Relegated trio struggling again

The three clubs relegated from the English Premier League last season have so far failed to show that they can challenge to regain their top-flight status at the first attempt.

Only last year, Newcastle and West Bromwich returned to the top echelon after being demoted the season before.

At present, Burnley, Hull City and Portsmouth are in the bottom half of the Championship table.

All three sides changed manager this season.

Portsmouth, who dropped out of the Premiership after being hit with a hefty points penalty for entering into administration, parted with Avram Grant (now at West Ham) and appointed Steve Cotterill.

Hull had Iain Dowie as consultant since March 15 after the club announced that Phil Brown had been ‘relieved of his managerial duties with immediate effect’.

Nigel Pearson was called upon to fill the Kingston Communications Stadium hot seat after he resigned from his job at Leicester City.

Two days before the New Year it was the turn of Burnley to sack their manager Brian Laws. Many considered him lucky to have survived until that stage following the Clarets’ demotion in June.

The Turfites have now turned to Stuart Gray to take over as caretaker manager. They can still prosper as the season progresses as they bid to reach the play-offs.

Queens Park Rangers, the leaders of the Championship, are working tirelessly to bridge a gap of 15 years when, under Ray Wilkins, they were relegated from Premier League.

Neil Warnock is at the helm of QPR after taking over from Paul Hart last March.

David Jones’s Cardiff City are second behind QPR. They are followed by a horde of teams on the same number of points, or thereabouts, including Swansea City, Leeds United and Norwich City.

The Bluebirds lost to Blackpool in the final of the play-offs at Wembley last year.

Leeds United will leave no stone unturned in their bid to claim back-to-back promotions.

Simon Grayson, the boss at Elland Road, is earmarked for stardom as he leads Leeds’ quest to regain their former glory.

Norwich were one of the original members when the Premier League was formed in 1992-93. After relegation, they climbed back for one season in 2004-05.

In the last two years, Swansea finished seventh and eighth and are again striving to make the grade, at least via the deadly deciders. The last time Swansea were in the top flight was in 1982-83.

So, what about the teams that contested the play-offs last year?

As already mentioned, Blackpool overcame Cardiff in the final by the odd goal in five.

The beaten semi-finalists were third-placed N. Forest and fifth-placed Leicester City. Other contenders for the play-offs this time round should be Reading, Coventry, N. Forest (again) and Watford.

Reading, managed by Brian McDermott, were in the Premier League three years ago.

Adrian Boothroyd was glad when Coventry called to give him the chance to return to the top flight.

The Skyblues’ last year in the Premiership was in 2001. Since then, their highest placing in the second grade was when they finished eighth in 2006.

It is sad to watch twice European Cup winners Nottingham Forest outside the Premiership. It was in 1998-99 that Forest last experienced top-flight football.

In the last six seasons they had five different men at the helm. At present, they are managed by Billy Davies.

The three clubs promoted from League One, Leeds, Norwich and Millwall, are more than holding their own in the Championship.

Leeds United and Norwich City can gain another up if the maintain their current form while Millwall, who have never been in the Premier League, are placed in mid-table at present. Millwall are managed by Kenny Jacket.

Seven clubs are fighting for dear life. This pool includes Ipswich Town (sacked Roy Keane last week), Sheffield United, Middlesbrough, Crystal Palace and Preston. By the turn of the Millennium, Ipswich were still rubbing shoulders with the elite in the Premier League.

Sheffield United have just changed manager after Gary Speed took as national coach of Wales. Micky Adams has taken over the reins at Bramall Lane. Last season, the Blades finished eighth, five points adrift of the play-off zone.

In season 2008-09, Middlesbrough suffered the drop after nine straight seasons in the Premier League and now they appear to have lost their way. In a bid to boost their challenge, Boro sacked Gordon Strachan and appointed Tony Mowbray.

Crystal Palace fans can’t believe that their favourites are struggling against demotion when six years ago, they were playing among the big boys. Last season, they also went close to losing their second grade status by finishing 21st after they had 10 points deducted for going into administration.

On the last day of 2010, basement team Preston appointed former Everton stalwart David Unsworth as caretaker boss after dismissing Darren Ferguson.