If the officials, players and fans of Newcastle United were still struggling to come to terms with relegation, their emotions will have plumbed new depths yesterday. There can be no more self-denial at St James’ Park.

As the fixtures for the 2009-10 Coca-Cola Championship campaign were released, the list of opponents read like a bad dream. A year ago, Newcastle could not have contemplated facing Scunthorpe United, Doncaster Rovers or Blackpool. Yet they will have to, after the chaos that reigned throughout most of their past season in the Barclays Premier League. It is an implosion that continues to reverberate around the North East club.

Newcastle have no permanent manager — Alan Shearer remains in limbo — and no fresh investor in place to succeed Mike Ashley, the discredited owner. They are still an object of ridicule, though pre-season friendly matches against Darlington, Huddersfield Town and Leeds United should at least help them to acclimatise to life in the lower grade.

The fixtures computer could not even offer the solace of a home game to usher in the new era on Tyneside, with Newcastle due to play away to West Bromwich Albion on August 8. It might feel like a Premier League outing but, lest the Geordie hordes forget, West Brom also fell from the top flight in May.

If they manage to get their act together over the nine-month programme, they will also end on the road — against Queens Park Rangers in West London on May 2, unless they reach the promotion play-offs.

The opening day, Boxing Day and Easter Monday fixtures are the most lucrative in terms of attendances, so the League computer has dealt Newcastle another blow. On December 26, they take on Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough. On Easter Monday, though, they do have Sheffield United at St James’ Park.

On those dates of optimum opportunity, Wednesday and Derby County have been handed a royal flush. Each have three home matches, with Derby playing host to Peterborough United, Blackpool and Ipswich Town. “It’s a great fixture list for the supporters,” Tom Glick, the Derby chief executive, said. “We’re at Pride Park for 17 Saturdays, plus Boxing Day and Easter Monday, and have only four Tuesday nights. It’s a great schedule.”

When the paymasters from television manipulate matches to suit their demands, Derby fans may have to change their plans. So, too, the followers of Reading — the first visiting team to Newcastle, on August 15 — and Watford, clubs who have also hit the jackpot with three games on home turf on the key days.

Middlesbrough, another fallen North East giant, travel to Plymouth Argyle on Easter Monday, their longest trip of the season. “The Championship is a tough competition,” Gareth Southgate, the Middlesbrough manager, said. “If we want to be successful, we have to make sure that our mentality is spot on. Like every team, we’re aiming to make a strong start to give ourselves a platform to build on.”

Ian Holloway, the new Blackpool manager, starts with an away game against Queens Park Rangers, whom he played for and managed. “I won’t get stick going back,” he said. “It was quite emotional the last time I took a team there. They were singing ‘There’s only one Ian Holloway.’ ”

Leeds, whom Newcastle may follow into the Coca-Cola League One abyss if they do not swiftly sort themselves out, get going against Exeter City, the new kids on the League One block, at Elland Road.

Burton Albion, promoted to League Two as Conference champions, get a first taste of life in the “92 Club” away to Shrewsbury Town. A week later, they play Morecambe at the Pirelli Stadium. “Having waited this long to get into the League, we would have liked the first game at home,” Paul Peschisolido, their manager, said. “But come August 8, we’ll be firing on all cylinders.”