This season has seen Ipswich Town, Leicester City and Southampton, the clubs who were promoted together from the EFL to the Premier League now all set to be relegated. Unsurprisingly this has raised a few eyebrows leaving people questioning whether the gap between the Premier League and the EFL has grown.

In a league that prides itself on competitiveness, seeing all three promoted teams from the Championship fall straight back down is more than just an odd coincidence. In fact, this is the second season in a row where all promoted sides have failed to survive, something that has never happened before in Premier League history.

Whilst some might argue it's down to misjudged tactics or managerial inexperience; the underlying issue is far more structural. Premier League clubs have a greater range of resources that are far ahead of even the best Championship clubs, meaning it’s hard to call it a level playing field anymore.

Leicester City were Premier League champions not so long ago, and with a team many felt were well-equipped to handle the step back up. But this season has shown that recent history and strong players aren’t always enough. Ipswich Town arrived on a wave of momentum after back-to-back promotions but unfortunately the step up instead just highlighted how steep the climb really is.

Southampton's experience told a similar story. With previous Premier League experience and parachute payments behind them, they were expected to adapt. But managerial changes and a lack of cohesion both contributed to a tough season, highlighting how challenging the Premier League can be, even for clubs with recent experience at that level.

So where does that leave the Championship? Arguably one of the most competitive leagues in Europe, but one that increasingly feels like a holding pen rather than the road to long-term Premier League success.

What will happen to this seasons promoted Teams? Will Leeds and Burnley hold manage to hold on to their Premier League status by then end of season 2025/2026 and what about the play off winners?  While writing that will be one of Sunderland or Sheffield United.

Right now, it’s hard to ignore the sense that the gap has turned into something wider and more difficult to bridge. Without a rethink on how the leagues support each other - both financially and structurally - we’re likely to see this cycle repeat again.