It’s a dream come true for clubs who battle away all season trying their best to get to the promised land of the Premier League that succeed. It’s a great boost for the club, the owners, the fans, everyone involved in the club in general. The EPL is so high profile, it can only raise the stature of your club and the attention it garners across the world. Perhaps this is the first time your club is even being mentioned globally.
Some clubs bounce between leagues, being too strong for the Championship, yet finding the rigours of the Premier League too demanding. Players who are outstanding in lower leagues and may even have been stalwarts of the club for years are found out as they move up a level that can see established Premier League players running rings around them or making fools of them.
Visits to New Stadiums
Although it may seem this has more to do with the fans of the promoted teams, please don’t forget that the players are football fans themselves. Possibly plying their trade from a very young age, not everyone gets lucky enough to hit the big stage of the EPL. Seeing these famous stadiums on TV is not quite the same as going there in person. It is highly recommended to go experience a matchday at a Premier League game, hopefully, made all the better if your favourite club is involved.
The two automatically promoted clubs, Champions Norwich and second place Watford have both been there before, they are joined this year by Brentford, who are getting a taste of the high life for the first time. Although they finished third in the table by a distance of seven points, they still had to go through the lottery of the playoffs as only the top two are guaranteed promotion. Beating Bournemouth over two legs in the semi-final and then overcoming Swansea in the final at Wembley, another landmark stadium, led to jubilant celebrations.
The Arrival of Big Money
While the Championship is certainly not a poor league as opposed to some of its foreign counterparts, the figures that are spent on wages and transfer fees pale in comparison to the Premier League. The playoff final is known as “the world’s richest game” as the financial rewards can surpass even clubs taking part in and winning the Champions League. The money from TV deals and sponsorship can be astonishing and even some of the very big clubs in other countries can only look on in envy.
Whilst the sudden boost of funds can be seriously beneficial to some clubs, in some cases securing their future for many years to come, if not managed correctly it can lead to serious issues down the line. Some clubs spend big to remain in the Premier League or possibly even challenge for honours. However, if this doesn’t work out the club could be stuck with a lot of unhappy players on big salaries, or even worse, players on the books who were thought to be great signings but are not any good.
The Threat of Relegation
The danger of being relegated looms large above all promoted clubs and indeed most established clubs, bar a few that would be seen as the elite of English football. Every year, odds are available on sites such as kasyna, which allow punters to bet on who they feel will be relegated this season. Typically, newly promoted clubs usually feature high on that list. The upset and disappointment experienced by the fans is not something people want to go through. Heartbreaking scenes of fans at the final round of games glued to radios, possibly awaiting other results to go their way are broadcast across the world showing just what the game of football means to these people.
A prime example of the horrors of relegation is Leeds Utd. Relegated in 2004, only last year they finally returned to the Premier League, showing the difficulties faced by clubs in reclaiming top-flight status. Overspending dramatically in their quest to win the title and ensure at least Champions League qualification each year, the failure to get into Europe and mounting debts brought about the sale of some of Leeds finest players. Flirting with relegation in 2003, the sales continued leading to an unbelievable fall from grace the next year.
Players in the Limelight
While the scouting departments of Premier League clubs are usually good, players from the Championship that move up a level don’t always work out. However, thrust into the big time of the Premier League, promoted players’ performances can be quickly noted by the top clubs. This could lead to offers being made for these players, possibly affecting their mentality and even their desire to remain at the club. Heads can be turned easily when big clubs come calling.
Offers of challenges for honours, furthering their career and of course, a higher salary, make it all so tempting to jump ship. Some are happy to remain for a while, practising and honing their skills before a probable big move. Experience is vital and looked upon with importance by the bigger clubs. You can be sure that if relegation is inevitable, clubs will be circling some of your players, ready to make offers for them to stay in the EPL and they will only be too willing to listen.
Summary
Promotion to the Premier League does not come easy. It’s a tough slog throughout a long season and many big-name clubs remain in the Championship, some of them mired down there for years. The rewards for promotion can be far-reaching if dealt with properly. It could be a big boost for the club and indeed the area in general as the club is thrust in the public view.
However, if not handled correctly, all the fame and money can go to players and clubs heads, possibly leading to disastrous consequences and setting the clubs back years. While most would say it’s worth it and try to have a good go at the Premier League, great care must be taken with all decisions to ensure the survival and continuity of the club. While it starts with the thrill of winning promotion, it can be the start of a very slippery slope for some clubs.
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