The seven most chaotic EFL Championship clubs are listed and ranked, including Wolves, Southampton, and Blackburn.

The new EFL Championship campaign is already underway, and everything points towards another fascinating season in what remains one of the most unpredictable divisions in English football.

Following relegation from the Premier League last season, West Ham United, Burnley and Wolverhampton Wanderers will all be targeting an immediate return to the top flight. Meanwhile, newly promoted Lincoln City, Cardiff City and Bolton Wanderers face the difficult challenge of establishing themselves in the second tier after earning promotion from League One.

With the play-off places now extending down to eighth, there is an even greater opportunity for clubs to mount a promotion challenge. Millwall, Southampton, Middlesbrough, Wrexham and Norwich City are among the sides expected to compete near the top of the table as the season progresses.

Last season, Sheffield Wednesday comfortably earned the unwanted reputation of being the Championship’s most chaotic club. The Owls endured an extraordinary collapse during the final period of Dejphon Chansiri’s ownership, eventually entering administration and suffering relegation after an 18-point deduction.

With Wednesday now outside the Championship, a new club must inherit that unwanted title. Here is a ranking of the seven teams most likely to provide drama both on and off the pitch this season.

7. Wolverhampton Wanderers

The opening years of Fosun’s ownership at Wolves were extremely successful. Under Nuno Espírito Santo, the club won the Championship title in 2017-18 before establishing itself in the Premier League with consecutive seventh-place finishes. They also enjoyed an impressive Europa League run, reaching the quarter-finals during the 2019-20 campaign.

However, Nuno’s departure in 2021 began a prolonged period of managerial uncertainty at Molineux. Bruno Lage, Julen Lopetegui, Gary O’Neil, Vitor Pereira and Rob Edwards all subsequently occupied the managerial position before Wolves were relegated from the Premier League last season.

Despite Edwards being prominently involved in the club’s announcements surrounding major summer arrivals such as Kieran Trippier and Raul Jimenez, Wolves surprisingly dismissed him in early June. Cesar Peixoto was subsequently appointed after leaving Portuguese club Gil Vicente.

Supporters will hope Peixoto can restore stability, but Wolves fans have already shown that they will not remain silent when results disappoint. Heated confrontations occurred during the closing stages of both O’Neil’s and Pereira’s reigns, meaning further problems could quickly create another turbulent atmosphere.

6. Southampton

Southampton enjoyed 11 consecutive seasons in the Premier League after winning promotion in 2012, but the club’s experience under Sport Republic has been anything but straightforward.

Their initial Premier League spell ended in 2022-23 following a disastrous campaign that saw Ralph Hasenhuttl, Nathan Jones and Ruben Selles all manage the team. The Saints responded by immediately returning to the top flight the following season, with Russell Martin leading them to a 1-0 play-off final victory over Leeds United.

Unfortunately, the return to the Premier League lasted only one season. Southampton suffered a humiliating relegation after collecting just 12 points, narrowly avoiding Derby County’s unwanted record for the lowest Premier League total.

After a disappointing start back in the Championship, the Saints dramatically improved following Tonda Eckert’s appointment in place of Will Still. They reached the play-off final after defeating Middlesbrough, only to be removed from the Wembley occasion because of the Spygate controversy.

Southampton were also hit with a four-point deduction for the current campaign. Owner Dragan Solak has continued to support Eckert, although the manager remains uncertain about whether he will receive a suspension following an FA misconduct charge. More drama at St Mary’s could therefore still be on the horizon.

5. Wrexham

Chaos is not always destructive, and Wrexham are arguably the perfect example of how it can produce extraordinary success.

The Welsh club spent more than a decade outside the Football League before Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney completed their takeover in February 2021. Although their involvement was initially greeted with some doubt, the pair have transformed the club.

Wrexham achieved an incredible three successive promotions between 2022 and 2025, climbing from the National League into the Championship. They appeared to have an opportunity to continue that remarkable run, but their hopes of a fourth consecutive promotion disappeared when they narrowly missed the play-offs on the final day last season.

The spectacular high-scoring matches that characterised the early years of the Hollywood ownership have become less frequent, but there is rarely a shortage of drama around the Red Dragons.

