Championship fixtures: Relegated Burnley and West Ham to meet on opening weekend

Relegated Burnley and West Ham will meet on Sunday 16 August on the opening weekend of the Championship season.

The Clarets, whose bid to appoint Wales manager Craig Bellamy as manager appears to have failed, finished 19th in the top flight last season and will host the Hammers, who were defeated on the final day.

The other relegated team, Wolves, will play the curtain-raiser of the league against Blackburn at Molineux on Friday, 14 August.

Southampton, who will start the season with minus-four points following the Spygate scandal, travel to Watford on the opening weekend before Cardiff welcome Welsh rivals Wrexham on Monday 17 August.

League One champions Lincoln start their season at home to beaten play-off finalists Middlesbrough on Saturday 15 August, and third-tier play-off final winners Bolton start their season with a home game against Preston on the same day.

The Championship season begins a week after clubs play their first competitive fixture in the first round of the Carabao Cup and a week before the start of the Premier League.