Feelings about being relegated from different divisions

I think most of us on here know of what it's like to be relegated from the third tier, though probably fewer of us know the feeling of relegation from the second. We'll all know what it has felt like to drop from the Premier League.

I don't recall too much disappointment when we've been relegated from the Premier League. Indeed, there's been the hope we could use the experience well and bounce back. I'm not saying everyone was suggesting this, but as an overall feeling of opinions at the time.

Now, it seems that this would be the worst relegation imaginable if it happens. I'm not sure why there's such a change of opinion between being relegated from two different divisions, but there is a far greater feel of armageddon about dropping down to the third tier.

Any thoughts?

It would be a disaster.

No one can know if relegation will be good or bad for the club as there are examples of both out there

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Originally Posted by Eric the Half a Bee

I think most of us on here know of what it's like to be relegated from the third tier, though probably fewer of us know the feeling of relegation from the second. We'll all know what it has felt like to drop from the Premier League.

I don't recall too much disappointment when we've been relegated from the Premier League. Indeed, there's been the hope we could use the experience well and bounce back. I'm not saying everyone was suggesting this, but as an overall feeling of opinions at the time.

Now, it seems that this would be the worst relegation imaginable if it happens. I'm not sure why there's such a change of opinion between being relegated from two different divisions, but there is a far greater feel of armageddon about dropping down to the third tier.

Any thoughts?

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I agree with you, the people spreading the "we're doomed if we go down" line are the likes of Tan, Dalman and Choo who, unlike most of us on here, have never experienced life in the third and fourth tier - if relegation was to bring about their departure, then bring it on I say. There have been three relegations to the third tier in my lifetime and each time we weren't playing at that level for more than one season as we went straight back up twice and went down again once.

I was being a bit flippant when I said bring it on, but the club in 24/25 is completely different to what it was in 84 to 86 when we suffered those two successive relegations - we will probably have to get a lot of under achieving, highly paid players off the books somehow, but League One football would, in many ways, be the ideal place to discover whether these youngsters we're always talking up are really as good as we think they are.

What I would add is no matter what with tan and his clowns mismanaging the club things will only continue to be bad based on his track record unless he learns from his numerous mistakes

I think it seems worse this time because we'd be dropping down to a level we've not been at for more than 20 years.
Previous relegations that I can remember were when we'd only been in the division we were relegated from for 1 or a few seasons.
The difference financially between the bottom 2 divisions didn't seem so much of an issue as it is between the championship and league 1 either.
The relegations from the premier league always seemed likely so, although disappointing, weren't devastating, and although the financial hit was significant, parachute payments should have given us an advantage over most championship teams. It's just a shame we pissed them up the wall.

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Originally Posted by PontBlue

What I would add is no matter what with tan and his clowns mismanaging the club things will only continue to be bad based on his track record unless he learns from his numerous mistakes

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He doesn't learn though, does he.

He'll carry on with Dalman and Choo, hoping for some miracle that will see him getting his money back

I can’t see us doing a Norwich or Birmingham.

I think it’ll be the death of the club

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Originally Posted by BLUETIT

I can’t see us doing a Norwich or Birmingham.

I think it’ll be the death of the club

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I'm not sure I can see us bouncing back immediately. However, to say "it will be the death of the club" is being overly pessimistic.

ive become very " meh " about it all

We have struggled for the last few seasons, its not been that much fun, I know a Reading ST holder and he gets to most games, they are similar to us, spent a few years fighting off relegation, points deductions didnt help them in the end, but they are enjoying football again, yea sure they want to get rid of Dai ( and it looks like its happening ) but they have just beaten Wrexham, Drew V Brum, they have a few exciting players, Charlie Savage being on of them, a few points of the play-off's ( just for the hope factor )

My Best times following City was in the early 90's, the Eddie May years, it doesnt really matter what league you are in for you to take enjoyment out of football

I’ve experienced all those relegations that have been referred to in this thread, and I have to say this one feels very different to me.

Admittedly, I was younger and less cynical, yet I had a sense that the club - like many others - would have hot/cold spells, and we could eventually turn things around.

This time, the mis-management has longer term implications. Football has moved on significantly, but the Cardiff City hierarchy have no clue how to run a club that will do anything other than go backwards.

