Why Tottenham Hotspur Or West Ham United Must Be Relegated

Since the Premier League was formed, the city of London has always had a stranglehold on the division.

Maybe it’s not surprising that England’s biggest city would produce multiple teams competing in the top flight.

After all, it already has some of the country’s biggest and most famous sides, like Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.

And while trophies have often been won by clubs in the North of England, the Manchester giants or teams from Liverpool, the shifting demographics and underlying problems of wealth distribution in the UK have led to an increase in the concentration of London teams.

As the Premier League grew, it became more cosmopolitan, and players were more likely to arrive from Brazil than Burnley. This new generation of international talent didn’t hold the same reverence for teams in Northern England and would often prioritise living in the bright lights of London.

Investment in the UK tends to focus on the capital, and super wealthy individuals, much like the players, tend to be attracted to the South East.

All of which meant that, in addition to traditional big players like Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea, traditionally smaller teams have sustained some of the longest spells in their history in the top flight.

Crystal Palace, for example, had never managed more than four years in the top division before regaining Premier League status in 2013, but is now on course for its 14th consecutive year in the division.

Likewise, Fulham, who were bankrolled by disgraced financier Mohamed Al-Fayed throughout the 2000s, also managed a 13-season streak between 2001-14.

The inception of the Premier League also brought record stays for Queens Park Rangers, Brentford and Wimbledon.

However, in the past four years, the balance of the division shifted more than ever before. Since 2022, there have been seven London teams in the top flight, a third of the division; before then, this had only occurred once in the 1990s.

The shift of power to the south of England is even more pronounced when you consider that Brighton and Hove Albion and Bournemouth have also been in the division during the period of London club domination.

Yet as far back as 2017, pundit Gary Neville was engaged in concerned discussions about the trend.

“What I will say is well done to Brighton but it is a shift to the south like you would not believe,” Neville told Sky Sports Monday Night Football.

“You think about Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Hull potentially going down, that’s three more northern clubs. Then the Yorkshire clubs, the Sheffield clubs, Leeds and you think Newcastle might not come back up. It’s a worry for the north of England.

“The investment is into the south and then the Premier League is attracting investment. The players want to live in the south.

“I heard a few weeks ago ridiculous talk of northern teams, north east teams and Yorkshire teams having London training grounds.

“That would be the most incredible thing but you can actually see it. The players would live in London in the week and then travel to games. It can’t happen can it? Suggestions like this are being mooted and that’s scary.

“The idea of a departure from your territory to do these things is unbelievable, but if that’s what’s necessary to attract the players.”

Since Neville made those remarks, the stranglehold on the Premier League from London teams has become even more intense.

This is a historic shift. When the English first division was established in the 1800s, the most southerly team was Birmingham’s Aston Villa, with the majority of sides hailing from the Midlands and the North West.

Cold, blustery northern cities are the bedrock of the UK soccer culture, and it would be a shame if that changed.

Yet there is a real prospect that Millwall could be promoted this season, and if they are, we could end up with a league where nearly half of the teams come from the capital city.

That scenario depends on West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur avoiding relegation.

With the increasing concentration of London teams in the Premier League, perhaps for the good of competitive balance and the traditional regional diversity of the English game, it may be necessary for a London club to be relegated.