The sad decline of ex-Premier League regulars

I recently wrote an article about Leeds United heading in the right direction. They are just one of a number of ex-Premier League clubs in leagues One and Two who never ever imagined that they’d find themselves two leagues below the promised land of the Premier League. Also in League One are the likes of Charlton and worst of all Southampton.

Southampton in disarray

I say worst of all because the Saints find themselves rock bottom of English football third tier and in real trouble after being deducted 10 points for their parent company going in to administration.

When I think about the Saints I always think of the Dell. The little fortress of a ground that proved so hard to win at even for the mighty Manchester United as the champions succumb to a famous 6-3 defeat.

However the Saints always seemed to be punching above their financial weight in the Premier League and were for a long time a solid little team. The club always operated on the smallest budgets in the Premier League and like so many smaller clubs trying to preserve their top flight status over spent money they just didn’t have. I believe a lot of the supporters actually thought that relegation would mean the club sort their problems out on and off the field.

Unfortunately for those fans who made the Dell such a fortress the financial and on-field problems have just got worse for the Saints since and last season saw them relegated from the Championship. The 10 point deduction is another cruel blow for a club that deserves better.

Charlton dropping down the divisions

Charlton under Alan Curbishley were a solid midtable Premier League club but were like Southampton run on a smaller budget than most their Premier League rivals. It was the exit of Curbishley which triggered a set of events that Charlton have been trying to get over ever since.

Curbishley’s replacement Iain Dowie presided over a poor start to the 2006/07 season and was sacked after just 12 matches. Former Curbishley assistant Les Reed took over but fared little better and on Christmas Eve just like Father Christmas was given sack.

The next manager to take over was former Charlton player Alan Pardew. Unfortunately for the Addick’s he couldn’t keep them in the Premier League.The Addick’s finished a disappointing 11th in their first season back in the second tier and last season it got even worse as they faced another relegation.

Future looking brighter under Parkinson

This season has started well for the Addick’s and it looks like they could be in line for a quick return to the Championship. Boss Phil Parkinson was caretaker boss after Alan Pardew was sacked last season but couldn’t prevent his side slipping in to League One.

However this season its his team and he starts with a fresh slate. As I write this they are second in the table with only Leeds above them. Like Leeds Charlton are also unbeaten so far in League One and the future is looking a little rosier for the men from the Valley.

Leeds and Charlton are clubs who are capable of returning to the Premier League in the next couple of years. I really fear for Southampton though as they look like a rudderless ship at the moment. They need to find stability off the pitch and maybe an improvement on the field will follow. Its going to be a long hard road back for the Saints and if something isnt done about their decline they could find themselves going out out of existence.