The EFL Championship campaign is entering its most thrilling stage, as the race for promotion, play-offs, and relegation heats up.
Coventry City, Middlesbrough, and Ipswich Town are among the teams vying for a top-two finish and automatic promotion to the Premier League. At the bottom, Leicester City, West Bromwich Albion, and Blackburn Rovers are all fighting for survival.
A number of Championship clubs have suffered points deductions due to ownership issues, including Sheffield Wednesday and Leicester City.
However, for every mediocre second-tier owner, there are several good ones, and Football League World has ranked the division’s top ten owners.
10Bristol City – Steve Lansdown
Steve Lansdown’s reputation at Bristol City has recently deteriorated as the Robins’ expenditure has not kept pace with their rivals. However, it is impossible to deny how effective the Bristol-born billionaire has been for the Championship team.
The 73-year-old has owned the squad since 2002, and they have spent the majority of their tenure in the Championship. However, it may be time for them to begin their drive for the Premier League, and spending power must be increased in the upcoming transfer window.
Nonetheless, with Ashton Gate performing well and Bristol City in a secure position on the pitch, there is no questioning Lansdown’s success as an owner.
9Stoke City – John Coates
John Coates has been the sole owner of Stoke City since August 2024, and while his first season in that role did not go as planned, a good summer has propelled the Potters into contention for 2025/26.
The Coates family has been engaged with the club for 40 years, and while recent success has been difficult to come by, this year has been extremely encouraging for those at the bet365 Stadium.
The days of irresponsible spending and football decisions appear to be over for the Staffordshire club, and Stoke are on the rise. He still has a lot to prove as an owner, but the early signals are promising, and John Coates is having a significant impact.
8Millwall – James Berylson
Millwall are having their best Championship season in a long time, and this year, more than any other, appears to be their best chance of making the play-offs and possibly playing in the Premier League.
James Berylson has overseen the Lions’ success since 2023, when he took over when his father, John, died. The Berylson family has been in charge of the South London club since 2007, and consistent stability has been critical to success.
Millwall have lately increased their buying power, and with Alex Neil in charge, this season promises to be very interesting at The Den.
7Portsmouth – Michael Eisner
Michael Eisner is likely best recognized for his tenure as Disney’s chairman and CEO. However, he has owned Portsmouth since 2017, and they have returned to the Championship in recent years after spending a significant amount of time in League One.
The American has restored calm to Fratton Park following an extremely difficult period in the early 2010s that saw Pompey faced with liquidation. However, the future on the south coast is much brighter now, and Hampshire are edging closer to Championship safety owing to the efforts of its owner.
6Coventry City – Doug King
Coventry City was another team that found itself in financial ruin in the 2010s, and they were forced to evacuate the CBS Arena twice, with Northampton Town’s Sixfields Stadium and Birmingham’s St. Andrew’s serving as temporary homes for this season’s Premier League aspirations.
Tough years in the EFL’s lower levels have frequently left fans clinging to memories of the past, but under Doug King, the Sky Blues are regaining their old glory and are currently vying for promotion back to the top flight.
Stability has been crucial under King, and his decision-making has been good, notably the dismissal of Mark Robins in place of Frank Lampard last season. Now, he has supported his man in both the summer and winter transfer windows, and Coventry is on the rise.
5Ipswich Town – Gamechanger 20 Ltd
Brett Johnson, Berke Bakay, and Mark Detme formed Gamechanger 20 Ltd in 2021 to help restore Ipswich Town to its former glory following a rough few years that saw the Suffolk side drop to League One.
The arrival of Kieran McKenna proved crucial, and the Tractor Boys returned to the Premier League for the first time since 2002 with back-to-back promotions in 2023 and 2024. They have invested heavily in the team, and they have a strong chance of returning to the top flight this season.
Musician Ed Sheeran, an Ipswich fan since childhood, owns a 1.4% stake in the club and has previously sponsored the shirt.
4Middlesbrough – Steve Gibson
Steve Gibson is a Middlesbrough legend, and since rescuing the club from collapse as part of a consortium in 1986, he has established himself as one of the most conscientious and tireless footballers in the Championship.
The 68-year-old has been Boro’s chairman since 1994, and supervised the club’s move from Ayresome Park to the Riverside Stadium just a year later. Premier League football returned to Teesside as the team became a fixture in the top division in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
While success has been less constant in subsequent years, the club’s League Cup victory in 2004 and UEFA Cup final appearance in 2006 won him his stripes at Middlesbrough, and fans will always be grateful for his efforts.
3Derby County – David Clowes
Derby County were in disarray when David Clowes took over the club in the summer of 2022. The East Midlands club had fallen into administration, and they were prepared for life in League One with no squad and little time to assemble one.
Nearly four years later, the Rams are vying for a Championship play-off spot, and Clowes and his team’s significant footballing decisions have assured a bright future for those at Pride Park. With players like Patrick Agyemang, Jacob Widell Zetterstrom, and Sondre Langas on the roster, player sales should be profitable in the coming years.
2Birmingham City – Tom Wagner
When Tom Wagner originally purchased a share in Birmingham City, questions were correctly raised about the American when the Blues fired John Eustace and replaced him with Wayne Rooney, a decision that ultimately cost the club its Championship position in 2023/24.
However, a record-breaking League One campaign last season propelled the West Midlands club back into the second division, and they are again aiming for a play-off place. The on-field product has substantially improved, and plans to build a new 62,000-seat stadium in 2029 signal the beginning of a very exciting period in Birmingham’s history. All they need now is to return to the Premier League.
1Wrexham – Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds
Who else could seize the top spot besides the club aiming for their fourth consecutive promotion? Wrexham have taken the EFL by storm in recent years, and while there were reservations about their Championship credentials this season, they are proving them wrong.
Their Hollywood owners, Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, have contributed significantly to their success. The North American couple has rapidly acclimated to the world of football, providing significant funds to help the Red Dragons advance from the National League to the second division. Now, there is a chance of promotion via the playoffs.
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