Another year, another collapse: The Championship is falling behind

Southampton, Leicester and Ipswich Town have all confirmed their return to the Championship just one year after their promotion.

What was once unprecedented has now occurred two years running — a stark indication that the divide between the Premier League and the second tier is becoming increasingly unbridgeable.

And the numbers are damning. Combined, Southampton (11 points), Leicester (18) and Ipswich (21) currently wouldn't even break into the top ten of the Premier League table.

Their projected total would mark the worst collective points tally for promoted teams in the Premier League era — a record, remarkably, already set just last season by Sheffield United, Burnley and Luton Town (66 points between them). Further proof that the gap is growing by the year.

Looking back just a few seasons makes the contrast even more striking. In 2022/23, the year before this downward spiral began, Southampton, Leeds and Leicester - ironically two of this season's current relegated trio - amassed a combined 90 points.

Since the 2010/11 campaign, only twice had the total of relegated teams dropped below 80 points — 76 in 2018/19 and 77 in 2020/21.

The historical average across 38-game Premier League seasons (from 1995/96 until the start of this recent trend) stands at 88.8 points — nearly 40 more than what this season's relegated trio currently share.

Not about money

Crucially, the divide is not primarily financial. Championship clubs enjoy substantial television revenue — often more than top-flight sides in Europe's other major leagues — and each promoted club receives approximately €125 million upon reaching the Premier League.

Instead, the disparity appears to be sporting. One major factor is the weaker overall preparation at Championship level, both in terms of squad continuity and boardroom experience — many clubs arrive in the top flight with leadership ill-equipped for elite-level demands.

Added to that is the punishing Championship schedule - 46 matches plus a gruelling play-off campaign, leaving barely any summer recovery time. That often results in poor starts to the season becoming fatal as early setbacks turn into an irreversible slide