Championship / Mike Norman / 12 June 2009 / Leave a comment

The stats aren't good, but "Mystical" Mike Norman believes that Middlesbrough, Newcastle and West Brom are all capable of returning to the Premier League, and deserve to be the favourites to do so....

It's quite staggering to think that just eight years ago, Leeds United and Ipswich Town finished in the top five of the Premier League; Charlton and Southampton finished in the top ten, and Leicester, Derby, Coventry and Bradford were all members of England's top league.

Staggering because, in the years that have followed, at least five of those teams have played football two divisions lower, and not one of them is a current member of the highest division in English football. In fact, since its inception in 1992, there have been 49 relegations from the Premier League (four teams were relegated in the 94/95 season), but only 12 were promoted back in the season that immediately followed.

It may come as a surprise then, that heading next season's Championship and Promotion markets are Middlesbrough, Newcastle and West Brom, the three clubs that have just been relegated from the Premier League.

But in many ways they deserve to be favourites for a quick return, not least because of the huge gulf that exists between Premier League clubs and Championship clubs.... and in all but name, Newcastle, Boro and Albion are still Premier League clubs.

Newcastle ([5.9] to win the Championship) may have just endured one of the worst 12 months in the club's history, but relegation, and more importantly, a reality check could just be what this huge football clubs needs. Mike Ashley's failed regime is certain to come to an end sooner rather than later, and with new owners, Alan Shearer at the helm, and a lot of hard work behind the scenes, Newcastle should quickly establish themselves as a major force in the Championship.

What Newcastle United need to do more than anything though is to become a football club once again, instead of a circus stroke pantomime.

Players expected to leave, whether it be through personal desire or demand from other clubs, will be the likes of Michael Owen, Mark Viduka, Steven Taylor and Obafemi Martins. But these players apart, the Newcastle squad will still retain a nice blend of youth, experience, and quality to ensure a good season, and with the lure of playing in front of 50,000 vocal Geordies every week, the club should have no problems acquiring the best players on the market at this level.

Middlesbrough ([9.0]) are in a completely different boat to their north-east rivals in terms of stability. Chairman Steve Gibson will remain at the club, there are no question marks regarding the future of Gareth Southgate, and the club finances are reportedly in good health, or at the very least, under control.

Where it went wrong for Boro last season was on the pitch. A lack of quality in attack, and constant injuries to members of the back four resulted in the team not being good enough over a 38-game season. But still, I look at the club's current playing squad, and even allowing for the players that are likely to leave (Stewart Downing, Afonso Alves, Tuncay Sanli), I still think they will be far too strong for all bar three or four of next season's Championship sides.

Boro have plenty of quality and experience to field a strong starting 11, but (and this also applies to Newcastle) they will almost certainly need to bring in a few more faces to give their squad that much needed depth to be able to cope with the demands of a grueling 46-game season - something they haven't been used to for some time.

Middlesbrough and Newcastle are both priced at [3.05] to gain Promotion, and along with West Brom ([2.98]), would be my picks to do so. One of them would have to come up via the play-offs of course, and Albion are ideal candidates to do just that.

Of the three relegated clubs, West Brom are undoubtedly the more experienced in terms of playing Championship football, enduring long seasons, and competing in the end-of-season play-offs. Many of their playing and back-room staff have been there and done it, and if they can retain the services of manager Tony Mowbray then Albion can't fail to be in the promotion shake-up throughout the season. In fact, at [7.4], they might just be the best equipped side to win the 2009/10 Championship.