Exclusive: Why Don Goodman thinks Birmingham City won't earn automatic promotion this season | OneFootball

Don Goodman has told FLW his prediction for Birmingham City's automatic promotion hopes next season

Don Goodman has claimed that Birmingham City won’t be able to immediately earn a top two finish in the Championship next season.

The Blues harbour a lot of ambitions after being promoted from League One at the first attempt in the previous campaign.

Chris Davies’ side earned a record 111 points on their way to the title, and now have their sights set on bringing the club to the Premier League as quickly as possible.

Birmingham have already made some ambitious signings in the transfer market this summer, bringing in the likes of Kyogo Furuhashi, Bright Osayi-Samuel and Demarai Gray.

Don Goodman makes Birmingham promotion prediction

Goodman believes that Birmingham won’t be able to replicate what Ipswich achieved from 2023 to 2024, when they earned back-to-back promotions.

He has claimed that their summer additions will ensure that Davies’ side are competitive, he thinks they’ll struggle to influence games like they did in League One and thus won’t quite be competitive enough for a top two finish.

“I think there are two types of Birmingham City fans,” Goodman exclusively told Football League World.

“I think there are the ones that are dreaming — and why shouldn’t they after such an amazing season? — that they can do an Ipswich and get straight from League One into the Premier League.

“And there are the realistic ones I feel that probably accept that the Championship is a massive step, and that Ipswich were a little bit of an outlier and it won’t really be done on a regular basis.

“Despite the fact, there’s no doubt, they are signing excellent players, and they will do well.

“I just can’t see a top two finish, given the nature of the Championship, given how Birmingham City want to play in terms of dominating the ball.

“I don’t think they’re going to be able to do that as easily as they did in League One.

“And therefore a top two finish, I’ve been wrong before but I can’t really see that at this stage.”

Birmingham get their season underway with a home clash against Ipswich on 8 August.

Automatic promotion battle will present stiff competition

Birmingham will be up against it to earn automatic promotion straight away next season.

There will be a lot of clubs in the division setting their sights on that, including the three who just came down from the Premier League.

There will also be the likes of Sheffield United and Coventry City, who both narrowly missed out on promotion last season.