The clubs posing the biggest threat to Leeds United's promotion push

Stoke and Swansea have turned to Gary Rowett and Graham Potter respectively in their bids to bounce straight back to the Premier League, while Frank Lampard embarks on his first job in management at Derby.

Leeds, another club with a new boss, have also been backed heavily to feature in the promotion picture with the arrival of former Argentina boss Marcelo Bielsa causing a stir at Elland Road.

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Expectation is not so high at QPR, who have enlisted ex-England manager Steve McClaren, and Ipswich, where Paul Hurst has succeeded Mick McCarthy after guiding Shrewsbury to the League One play-off final.

Stoke, West Brom and Swansea, for whom Potter has taken on his first managerial role in England after leaving Swedish club Ostersund, should all mount strong bids for an instant top-flight return.

All three clubs have, in the main, kept their Premier League squads intact and have parachute payments to ease the pain of relegation.

Lampard faces a baptism of fire at Derby - despite their short odds with the bookmakers - as club owner Mel Morris has pulled in the purse strings after multiple near misses in recent seasons.

Bielsa’s appointment at Leeds has raised the belief that this could finally be their year.

The innovative Argentinian has a worldwide reputation, but whether his methods can translate to Championship success remains to be seen and much will depend on his relationship with the Leeds hierarchy.

According to the League Managers Association, 13 managers lost their jobs in the Championship during 2017/18, and with six poised for their first game in charge on August 5/6 that means seven will start their first full season at their current clubs.

Three of those, Tony Pulis at Middlesbrough, Nottingham Forest’s Aitor Karanka and Darren Moore at West Brom are expected to challenge for at least a top-six finish.

Boro are determined to go one better after play-off disappointment in May and Forest have made their intentions clear by providing healthy funds for Karanka in the transfer market.

Hull and Sheffield Wednesday appointed respective managers Nigel Adkins and Jos Luhukay halfway through last season, while Reading’s Paul Clement and Birmingham’s Garry Monk were both installed in March.

All four clubs struggled last season and remain unfancied, but will also have benefitted from a first pre-season under their latest manager.

Bristol City fans and those of rivals Sheffield United, Preston, Brentford, Norwich and Millwall all harbour hopes of a play-off challenge, such is the unpredictable nature of the second tier, while newly-promoted sides Wigan and Blackburn are expected to steer well clear of relegation trouble.

Rotherham, who have returned to the Championship via the play-offs, will find life just as uncompromising after bouncing straight back from their forgettable 2016/17 campaign.

Boardroom struggles threaten to undermine Bolton, who survived on the final day last season, while Ipswich, QPR and Reading could also find it tough going.