BREAKING: Coventry City Chairman Doug King Has Officially Left Coventry City Football Club 5-minutes ago with Immediate Effect As Coventry City Immediately Looks set to Welcome d….

Frank Lampard sent ‘difficult’ message as Coventry City questioned.

The Sky Blues’ automatic promotion credentials in the new Championship season have been questioned.

Coventry City’s automatic promotion credentials have been questioned – but Frank Lampard has been backed to have the Sky Blues battling towards the top end of the Championship in the new season.

Lampard guided Coventry into the play-offs last season, transforming their results when he took charge at the CBS Arena last November.

They bowed out of the play-offs in the semi-finals to eventual winners Sunderland, but Lampard’s side will be among the clubs tipped to challenge for promotion to the Premier League once again when the new campaign kicks off.

READ MORE: ‘Strong’ Coventry City point made as transfer interest questioned

READ MORE: Viktor Gyokeres makes Man Utd decision as Arsenal prompt transfer U-turn

Assessing their promotion chances, Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman told Football League World: “I do think Coventry will be towards the top end of the table next season.

“Whether or not they could make a top two challenge is hard to say really.

“I think there’s obviously a lot of business that needs to be done. Players will leave, players will come in, so at this stage it’s difficult to say.”

Coventry have made their first signing of the summer, agreeing a deal for defender Miguel Ángel Brau, subject to international clearance and a work visa.

“What I will say is they will be up against the likes of Sheffield United, I expect to be up there again, West Brom I expect to do better, Middlesbrough, Norwich, teams like that, plus those that were relegated – Southampton, Leicester obviously came back down along with Ipswich, who will be very, very strong,” added Goodman.

“And the clubs that came up will be strong, so I do think the Championship as a whole is going to be much stronger than last season, and that’s going to make it all the more difficult for Coventry to get a top two place – I’m not saying they can’t do it, I’m saying it’ll be difficult.”