Hey - it’s showtime in the UK

Here’s the weekend many have been waiting for in the UK as champions Manchester City and FA Cup winners Chelsea square up in the Community Shield and the Sky Bet Championship kicks off.

Champions Manchester City and Chelsea will contest the Community Shield at Wembley on Sunday in the nominal start to the new season in England, but this weekend also marks the kick-off for the Football League - and the Championship in particular. For Stoke City, Swansea City and West Bromwich Albion, relegated from the Premier League, the priority is a quick return but promotion is the target for all the other clubs as well.

Many of them are among the legendary clubs of English football seeking to restore past glories and they include former European Cup winners Nottingham Forest and ex-champions Aston Villa, Derby County and Leeds United.

All have significant support and in the case of Villa, who narrowly missed out in last season’s promotion playoffs, “significant investment” from NSWE, an Egyptian company who have taken control of the club after previous Chinese owner Tony Xia missed a tax payment deadline.

Leeds have appointed controversial Marcelo Bielsa as their manager. The Argentine is fabled for his manic pressing style and all-out attack, but is perhaps past his glory years.

His last job at Lille in France proved a flop and at Marseille before that he did nothing to enhance a tattered reputation.

Pep Guardiola’s idol has been tasked with leading Leeds back to the promised land and it is going to be fascinating watching the Argentinian attempt to make his methods work in the Championship.

Certainly there are unlikely to be many dull moments at Elland Road in the coming months.

Derby have Frank Lampard in control with the former England midfielder making his managerial debut in charge on Friday night against Reading in the opening match of the new campaign.

Derby saw previous manager Gary Rowett go to Stoke City and are gambling on a first-timer.

Forest have spent big in the off-season to bolster their chances and Portugal under-21 international João Carvalho from Benfica for 13.2-milion Pounds is a significant investment.

But when betting on the Championship, TAB soccer fans must always consider that demoted teams from the Premier League come with much more financial muscle and therefore an advantage.

The first weekend will give a good indication of what to expect as the season unfolds. West Brom should beat Bolton Wanderers, Swansea can take points away at Sheffield United and on Sunday Stoke and Leeds should provide an absorbing clash.