EFL Championship table: Ryan Reynolds-owned Wrexham misses Premier League, Ed Sheeran's club Ipswich Town promoted to English soccer top-tier

Ipswich Town returned to the Premier League at the first time of asking as a 3-0 victory over Queen's Park Rangers on ‌the final ⁠day ⁠of the regular Championship season on Saturday ensured they took the second automatic promotion slot. Needing a victory to make absolutely certain of finishing as runners-up to Coventry City, ⁠early goals ‌by George Hirst and Jaden Philogene settled any nerves ⁠at Portman Road.

The celebrations had already started by the time Kasey McAteer wrapped up the points late on. Millwall and Middlesbrough also went into the final day with automatic promotion hopes if ‌Ipswich slipped up.

Millwall beat relegated Oxford United 2-0 to secure third place while ⁠Middlesbrough drew 2-2 at Wrexham -- a result that meant Wrexham missed out on the final playoff place.


Hull City's 2-1 victory over Norwich City mean they finished above Wrexham in sixth place.


EFL Championship Standings




Wrexham Misses Premier League


Wrexham's dream of reaching the Premier League is over, for this season anyway. The Welsh club owned by Hollywood celebrities Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac missed out on a place in the playoffs in the second-tier Championship after drawing 2-2 with Middlesbrough in a dramatic final round of the regular season on Saturday.

That allowed Hull to jump ahead of Wrexham and into sixth place — the fourth and final spot in the playoffs — courtesy of a 2-1 win over Norwich in a match played at the same time. The winning goal for Hull, by Oli McBurnie in the 67th, appeared to be scored from an offside position but there are no video reviews in the English Football League.

It ends Wrexham's unprecedented run of three straight promotions — a streak that began by getting out of the fifth tier in the 2022-23 season.

Elsewhere, Ipswich secured the second automatic promotion spot behind champion Coventry — and an immediate return to the Premier League — by beating Queens Park Rangers 3-0.

Ipswich is owned by U.S. investment group Gamechanger 20 Limited and counts pop star Ed Sheeran as a minority shareholder.