Uncertainty at Leicester City over a potential points deduction leaves them outside of the top six in an early list of Championship promotion favourites.
City have been charged with three alleged breaches of Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) and if those charges are upheld, the club are expected to be punished by way of a points deduction.
The severity of a possible points deduction is unknown, with details to be ironed out over which governing body will oversee the case – the Premier League or the EFL – and no precedent set for two of the charges relating to City’s alleged lack of co-operation.
That is likely the principal factor why City are at longer odds for promotion with bookmakers than half a dozen of their Championship rivals.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, City’s fellow relegated clubs Ipswich and Southampton are favourites to go up, while beaten play-off finalists Sheffield United are third favourites.
Birmingham City, after a record-breaking season as they secured the League One title under the guidance of former City assistant manager Chris Davies, are fourth favourites for back-to-back promotions.
Fifth favourites are Middlesbrough, who finished 10th this campaign and eighth the year before, missing out on the play-offs having lost in the semi-finals in Michael Carrick’s first season in charge.
Sixth favourites are this year’s beaten play-off semi-finalists Coventry City, Frank Lampard’s side undone by an added-time goal at eventual winners Sunderland.
City, with their longest odds for promotion at 9/2, are seventh favourites.
Not only are City in limbo over PSR, but their managerial situation remains up in the air, with no confirmation that Ruud van Nistelrooy will yet lead the club into the new campaign.
Southampton, meanwhile, have appointed Will Still as their boss and already have their first new signing confirmed, with Germany under-20 centre-back Joshua Quarshie to join from Hoffenheim on July 1.
Ipswich are making progress too, at least towards building a cash pot to fund their transfer business. They look set to sell striker Liam Delap to Chelsea for £30m.
What do City need to do this summer to give themselves the best shot at promotion? Click HERE to have your say
Get your special Jamie Vardy edition of the Leicester Mercury
Jamie Vardy souvenir edition of the Leicester Mercury
It was certainly a fairytale ending to Jamie Vardy's Leicester City career - netting his 200th goal in his final match for the club.
To celebrate, we are launching a this special edition of the Leicester Mercury where we look back at the striker's amazing career - his journey from non-league to England international, his greatest goals and where he stands in the Foxes' list of all-time greats.
We also revisit the trophy-winning campaigns - the 2021 FA Cup and, of course, the 2016 Premier League title.
And there are plenty of tributes from those who played with him, against him and worked with him.
Jamie Vardy, it's certainly been a party!
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