Relegated prem teams

[WealdSaint]

Nice to go back to West Ham again...saw Saints loose 3-0 2002 ish at Upton Park (remember the West Ham fans taunting us "where's your Hoddle gone)...think we'll win next season :-)

[pap]

Wigan: They're in huge debt already and relegation would mean they would have to consolidate, rather than throw money at a promotion push.

West Ham: as above, they are totally screwed financially if they go down, Sullivan & Gold talking about bailing them out to the tune of £40M.

Blackpool: Wolves seem to have a bit of money behind them (stadium upgrades in planning) whereas Blackpool would "only" have parachute payments to fall back on.

 

I agree with you on Wigan, but West Ham can rely on more hardcore support. I'd back the Hammers to go straight back up if they dropped. They could cash in on their high earners, keep a backbone of the team and make an effective push for promotion.

 

Wigan is a weird experiment. The club was nowhere twenty years ago, is surrounded by big cities with prominent football teams that are supported by many of Wigan's citizens. The town is far more famous for its rugby. So, you've got a potential market of 81,000 people, and you're competing with Liverpool, Manchester United and Rugby League? Good luck with that.

 

I'd say Blackpool will have a decent shout in the Championship. They haven't spent much in the Prem, and will get parachute payments. I would expect them to be in the promotion hunt.

[L1Minus10]

West Ham - mainly because the Dildo boys have gambled their entire existence on getting a 'cheap' ground off the 2012 Olympics and don't give a flying one about their fans.

Blackburn - because of the Allardyce decision

Wigan - tin pot, **** pit