Monday 1 August 2016 10:57, UK
All the transfer news, fan opinion, predictions and odds ahead of Birmingham City's 2016/17 Sky Bet Championship campaign.
Last year's finish: 10th
Manager: Gary Rowett
Title odds: 50/1 with Sky Bet
First five games: Cardiff City (H), Leeds (A), Wigan (A), Wolves (H), Norwich (H)
Players In: Robert Tesche (free), James Vaughan (free)
Players Out: Wes Thomas (Oxford United, undisclosed), Neal Eardley (released)
Fan's view - Kane Styles, sports journalism student
Expectation: Gary Rowett has done fantastically well with the resources at his disposal. We are looking to build on two consecutive 10th-placed finishes, but with clubs around us spending big, it is going to be tough.
Birmingham fans are being realistic about the upcoming campaign. Let's just hope we outdo our Second City rivals.
Most important player: With player of the season Jon Toral leaving, there is huge pressure on Diego Fabbrini to be a focal point for the team.
Who will win the league? Newcastle
Dark horse: QPR
One Championship player you'd want to sign: Matt Ritchie
They're a club going in the right direction, but they may just lack the financial muscle to compete with the top-six.
I think Gary Rowett will be a man in demand this season and Birmingham will do well to hold onto him. They're a club going in the right direction, but they may just lack the financial muscle to compete with the top six.
Sky Bet odds
Birmingham are expected to be closer to the bottom half of the table than the top this season, with EFL sponsor Sky Bet making them 16/1 chances for promotion and 5/1 joint fifth favourites for relegation.
The Blues are, however, 6/4 favourites for their opening-weekend clash with Cardiff, but are up against odds of 20/1 to win their opening three games in Sky Bet's Birmingham specials.
