Relegated Premier League trio Leicester City, Leeds United and Southampton are already among the promotion favourites for the Championship next season. But all have issues to tackle this summer. Mark Heath takes a look...
The recent champions
Of the relegated trio, there's no doubt that Leicester City were the biggest surprise.
The Foxes, of course, won the Premier League title against all the odds in one of the greatest sporting underdog stories ever seen back in 2016.
And, after finishes of fifth, fifth and eighth in their last three seasons, there was no reason to suspect that it would all fall apart this campaign.
But fall apart it did, leaving Leicester as just the second Premier League champions to ever be relegated, joining their new Championship rivals Blackburn Rovers.
They are the early favourites to bounce straight back up next season, but face a number of issues first.
Much of the failure of their relegation season can be pointed at a lack of recruitment, with the club's Thai owners seeing their King Power Duty Free business hit hard by Covid, prompting a tightening of the purse strings which then-boss Brendan Rodgers described as 'difficult' and unfortunate'.
Regardless, they went down as reportedly the most expensive squad to ever be relegated, with a wage bill in excess of £180m - the average wage bill in the Championship is 'just' £32m, remember.
There looks certain to be a huge clearing of the decks in terms of playing staff, led by crown jewels James Maddison and Harvey Barnes.
In addition, seven players - including Youri Tielemans, Caglar Soyuncu and skipper Jonny Evans - are out of contract this summer.
Speaking after relegation was confirmed, Evans admitted that many of the players have already said their goodbyes.
"There was silence for a long time," he said when asked about the mood of the dressing room.
"We know there are players out of contract and there will be a lot of changes at the football club.
"It was an opportunity to say goodbye and a lot of us don’t know where we are going to end up. It is about dealing with the changes and wishing everyone the best."
And, while they can expect big fees for Maddison, Barnes and perhaps others, much of that cash could well end up being used to pay debts.
The Foxes are also yet to decide who will be the man leading them in the Championship next season.
Ex-Norwich City boss Dean Smith arrived with eight games left in the season after Rodgers was sacked, but the club have yet to confirm if he'll be staying on after relegation.
Whoever gets the job clearly has a huge task on their hands.
But former Foxes keeper Mark Schwarzer says that, despite all the uncertainty, Leicester will be 'very good' next season.
"It will be a very different looking Leicester side next season, but they have got the core of a team that could be a very good side," he told Radio 5 Live.
"Daniel Iversen, Harry Souttar, Luke Thomas, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall - they will help them attack the Championship. But there has to be some careful planning and reshuffling."
An unpopular owner
Leeds United were relegated with a whimper on the final day, tonked 4-1 at home by Spurs to leave them back in the Championship after three seasons in the top flight.
During that defeat, angry fans chanted for chairman Andrea Radrizzani - who wasn't at Elland Road - to leave the club.
Supporters haven't forgiven him for sacking the man who took Leeds up, the beloved Marcelo Bielsa, last year.
There is apparently a deal in place for the owners of iconic NFL franchise the San Francisco 49ers, who currently own 44% of the club, to buy Radrizzani's remaining shares in a move worth up to £500m.
But that has yet to be confirmed, with relegation potentially hitting the deal.
In another twist, Radrizzani's holding company has just bought a stake in Italian club Sampdoria.
And veteran boss Sam Allardyce, who was unable to save the club after arriving with four games to go, says the ownership issue must be resolved as a first point of order.
"Is it going to be bought, is it going to stay the same?" he told the BBC. "That is the first thing that needs to be sorted out."
Of his own future, Allardyce added: "It is really sad the club is in this position.
"To the fans I apologise. The last thing I wanted was to be the man who took Leeds United down.
"It is a tough old world when things start failing. You have to come back more determined.
"I haven't said I am staying. There is a lot of discussion to be done and I am not committing myself. We will thrash it out because both sides have to be comfortable."
In terms of playing staff, like Leicester, there are likely to be departures.
Winger Jack Harrison will be a target, while the likes of Tyler Adams, Illan Meslier, Robin Koch and Wilfried Gnonto could also look for pastures new. Midfielder Brenden Aaronson has also been linked with a move away.
There's an issue too with striker Georginio Rutter, who signed from Hoffenheim for a club record £36m in January, but has failed to score in 13 games and managed just one start. Will the club look to cut their losses and move him on?
So, with pressing issues to resolve over ownership and management, Leeds enter a summer of uncertainty.
But the club remain steadfast. A statement released after relegation read: "Leeds United remains in a strong position to build a team that can challenge for promotion from the Championship next season.
"We know things have not been good enough, we know we have to improve, but please be assured that behind the scenes we have worked hard to ensure that the past will not be repeated.
"Our focus is now on how we get straight back to the Premier League."
Saints set to appoint a Canary
Southampton were the first side to have relegation confirmed, courtesy of a 2-0 home defeat by Fulham on May 13, having spent a massive 138 days at the foot of the table in 2022/23.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who is apparently a fan, was in the stands to watch that game - so keep an eye out in the Portman Road away end when the Saints come marching in to Suffolk next season. He'll surely be there, right?
Away from my cutting political commentary, Southampton - like Leicester and Leeds - also have issues to face this summer.
Chief among them will be appointing a new boss. That man won't be Ruben Selles, with Saints' third manager of the season being told that his contract would not be renewed in the summer.
The Spaniard didn't agree with the call, saying: "I did as much as I can. I show that I make the team competitive. We didn't get the results we wanted."
He added: "I did my best and that's the reality. I still think I am ready, but that is not my call."
The man who appears set to take over is Swansea City's Russell Martin, who spent eight years of his playing career at Norwich City.
It's been widely reported that he's agreed the move and will sign a three-year deal, but nothing has been officially confirmed.
In terms of player exits, club skipper, legend and last season's leading scorer James Ward-Prowse, who's played more than 400 games for the Saints, could top the list.
He was substituted to a standing ovation three minutes from the end of the thrilling 4-4 draw with Liverpool which capped their season.
He's been linked with big money moves to West Ham, Newcastle and Spurs, but Selles insisted after the game that it wasn't a farewell.
“It wasn't a goodbye," he said. "Prowsey has been here for 20 years and is the captain.
“He deserved that moment with the crowd to end the season that hasn't been easy. We didn't think about what happens next."
Ward-Prowse himself said: "I feel as if I've done everything I can for this club in the time that I've been here.
"I look forward to getting a break and switching off."
Another club stalwart who will definitely be leaving is Theo Walcott, the 34-year-old confirming that he'll be departing ahead of the Liverpool game.
And Belgian midfielder Roman Lavia - voted player of the year by Southern Daily Echo readers - has also been linked with a series of Premier League clubs.
Saints will start next season with some talent though, with former striker Alan Shearer highlighting a few reasons to be positive on the BBC's Match of the Day.
Shearer picked out two-goal winger Kamaldeen Sulemana, plus fellow goalscorer Adam Armstrong and forward Che Adams after the Liverpool game.
He said: “It looks as if Russell Martin is coming in, they’ve got Adam Armstrong who can score goals at that level.
"Che Adams as well - if he stays - and Sulemana who was superb today."
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