Earlier this year we asked fans of some of England's yo-yo clubs whether they prefer a season of struggle in the Premier League or one in which they get to enjoy winning more often - and maybe even challenge for promotion - in the Championship.

We had a mixed reaction, but these supporters had the luxury of being able to choose between two relatively acceptable scenarios: many others that suffer relegation from the top flight sink faster than lead.

Over the course of the Premier League era, relegated teams have had huge range of success in the lower leagues.

Many, including Nottingham Forest, Coventry City, Leeds and Derby County have yet to return, but the likes of West Brom, Sunderland, QPR, Southampton and, most successfully, Leicester and Manchester City, have found promotion easier to achieve. There has been no real pattern among relegated teams.

In more recent years, though, there has been more of theme that they have followed: one of either immediate success or none at all.