With 2020/21 firmly behind them, Nottingham Forest can now look ahead to the new season - and, hopefully, a challenge at the top end of the table.
After a miserable year, boss Chris Hughton will spend this summer putting together a squad capable of launching a top six push.
That will be the aim when the action resumes in August.
Hughton has said: “What I would like us as a club to be doing is pushing for play-offs. That means doing better than we have this season.
“I don’t think we’re far away from the top teams as regards performance on any day. The difference has been at both ends.
“We’ve been decent defensively as a group. The biggest thing for us has been scoring the goals that can win us games. That is most definitely the priority area we need to improve on.”
There isn’t too long to wait before the Reds discover their schedule for the campaign, with the fixtures released next month.
Meanwhile, supporters will be hoping for a return to the City Ground from the beginning of the term, after Forest have gone more than a year playing behind closed doors due to the coronavirus pandemic.
And on that front, season card renewals have been going well as fans look to snap up their seats.
Here’s a look at all the key dates ahead of the 2021/22 Championship season.
Fixture release day - Thursday, June 24 (9am)
Season start date – Saturday, August 7 (with a live television game likely on Friday, August 6)
Carabao Cup round one – week beginning August 9
Carabao Cup final – Sunday, February 27, 2022
Regular season final day (Championship) - weekend of May ⅞, 2022
Championship play-off final – Sunday, May 29, 2022
