The Divide

West Midlands outfit Wolverhampton Wanderers can almost taste Premier League action, despite four matches of the season remaining in football’s first tier, but has everyone over looked the situation forming at the bottom of the table.

Four of the top ten sides in the Championship have gained promotion to Britain’s elite league once in the past ten seasons while the three bottom sides, all facing a real threat of relegation, have been regulars of the Premier League in the past.

Charlton Athletic are currently situated at the route of the table with League One football being all but guaranteed. Southampton and Brain Clough’s ex side Nottingham Forest are also in the danger zone facing the huge drop come May.

It was only five seasons ago that the Addicks were Champions League contenders but after a disappointing run in the last few games, Alan Curbishley’s side had to settle for a 7th place finish. A place even now many Premier League sides still compete for.

The Saints have faced problems all seasons both on and off the pitch, with poor results and financial difficulties becoming part of everyday life at St Mary‘s.

Having produced the likes of Matt Le Tissier, Alan Shearer, Theo Walcott and being known as having one of the best youth academies in the country ,Championship football could be the clubs aim come next season.

Nottingham Forest are the other side in the red zone that have could be playing the likes of Huddersfield Town and MK Dons next year.

It wasn’t that long ago, in fact it was the 1998-99 season, where all these three sides were playing each other in the Premiership. But this season will see the end of top flight football and the start of League football for the ex Premiership regulars.