit so if uh you want to find out all of your team’s fixtures just scan that QR code you can get the LW and uh you know I’m sure you probably know already don’t you the top fans will have already assessed all those big games openers finishers Boxing Day games and so on and so on and so on and uh scan that and get the uh app if you haven’t got it already which I’m sure you have right um Mark McAdam is with us once more I rush through that just because I wanted to chat to you one more time we want more time with Mark I was enjoying it I want to watch you two in action I’ve had loads of fun today okay so one final question for you mark yep who is your surprise package for the championship next season oh you put me on the spot um I think the team to watch I actually think the three sides that come down won’t be as strong as the three sides that came down from the Premier League the season before where they were dominant you know you had big hitters with big budgets I think the championship is going to be a lot tighter and it’s going to be very close for the top half of the table the team I think to keep an eye on and mentioned it earlier on could be Coventry City yeah I think the way they’ve invested the Victor jarez money Mark Robbin super experienced really good operator they play exciting football I think they could be the team to watch um so yeah they would be my surprise package this season I’m going to back Portsmouth for the playoffs o I like that click that up yeah we’ll play it later in the season