There are those clubs that went to the wall (Bury, Third Lanark), those that have slipped into non-league (Stockport), those that were penalised through impropriety (Rangers), those who whose owners turfed them out of their stadiums (Charlton, Coventry), but there are those that tumble through the divisions at a rate that makes your nose bleed and ears pop. Sheffield United fell from 6th place in the old first division to the fourth division in just 7 years (1975-1981). This dismal decline was mirrored by Wolves, who went from 6th place in Div 1 to Div 4 in just 7 years (1980-1987). Historically a giant club, Wolves took more than 30 years to recover some of their mojo. Meanwhile it's 40 years and counting for the Blades. Does this mean we won't see Sunderland in the PL until 2050?
How about Northampton Town who won promotion from Division 4 in 1960/61season and managed to get promoted up to Division 1 with us in 1964/65 season before being relegated back down the Divisions and starting season 1969/70 back in Division 4.
Portsmouth - thanks to Melty Face, in a few years they went from a steady Prem to the 4th tier and nearly going bust in the process
Chesterfield. Ever since being wrongly knocked out of the FA cup at semi final stage by Middlesbrough when 5 foot Juninho bumped in to security guard Sean Dyche and it went to a replay and the FA not allowing them to reschedule the league game meant that they missed out on promotion and they plummeted out of the league
They finished 9th in the Premiership 14 months ago. Reckon they made it back to the heights. Other than 5-6 clubs the rest of the Premiership are all living on borrowed time in the league. Sunderland will be getting promoted in the next year or two but it's hard to make a case for them coming up to the Premiership in a hurry. I can see them sitting in the Championship for a few seasons certainly. I reckon they'll be back in the Premiership this decade though.
Re Sheffield United, I wouldn't class a solitary good season as making it back to the heights. Prior to 1976, they were a mainstay of Division 1. Hopefully they can have an extended stay in the PL soon at the expense of another United that play in red. I agree about the other clubs living on borrowed time, but would say there are currently 7 invunerable clubs (the 6 untouchables, plus Everton).
I suspect sunderland will get promoted this season. Not sure they'll do so well in the championship though. It'll hurt them, financially and reputationally, for a while. Look at Leeds!
Poor York City tumbling to the 6th tier and then the final ignominy only being able to beat NUFC 1-0. How low can you go.
Difficult to care what happens to the mackems of course. I think they will get promoted this year. Well they should anyway. Its a terrible league. I think if I was to credit Ashley with one thing, it would be his response to relegation. He has positioned us correctly both times. You get the whole "ah its getting harder, if we got relegated now we wouldn't bounce back". The exact same thing was said 2nd time round and he made the claim look foolish. However I think its faint praise to say someone is good at preparing for relegation...
They won't. They've struggled when the league was terrible, now there's some better teams down there. They're there for a long time not a good time
Lets hope you are right, there would be very few things funnier than them getting all excited at their new owner, which looks like spoilt child with his trust fund - only to find he couldn't revive their fortunes. He looks like a kid who has been given a new play thing to shut him up. This has disaster written all over it. His dad was a right dodgy ****er, got involved with Marseille after their match fixing ****e, and supposedly had a part in the FIFA World Cup bribery scandal. He provided the funds for all the bribes. Money shifting around accounts etc. Standard stuff for a Swiss born businessman.
