The Relegation Issue

I'm not a pessimist, I am a true fan and I don't think we will be relegated. But Glenn Roeder is on a hatrick when it comes to getting his club relegated after finishing 7th the season before, so it must be addressed. It keeps bugging me inside that a shock relegation could be exactly what this club needs to sort itself out.

What would become of our squad?

Players that could stay (including signing new contracts if necessary)

Shay Given
Stephen Carr
Nolberto Solano
Damien Duff
Steve Harper
Charles N'Zogbia
Craig Moore
Titus Bramble
Antoine Sibierski
Shola Ameobi
Peter Ramage
Steven Taylor
Olivier Bernard
Matty Pattison
Alan O'Brien

You may think some of those will definitely go, such as Given, Duff, N'Zogbia or even Carr but I think we'd have a reasonable chance of keeping them. Shay just signed a new 5 year contract, but whether it included a relegation clause I don't know. The situation is the same with Duff. Whether they'd feel obliged to help the club back up, even if they agreed only to stay for another season, I'm unsure. Playing in the Championship is unlikely to affect their Ireland international careers. N'Zogbia would be subject to a lot of interest much like Curtis Davies of West Brom, who stayed, so maybe as he's only young he would stay.

Players I'm unsure about:

Kieron Dyer - Who would buy him? Especially if his injury problems continue.
Michael Owen - How fit would he be? He might stay on until Christmas.
Scott Parker - Our brilliant Captain genuinely could stay.

Players who would run for the door quicker than you could say 'Oops':

Emre - Back on the plane to Italy.
Albert Luque - Back on the plane to Spain.
Obafemi Martins - Off to another Premiership club.
James Milner - Would go to Aston Villa.
Nicky Butt - Would probably go to a newly promoted Premiership side.

Who could we sign?

• Michael Chopra would surely want to come back if we went for him.
• David Nugent would be a useful signing if Preston don't get promoted.
• Andy O'Brien might leave Portsmouth to join his Irish mates.
• Liam Lawrence might be bored in S*nderland.
• Charlie Mulgrew is a bright prospect.
• Wes Morgan is a new star in the making.
• James Coppinger is too good for his current club.
• Robert Earnshaw is a decent striker.
• Jason Shackell could add some depth in defence.
• Gareth Bale is surely a future star.

There's just some ideas.

Hopefully a take over or a change in board will happen if we are relegated but that can't be guaranteed.

Glenn Roeder would surely be sacked and a manager with a history of changing things employed. Alan Curbishley, Bryan Robson or even the boring David O'Leary could give it a try.

Please note, we will not be relegated. But would it help us out in the long run?

However: (I apologise for the massive blank space below I can't avoid it, please continue to scroll down)

Would we be likely to come straight back up?

Club Last Premiership season Re-promoted? Where are they now? Barnsley 1997-8 No Championship Birmingham 2005-6 - Championship Blackburn 2005-6 Yes Premiership Bolton 2005-6 No Premiership Bradford 2000-1 No League One Charlton 2005-6 No Premiership Coventry 2000-1 No Championship Crystal Palace 2004-5 No Championship Derby County 2001-2 No Championship Ipswich Town 2001-2 No Championship Leeds 2003-4 No Championship Leicester 2003-4 No Championship Manchester City 2005-6 Yes Premiership Middlesbrough 2005-6 Yes Premiership Norwich 2004-5 No Championship Nott'm Forest 1998-9 No League One Oldham 1993-4 No League One QPR 1995-6 No Championship Sheffield Wed 1999-2000 No Championship Southampton 2004-5 No Championship Sunderland 2005-6 - Championship Swindon 1993-4 No League Two Watford 2000-1 No Premiership West Brom 2005-6 - Championship Wimbledon 1999-2000 No League Two Wolves 2003-4 No Championship

This table shows every club that has been relegated from the Premiership and their last season in the Premiership and whether they acheived re-promotion the season immediately after being relegated. Only three clubs have ever managed it; Blackburn, Man City and Middlesbrough who are still there today. Birmingham, West Brom and S*nderland were relegated last season therefore their re-promotion is marked not applicable yet.

Relegation for thought.