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Originally Posted by blue matt

ive become very " meh " about it all

We have struggled for the last few seasons, its not been that much fun, I know a Reading ST holder and he gets to most games, they are similar to us, spent a few years fighting off relegation, points deductions didnt help them in the end, but they are enjoying football again, yea sure they want to get rid of Dai ( and it looks like its happening ) but they have just beaten Wrexham, Drew V Brum, they have a few exciting players, Charlie Savage being on of them, a few points of the play-off's ( just for the hope factor )

My Best times following City was in the early 90's, the Eddie May years, it doesnt really matter what league you are in for you to take enjoyment out of football

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Winning is the key

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Originally Posted by BLUETIT

Winning is the key

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indeed :thumbup: Maybe being a big fish in a smaller pond and winning a few games is the answer

Firstly, I don't think it'll be "the death of the club" or Armageddon or any of that. Bigger and similar-sized clubs (Leeds, Forest, Leicester, Sunderland, Wolves, Norwich, Ipswich, Sheff Utd etc.) have dropped down there in recent years and come out the other side, even if it's taken a few years.

The big problem is that the club is currently in a position where it's repeating the same mistakes year after year, and each year we just about get away with it, which seems to justify their approach. So for a lot of people, staying up isn't exactly an enticing prospect either, because next year (and the year after, and so on) it will just be more of the same.

I think this is why, for a lot of people, a drastic event needs to happen. Relegation is the only thing serious enough to force Tan to seriously re-evaluate how he runs the club. If he doesn't and nothing changes, we'll probably end up like Charlton. But if he does, it could be a positive thing in the long run. Because we can't continue on the current path.

Of course, there are plenty of variables along the way. Personally, I think he's waiting for the outcome of the Nantes court case to see how much money he can recoup, and then he'll look to sell.

But if relegation is the wake up call the club needs to have a complete overhaul, then it may be a necessary surgery.

(And yes there are plenty of grounds I need to tick off).

Relegation is going to be a complete disaster.

It won't be the death of the club. But these utter clowns running the club will probably see us down in the lower leagues for years in my opinion.

There is no argument about it bringing their departure. Why would it?

Nobody wants us as a Championship club why would some saviour come in for a lower league club.

I remember some fans saying relegation from the premier league would mean more fun in the championship and we would win more games in a promotion chase.

That's not worked out so maybe they are now fearing the worst from the third tier.

It will be s.hit. We could be there for 4 years plus. Many league one teams have billionaire owners.

It's not the 80s/90s where most 3/4 division teams had local owners in poor stadiums. Those who wouldn't mind going down are just looking for that nostalgia trip.

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Originally Posted by Armitage Shanks

Those who wouldn't mind going down are just looking for that nostalgia trip.

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I'm not advocating that relegation would be a good thing, but maybe those who are doing so are simply bored of the Championship, where we've been losing a lot more games than we've been winning in recent years and where the overall quality of the football has definitely dipped.

People are drifting away slowly but surely. The crowds at the CCS have generally been really sparse in recent months. The club definitely needs a shake-up, that's for sure. How it is to be achieved is anyone's guess.

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Originally Posted by Armitage Shanks

It will be s.hit. We could be there for 4 years plus. Many league one teams have billionaire owners.

It's not the 80s/90s where most 3/4 division teams had local owners in poor stadiums. Those who wouldn't mind going down are just looking for that nostalgia trip.

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We’ve got a billionaire owner.

I'm pretty blasé about it all.

I hope we win every game we play, if we stay up I'll be pleased.

If we go down then it won't make a lot of difference to me.
It might be a fun season if we're strong at that level, possibly with the younger players coming to the fore.

of course there's no guarantees of that. we could find ourselves stuck down there, but who knows.

financially it's probably not good news, but also the financial fair play rules are less restrictive, so Tan could invest in the squad if he was so inclined.

Some people seem to think that Tan will sell up if we go down - I don't see that as likely at all.

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Originally Posted by Eric the Half a Bee

Any thoughts?

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I remember the first relegation I experienced was the 1974-75 one from the then Second Division. I had only ever known the Second Division and so it felt like a disaster. Cardiff had not been in the third tier for nearly 30 years.

