Ipswich, Millwall and Middlesbrough battle for automatic promotion on Championship’s final day
Sheffield Wednesday could end a turbulent Championship season on zero points — despite winning their final match today against West Bromwich Albion. The Owls, already relegated and labouring under a points deduction, would climb from negative territory to a clean slate with a victory at Hillsborough. “It would reflect a new start to the club, a fresh page, a story yet to be written,” one reader wrote. The warning, however, is that a prospective fourteen-point penalty following a takeover could drag the club back into negative figures before next season even begins.
Wrexham’s taxpayer‑funded pitch works under scrutiny
While Sheffield Wednesday’s mathematical curiosity plays out, a more serious financial controversy hangs over Wrexham AFC. The club, co‑owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, used public money to re‑lay its pitch — even though the original grant documents that assessed the state investment made no reference to that work. Wrexham has been awarded £18 million in grants, the largest sum received by any UK football club. The first tranche of £3.8 million was released in February 2022 as part of the wider Wrexham Gateway Project, intended to redevelop the Racecourse Ground including the Kop stand.
Legally required state aid documents relating to that initial £3.8 million grant did not mention the pitch works. Reports indicate the money was approved without a completed contract or final state aid assessment, raising questions about its compliance with subsidy control rules. Experts have noted that this procedural gap could have left the award vulnerable to legal challenge by rival clubs, although the window for such challenges is now believed to have closed. Wrexham Council has rejected the allegations, insisting that all due diligence was observed. However, officials have acknowledged that only draft assessments existed at the time of the initial approval.
The controversy has drawn criticism because the club — valued at £350 million — is owned by wealthy Hollywood entrepreneurs. Critics question the use of taxpayer funds for a commercial sports enterprise whose owners are among the most recognisable figures in entertainment. In response, the club and the council argue that the investment will stimulate the local economy, deliver long‑term public benefits, and enable the Racecourse Ground to host international matches, justifying the use of public money.
Championship promotion permutations on the final day
Elsewhere, the Championship season reaches its climax with automatic promotion and play‑off places still to be decided. Coventry City have already secured the title and automatic promotion, leaving three sides vying for the second automatic spot. Ipswich Town, relegated from the Premier League at the end of the 2024/25 season, are currently second and will guarantee promotion with a win at home against Queens Park Rangers. A draw or defeat could open the door for Millwall or Middlesbrough. Millwall, a point behind Ipswich, face already‑relegated Oxford United at home. Promotion would mark the Lions’ first return to the top flight in 36 years; the club has a history of grinding out narrow victories, with ten of their sixteen wins in the 2023/24 season coming by a single goal. Middlesbrough, who sat in the top two for much of the season before a poor run, can still snatch automatic promotion if they beat a play‑off‑chasing Wrexham and both Ipswich and Millwall drop points. Southampton, despite seven consecutive wins, are fifth and considered more likely to reach the Premier League through the play‑offs.
The play‑off race also involves Hull City and Derby County, who face Sheffield United. Relegation is already settled: Sheffield Wednesday, Leicester City, and Oxford United will play in League One next season. All decisive matches kick off simultaneously at 12.30 pm UK time.
The confirmed lineups for the key games are as follows:
Preston v Southampton: Preston — Iversen, Storey, Lindsay, Hughes, Potts, Devine, Whiteman, Moran, Vukcevic, Dobbin, Jebbison. Southampton — Peretz, Charles, Harwood‑Bellis, Wood‑Gordon, Welington, Bragg, Jander, Fellows, Archer, Scienza, Stewart.
Wrexham v Middlesbrough: Wrexham — Ward, Hyam, Scarr, Doyle, Kabore, Dobson, Matty James, Rathbone, Thomason, Windass, Smith. Middlesbrough — Brynn, Ayling, Fry, Malanda, Targett, Browne, Morris, Brittain, Whittaker, Strelec, Conway.
Millwall v Oxford: Millwall — Patterson, Leonard, Crama, Cooper, Sturge, De Norre, Bannan, Azeez, Neghli, Ballo, Ivanovic. Oxford — Cumming, ter Avest, Helik, Brown, Spencer, Vaulks, Konak, Mills, Donley, Emakhu, Lankshear.
Hull v Norwich: Hull — Pandur, Coyle, Hughes, Egan, Giles, Slater, Crooks, Belloumi, Gelhardt, Millar, McBurnie. Norwich — Kovacevic, Stacey, McConville, Cordoba, Fisher, Mattsson, Wright, Forson, Ben Slimane, Ahmed, Toure.
Derby v Sheffield United: Derby — Zetterstrom, Ward, Langas, Clarke, Forsyth, Ozoh, Travis, Brereton Diaz, Szmodics, Banel, Morris. Sheffield United — Adam Davies, Seriki, Tanganga, McGuinness, Burrows, Hamer, Peck, Arblaster, O’Hare, Bamford, Cannon.
Ipswich v QPR: Ipswich — Walton, Davis, O’Shea, Greaves, Furlong, Matusiwa, Taylor, Burns, Nunez, Philogene‑Bidace, Hirst. QPR — Walsh, Mbengue, Edwards, Clarke‑Salter, Norrington‑Davies, Bennie, Varane, Morgan, Madsen, Vale, Chair.
