With the Championship season starting in just ten days time. It's time to look at the division itself and where can the newly appointed Steve Lomas's Millwall actually finish?

Anything will be an improvement on last season as the club went from play-off contenders in December to having to rely on other results on the final day to stay up.

It was really the defence who kept the Lions up last season, so the squad needed a massive overhaul in two positions this summer, midfield and attack.

So not a lot of work needed then!

Lomas knew when he came in he would have to work quickly, and he has with seven new signings arriving so far.

Jackett would of course made a variety of signings, but Lomas ones are slightly different. Instead of going for lower league players on a punt, each signing has significant experience at this level.

If you told Millwall fans at the end of the last season what signings the club would make, they would think you are mental. Centre midfielders Nicky Bailey & Richard Chaplow, both experienced Championship players. Lee Martin, more than 100 games at this level. Plus Steve Morison and Scott McDonald are proven scorers in a number of leagues.

We have signed players who will be looking up at the top of the table rather than where Millwall finished last season.

The clubs aim before the transfer window opened was to just stay up, this year was always going to be a unsure one with the managerial change. But with the signings made I believe we can aim higher than relegation, we can really push on from here.

This year it seems like chairman John Berylson has given the backing financially to the new manager. Last year showed a prime example of not needing millions to spend to make sure you get promoted.

Look at Crystal Palace, relegation favourites last year, but ended up hitting the jackpot with a play-off win over Watford.

Plus the division is always so tight, even this year there is no main favourite for the title. Yes you have the likes of Bolton, QPR and Wigan, but no main favourites.

Plus teams like Charlton and Blackpool who both done reasonably well last season, will be looking over their shoulders this coming season. With clubs such as Yeovil, Huddersfield and Doncaster maybe considering a fourth bottom finish a success.

I believe the Lions can finish in the top half, especially with the strikeforce that has been brought in this summer, and who knows, if the new players gel quite quickly, an outside shot of the play-offs...

Millwall: the dark horse of the Championship?

COYL.

[ad_pod id='writer-1' align='right']