1975-76 was one of the most enjoyable seasons I remember with Tony Evans, Adrian Alston, Willie Anderson etc, culminating in the famous game v Hereford and the largest league crowd for many years.

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Originally Posted by the other bob wilson

We’ve got a billionaire owner.

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He was briefly a dollar billionaire.

In 2024 Forbes estimated Tan's net worth as $730m (the 29th richest person in Malaysia). That is about £565m.

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Originally Posted by jon1959

He was briefly a dollar billionaire.

In 2024 Forbes estimated Tan's net worth as $730m (the 29th richest person in Malaysia). That is about £565m.

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Some men blow their fortunes on women and material possessions, others prefer poorly run football clubs and long running legal cases.

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Originally Posted by jon1959

He was briefly a dollar billionaire.

In 2024 Forbes estimated Tan's net worth as $730m (the 29th richest person in Malaysia). That is about £565m.

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I was using Tan as confirmation that having a very wealthy owner is no guarantee of success - we’ve got the worst team we’ve had since 2003, with the possible exception of the 22/23 side, under the man who is, by far, the richest man to own the club.

I think the acceptance to relegation from the Prem was at least partly due to some misguided thought that we'd breeze back up with Parachute payments while building a more sustainable squad. Which is difficult to do for well run clubs that spend it properly, never mind for us with OGS/Warnock blowing it all on total dross.

Relegation has the chance to be a total disaster for us and we may never get back up under these owners, but if you could make a case for it not being a disaster it would be it being the shock that makes Tan finally realize what is needed to run a football club. Is there much chance of that - no. But equally we've been terribly run and lurching about towards the bottom of the Championship for long enough now that we know he's not changing anything otherwise.

Are we a Birmingham or a Wigan? That’s the simple question.

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Originally Posted by The Lone Gunman

I'm not advocating that relegation would be a good thing, but maybe those who are doing so are simply bored of the Championship, where we've been losing a lot more games than we've been winning in recent years and where the overall quality of the football has definitely dipped.

People are drifting away slowly but surely. The crowds at the CCS have generally been really sparse in recent months. The club definitely needs a shake-up, that's for sure. How it is to be achieved is anyone's guess.

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They are bored of boring football. The Championship is a great league.

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Originally Posted by Dave Blue

They are bored of boring football. The Championship is a great league.

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I also think lots of fans are bored of losing football. Circling the plughole season after season is no fun at all. It's a far better league when we're in the top half challenging for a top 6 spot.

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Originally Posted by Eric the Half a Bee

I also think lots of fans are bored of losing football. Circling the plughole season after season is no fun at all. It's a far better league when we're in the top half challenging for a top 6 spot.

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I know a few who won’t be renewing their ST’s whatever league we’re in, once that happens and they just start picking and choosing matches, you have to be an entertaining team to attract them back.
The thing is, it isn’t even the cost that’s the issue, there’s a couple of them that I know are just bored with the current situation and the cycle of just clinging on that has happened over the last few years apart from the bore fest of last season.

Maybe they can just be replaced by other customers???

I don’t see us getting relegated will see the end of this current team in charge, I don’t think anything will change until the outstanding court case is resolved.
Once that’s concluded, they’ll be off imho, until then I doubt we’ll see any major investment or changes.

We will just tick over with the minimum required until there ready to sell up, unless there’s a complete rethink

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Originally Posted by Eric the Half a Bee

I also think lots of fans are bored of losing football. Circling the plughole season after season is no fun at all. It's a far better league when we're in the top half challenging for a top 6 spot.

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Its a great league because it is so tight top to bottom - there have been several clubs I can remember who have gone from relegation battles to playoff contention in the space of a season. it can happen to anyone which keeps the interest.

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Originally Posted by Rjk

Its a great league because it is so tight top to bottom - there have been several clubs I can remember who have gone from relegation battles to playoff contention in the space of a season. it can happen to anyone which keeps the interest.

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I’m sure Forest were at the bottom and then Cooper came in, and a few years ago weren’t Palace struggling down there, and then went on to winning promotion?

It can be done with the right manager

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Originally Posted by olderblue

I’m sure Forest were at the bottom and then Cooper came in, and a few years ago weren’t Palace struggling down there, and then went on to winning promotion?