With the cameras from the Welcome to Wrexham documentary continuing to follow the club, supporters can expect plenty of attention both on and away from the pitch.

4. Burnley

Burnley were once regarded as one of the most stable clubs in English football during Sean Dyche’s lengthy spell in charge. Despite operating with comparatively modest resources, the Clarets regularly competed successfully in the Premier League and even qualified for European football after finishing seventh in 2017-18.

Since Alan Pace became owner in December 2020, however, that stability has largely disappeared.

Burnley produced an outstanding Championship campaign under Vincent Kompany in 2022-23, collecting 101 points while playing some of the division’s most attractive football. Their return to the Premier League proved completely different, though, as they were relegated immediately after managing only 24 points.

Scott Parker replaced Kompany following his departure to Bayern Munich and secured another promotion for Burnley by finishing second with 100 points. Yet the Clarets once again struggled badly in the Premier League last season, ending with an even lower total of 22 points.

The club has consequently developed a reputation as a yo-yo side. Significant changes to the squad every summer have also frustrated supporters, particularly when important players are sold for substantial fees without being adequately replaced.

3. Sheffield United

Few Sheffield United supporters could have predicted the consequences of losing the 2025 play-off final to Sunderland. Tommy Watson’s late goal not only changed the fortunes of both clubs but also marked the beginning of a difficult period for the Blades.

Sunderland went on to enjoy an excellent return to the Premier League, while Sheffield United began moving in the opposite direction.

Owners COH Sports made the controversial decision to dismiss Chris Wilder only weeks after the Wembley defeat as they pursued a new recruitment strategy built around data. Ruben Selles was appointed as his replacement, but his tenure lasted fewer than three months after he lost all six of his matches in charge.

The club then made an extraordinary U-turn, bringing Wilder back for a third spell just 89 days after his departure. Although he helped steer United away from serious relegation trouble, the anticipated promotion challenge never developed, with the Blades eventually finishing 13th.

Their summer has provided further concern. Gus Hamer and Callum O’Hare have both left without being properly replaced, while reports of a potential 12-point deduction have added another layer of uncertainty after the company used to purchase the club was placed into liquidation.

2. Watford

Watford have enjoyed considerable success since Gino Pozzo took control of the club in 2012, including multiple promotions to the Premier League. Yet managerial instability has become the defining feature of his ownership.

Alessio Dionisi became the 24th permanent manager appointed by Pozzo in 14 years when he arrived this summer. That extraordinary figure underlines just how frequently the Hornets change managers.

Pozzo’s approach has occasionally produced excellent results. Watford reached the Premier League in 2014-15 after working under four different managers during the campaign: Giuseppe Sannino, Oscar Garcia, Billy McKinlay and Slavisa Jokanovic.

His appointment of relatively unknown coach Xisco Munoz also proved inspired, with the Spaniard guiding Watford back to the Premier League in 2020-21.

More recently, though, the constant managerial changes have produced diminishing returns. Several appointments have failed to make a significant impact, while reduced investment has left Watford stuck in the Championship.

1. Blackburn Rovers

Blackburn Rovers take the top spot, largely because of the extraordinary instability that has surrounded the club under the Venky’s.

The Indian owners have remained in control since November 2010 despite widespread supporter opposition. Their controversial tenure began with the surprise decision to replace Sam Allardyce with Steve Kean, setting the tone for years of questionable decisions.

Blackburn subsequently fell from the Premier League to League One in just six-and-a-half years. Fortunately, their stay in the third tier lasted only one season before they immediately returned to the Championship.

However, the club has struggled to progress since then. Tony Mowbray, Jon Dahl Tomasson, John Eustace and Michael O’Neill have all either departed or expressed frustration about the lack of transfer investment.

Mowbray returned for a second spell this summer, but history is already repeating itself. Blackburn’s transfer window has been widely viewed as disastrous, with only three new players arriving to strengthen an already thin squad.

Protests remain common at Ewood Park, and with the Venky’s showing no obvious intention of selling, Blackburn’s turbulent story appears likely to continue.