Top 6 most demanding EFL Championship fanbases named and ranked | OneFootball

FLW ranks the top six most demanding fanbases in the 2026/27 Championship season.

The Championship is already shaping up to be an exciting one, with the league delivering on its unpredictability.

The second tier of English football is widely regarded as one of the most intriguing on the planet, as there is a mix of styles and budgets, whilst reputations count for little.

Another aspect that makes the Championship so good is the support, with fans travelling up and down the country to watch their team, and they often create memorable atmospheres.

Yet, the disparity between the resources of some clubs can create different expectations among those on the terraces.

With that in mind, FLW ranks the top SIX most demanding fanbases in the Championship right now…

6 ? ? Burnley

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Burnley have fantastic, loyal support when you look at their attendances compared to the size of the town, and they have typically relished their role as an underdog.

However, that attitude has changed recently, with Burnley having spent only two years in the Championship since 2016/17 - and they won promotion on both occasions.

That understandably brings expectation, and fans are rightly furious at how this season has started. The campaign only started last month, but there have already been chants against Alan Pace, who is facing real scrutiny for the first time since the takeover.

5 ? ? Wrexham

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Wrexham’s rise under Rob Mac and Ryan Reynolds has been historic, and with the Hollywood duo having made it clear that they are aiming to reach the Premier League, it’s natural that the fans will hold them to that.

Pleasingly for the Red Dragons, there has been constant progress, so it’s not like any key figures at the club are coming in for criticism, and everything the owners, and boss Phil Parkinson, has done, will be appreciated.

But, the level of investment that has gone into Wrexham naturally raises expectations, and it’s down to the club to match that, and live up to their bold ambitions.

4 ? ? Stoke City

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You could make a strong case to say that Stoke fans have had it tougher than most over the years, as they have not finished above 14th in the Championship since relegation in 2018.

That’s despite serious investment going into the club, and it has knocked the stuffing out of many supporters when you look at the attendances at the Bet365 Stadium.

Nevertheless, the fans still demand more, evident by calls for sporting director Jon Walters and boss Mark Robins to leave just weeks into the season. A productive end to the window, combined with a few good results, has changed the mood somewhat, but if things don’t stay this way, the fans will let the club know about it.

3 ? ? Birmingham City

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Birmingham’s story has comparisons to Wrexham in the sense that the owners have made no secret of their ambition to reach the Premier League, which obviously impacts the expectation of the fans.

With a hugely impressive new stadium in the pipeline, Blues are a club that are demanding progress on the pitch, and the fans know that as well.

Even after the success he has delivered, Chris Davies was under pressure going into this season, and he knows that if he doesn’t have the club in the mix for promotion, then there will be speculation surrounding his future once again.

2 ? ? Wolves

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Wolves fans have watched the club decline over the years, and it resulted in a humiliating relegation from the Premier League last season.

As a result, patience is in short supply from the supporters to the owners, and, given the financial resources they have over many rivals at this level, there is an expectation that Wolves finish in the top two this season.

If they don’t, Cesar Peixoto will be under the spotlight, and it won’t be long until the anger directs towards the owners. So, it’s a huge season for the club, and anything less than promotion will be seen as a major failure.

1 ? ? West Ham

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It won’t be a surprise to anyone to see West Ham at the top of the list, and, again, it’s easy to see why the fans are so demanding this season.

With 60,000 supporters turning up for every home game, the Hammers get some of the biggest crowds in the country, and a club of their size shouldn’t be playing below the top flight.

When you take into account the wages they’re paying, and the transfer fees that have been spent, Nuno knows that even finishing third will be seen as a disappointment. If there are any signs that the boss can’t deliver on that, you would expect the fans to be demanding a change.