It can be done with the right manager

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Coventry were struggling and then the next season they were in the playoffs
Barnsley did the same.

It's not ALL down to the manager - although they're obviously a big part.

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Originally Posted by Rjk

Its a great league because it is so tight top to bottom - there have been several clubs I can remember who have gone from relegation battles to playoff contention in the space of a season. it can happen to anyone which keeps the interest.

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It can happen and it does happen are two completely different things. The number of sides that have looked like relegation scrappers in December and have ended up in the top 6 are few and far between. It rarely happens because you need automatic promotion form over several months to make up for an awful start. So, while it is often argued that it is a tight division, the occasional team suddenly finding form to make the playoffs (or losing form and finding relegation) is hardly more prevalent in the Championship than it is in any other division. It's the nature of league football.

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Originally Posted by Eric the Half a Bee

It can happen and it does happen are two completely different things. The number of sides that have looked like relegation scrappers in December and have ended up in the top 6 are few and far between. It rarely happens because you need automatic promotion form over several months to make up for an awful start. So, while it is often argued that it is a tight division, the occasional team suddenly finding form to make the playoffs (or losing form and finding relegation) is hardly more prevalent in the Championship than it is in any other division. It's the nature of league football.

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I meant a team one season being a relegation contender and the following season challenging for playoffs - it seems to have happened a fair bit.

The championship always seems a pretty close league top to bottom to me

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Originally Posted by the other bob wilson

We’ve got a billionaire owner.

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Means almost nothing these days, rather have a clued up owner who knows how to build a club, not take one apart

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Originally Posted by Rjk

I meant a team one season being a relegation contender and the following season challenging for playoffs - it seems to have happened a fair bit.

The championship always seems a pretty close league top to bottom to me

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Which makes the last 4 seasons particularly disappointing, to put it mildly. We haven't even had a sniff at the play offs during that time, not even a few weeks. Sheff. Wed. Wurzels, Preston, even the likes of Stoke - they have all at sometime been a couple of points off the play offs. We've been in a frozen state of gloom since the COVID season..

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Originally Posted by A Quiet Monkfish

Which makes the last 4 seasons particularly disappointing, to put it mildly. We haven't even had a sniff at the play offs during that time, not even a few weeks. Sheff. Wed. Wurzels, Preston, even the likes of Stoke - they have all at sometime been a couple of points off the play offs. We've been in a frozen state of gloom since the COVID season..

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I agree, we have been stagnant a while now and the manager go round and lack of good scouting and letting young players through is holding us back. yeah we have had some decent players over the recent years but non of them flourished at City

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Originally Posted by Rjk

I meant a team one season being a relegation contender and the following season challenging for playoffs - it seems to have happened a fair bit.

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Whenever someone posts a comment like this, it intrigues me and I have to have a look. It's not for trying to prove someone wrong, it's out of a genuine interest.

I've had a look at all the sides finishing in the top 6 since 2000/01 and where they finished the season before.

10/144 were promoted from League 1 (6.9%)
10/144 finished between 19th and 21st in the Championship (6.9%)
7/144 finished between 16th and 18th (4.9%)
32/144 finished in the bottom half of the Championship (22.2%)
66/144 finished in the top half (45.8%)
30/144 finished in the top 6 (20.8%)
36/144 were relegated from the Premier League (25%)

Going from the 2nd division to the 4th in just over 12 months was DEVASTATING. I was a young man at the peak of my time as an active fan. I used to go home and away. I used to wish for City to be an average 2nd division team with crowds of 15,000. Can you imagine? By the time we got back I was almost 40 and living in another country. There were so few fans on the Bob Bank in the mid-late '80s I can still remember the faces of some of the regulars that I never even spoke to. It was like you almost knew every City fan to give a nod to. If this team gets relegated, we're going to be ****ed. We've been shit for a few years now. If we go down, we'll still be shit, just in a lower division. Then what? God forbid it all happens again.

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Originally Posted by NYCBlue

We've been shit for a few years now. If we go down, we'll still be shit, just in a lower division. Then what? God forbid it all happens again.

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That’s a worst case scenario. It’s not necessarily how things would work out. Look at Birmingham City for evidence of that.