With Newcastle and Brighton & Hove Albion already promoted to the Premier League this season, they will no longer by plying their trade in the Championship, but who have been the most followed sides this year in the division.
Aston Villa – Average attendance 32,830
Being one of the big boys playing in the Championship for the first time since the 1987/88 season were expected to come back up at the first time of asking.
However, fans were not treated to the high-level displays they expected this season which is no surprise considering the lacklustre performances Aston Villa put in last season.
With these sporadic performances, it has not deterred the Villa Park faithful who loyally follow their side home and away.
The stadium is ready, the fans are ready but are the players ready for a return to the Premier League? With Steve Bruce at the helm, they will have to be ready because he will be keen on securing promotion next season.
Derby County- Average attendance 29,338
Once again Derby find themselves missing out on the playoffs as they stuttered under Steve McClaren especially during the month of February; where they picked up just 2 points.
Characters have been questioned, but you cannot deny the fans will always back their beloved Rams.
With Pride Park being able to hold a capacity of 33,597 the stadium is pretty packed in; especially for a side who have been in the Championship since 2008.
Under their new manager, Gary Rowett, things have improved and they will be looking for promotion next year but will have to find that extra gear to make it an automatic promotion.
Sheffield Wednesday – Average attendance 26,993
Return to the Premier League is very much on the cards. With a playoff place already consolidated, it is down to Sheffield Wednesday to prove they have what it takes to make the step up to the next division.
The fans are certainly behind them as they try and fill their massive stadium.
With the ability to hold 39,732, Hillsborough is one of the biggest stadiums in England; in fact, it is the 11th biggest ahead of Goodison Park (Everton), St.Mary’s Stadium (Southampton) and The King Power Stadium (Leicester City).
The attendances are sure to rise if they gain promotion this season.
Norwich City- Average attendance 26,136
It has been a glum season for the recently relegated Norwich City as their playoff charge slipped away into the night without so much as a fight.
They currently sit 10 points behind the final playoff place and currently have Alan Irvine as an interim manager following the sacking of Alex Neil.
The former Hamilton manager is not the only one who has faced the axe, as Norwich look to cut down their expenditure; many senior players have been released.
Even though Carrow Road can only hold 27,244 and Norwich fans have not had much to cheer about this season they still manage to fill the ground close to its full capacity. Their biggest attendance this season came against local rivals Ipswich in the East Anglican derby (27,107).
Leeds United- Average attendance 25,927
Another side, like Derby County, who will miss out on the playoffs this season, but unlike Derby, this will come as a shock to many Leeds fans considering they have occupied a playoff place for the most part of the campaign.
Although they have missed out on the playoffs, stability has returned to Leeds as they march on together. Garry Monk has transformed a side defunct of confidence into a team who will really challenge next year for promotion.
Leeds do have a stadium built for the Premier League as they have a capacity of 37,890 and has been used as the national team’s temporary home in 2002, used for the 1996 European Championships and also considered when England failed with their 2018 World Cup bid.
Alex Ferguson once described the stadium as “the most intimidating venue in Europe”. The fans are still trying to create that atmosphere despite being in the second tier of English football.
