by Sutekh »
07 Mar 2026 08:47
Clyde1998 Oxford won 3-1 in Preston tonight and a suddenly out of the relegation zone on goal difference. Makes it more likely we could see both Leicester and West Brom in League One next season, along with Sheffield Wednesday.
Guess SKY would suddenly be able to find more live 3rd division games in their schedules if these were to be the 3 relegated.
Leicester City have only ever spent one season below the top two divisions in English football, that was 2008-09 when they finished 1st in the third tier.
WBA have only ever had 2 seasons below the top two divisions (in 1991-92 and 1992-93) in which they finished 7th and 4th (then won the play offs).
Wednesday have played 8 seasons below the top two divisions (the first being in 1975-76 when they finished 20th, which is their lowest ever league position).
Leicester would be new opposition for Reading in the third tier but Reading have played both Wednesday and WBA at that level.
WBA are possibly the best placed of the three financially but have long since lost their PL parachute payments and would lose even more money on relegation despite their larger fanbase.
I believe Leicester have one more parachute payment due in the summer after their 1 year stint in the PL in 2023-24.
Sheff Wed are most at risk having still not resolved the ownership problems and if it’s not sorted by the end of the close season could face more point penalties from the FL.
Personally still be amazed if these are the 3 clubs that go down at the end of the season, certainly think WBA should be strong enough to get ahead of the bottom three by the finish. Suspect though that that 6 point deduction has completely deflated Leicester morale and they’ll likely be one of the others going down.
