They are the latest in a string of newly-promoted sides unable to bridge the quality gap on reaching the top.

Joe Royle's men now join Coventry and Bradford in Division One, but can any of them emulate Charlton's achievement by returning at the first time of asking?

They may have thought it was all over, and it is now. Manchester City, Coventry and Bradford will be playing first division football next season.

But can they bounce back?

Do these three clubs hold an unfair advantage in receiving the so-called 'parachute payments' which ease the financial hardships of non-Premiership football?

Coventry may be out of the top flight for the first time in 34 years, Man City went up and back down, while Bradford survived more than one season - just!

Are they destined to become 'yo-yo' clubs - too good for Division One but lacking the strength in depth to survive in the Premiership?

Will they be able to rebuild and maintain their squads, or will their stars desert them away from the glamour of the top division?

Let us know what you think.

Of the three relegated clubs, I believe only Man.City will go back up if they manage to keep the likes of Wanchope fit. Look out for Watford and Sheffield Wednesday for promotion next season.
Anthony Turnbull, England

As a Coventry lad I think that my team will bounce back to the Premier League. If the fans can stay behind the lads and the chairman backs every move strachen makes, then the club can get over the disappointments of this season and become a force in the Premier League in the 2002-3 season. A good blend between youth and experience is the key to Coventry's success, it will not be easy though.
Kevin, UK

I think Man City belong in the Primership due to their excellent fans. The loyal fans will have something to cheer about when they get second place and automatic promtion. I think Watford under Vialla will win the league. Wimbeldon and Coventry are good bets for the play-offs, but I think Bradford will struggle and end up mid-table. Bolton will win play-offs and Birmingham, West Brom, and Preston will be there or there abouts as well.
Jamie Apps, England

MCFC should come straight back up, it looks like they're going to keep the nucleus of their squad, and they're better than they were when they won promotion two seasons back! Coventry may stuggle with a bit of culture shock and they've barely stayed in the Premiership for years anyway. Royle may not be the man for the Premiership in the long run, but I'd rather have Joe than Strachan to get us out of Div One again.
Paul, England

All of City's best players have so far committed to staying next season, this added to the experience gained from last year's promotion will stand them in good stead for an automatic return to the top. The priority must be to get rid of the totally useless Charvet and get Haaland to stop running around like a headless chicken and get back to his early season form. With Fulham and Blackburn up this year who is going to challenge City? The usual play-off teams will be in there again, but who else has the players or resources to stop them? Coventry will take time to adjust to a new league and culture and the shock of appearing like a relatively big fish in a small pond but should make the play-offs. Bradford are just headed back to where they belong, nowhere.
Eric Stewart, England

After watching all three times this season, they are all very poor, and none have the quality to do well in the Premiership. In my opinion none of them will return to the top flight, and hopefully they will remain in the division where they belong- first division!!!
Andy Best, UK

Out of the three teams that went down only Coventry have a real chance of returning. Bradford lack the depth of squad and look what happened to City a few seasons ago. It all rests on whether the clubs can keep their best players. Coventry seem to have an ambitious chairman who is willing to keep their quality players. I think all three clubs are in danger of going the way of Notts. Forest and Wednesday and settling in the first division with clubs like Birmingham, West Brom and Watford looking for top places next year. I think Man City are the biggest of the "big clubs who shouldn't be in the first division." So perhaps they have more of a chance after all.
Niall, UK

Division One is the hardest, just look at teams like Wimbledon, Sheffield Wednesday and even until this season, Blackburn. All 24 teams are capable of ascertaining a place in the top flight, you can get lost in it, and for the three just relegated from the Premiership its not going to be an easy task. But they'll be back in a couple of seasons.
David Atherley, England

I'm a huge Man City fan and the loss to Ipswich on Monday was a terrible disappointment. We had a good start to the season, reaching seventh place after we beat Leeds. Out of the three teams relegated, I just can't see Bradford coming up in a while as they have had two dodgy seasons in the Premiership and have sold a lot of their key players. Coventry could well come straight back up as they have a strong squad and a great goalscorer in the name of Hartson; whether they can hang on to him is another matter. As for Man City we could bounce straight back up as well as a lot of our players have pledged to stay with us. Another advantage City have is that they have good experience with a lot of the Division One teams after being there just one season ago and that experience could prove invaluable. Come on City!
Ste, England

I can't see Coventry coming back up under Gordon Strachan. He seems to have no idea what pattern he wants the team to play to or what his best team is. Hartson will be off in the close season (it's rumoured he has a relegation get-out clause in his contract). The only bright sign is that with the pressure off perhaps Strachan will give some of the talented youngsters a longer run in the team.
Geoff McHugh, England

Coventry has the ability to bounce back up. Their squad is actually very talented and young. Their defence has to be sorted out soon though. Bradford and Man City will both struggle to get back up since they have problems in retaining their star players.
Keith, UK

Most people will probably think I'm weird, but I reckon that Bradford, Coventry and Man City will all go back up.
Phil Lloyd-Bushell, Hereford, UK

Well you can never tell with Manchester City, they've now changed divisions in four successive seasons, so who's to say they won't be in the Second Division come the end of next season. As for Coventry I didn't greet the news that Hadji would be staying as a huge bonus, Division One isn't about flair players like Hadji. Keeping Hartson must be their target because otherwise the problem that put them in the bottom three in the first place will come back to haunt them: lack of goals. Overall however, you would have to say the right three teams went down this season.
Alex Allen, England

Bradford are down and staying there. City won't be bouncing back either. Coventry can get promoted if they keep their players.
Ciaran, Ireland

If Coventry keep the team they have at present, they are destined to bounce back to the Premiership. Since the signing of Hartson, the team has started to gel a lot more effectivley but unfortunatley a little bit too late. They have missed Robbie Keane but will make amends next season.
Tim Mac - Nicol, UK

I really don't think that Coventry are capeable of bouncing straight back into the Premiership next year. I think that they will struggle to win games against mediocre opposition and they won't be able to rely on the big name victories as in previous seasons
Anita, England

Man City will find it hard to get out of the first division. Remember they were in Division Two only two years ago and what has changed?
Mark, England

Bradford will not return to the Premiership next season, and maybe not for the next few years. Man City will struggle to make it back up automatically, but if they keep most of their players they can press for a play-off. Coventry will be my bet for an automatic return. They have had a terrible season, but I think that they will win Division One next season. This is only if they manage to keep players like Hartson, Bellamy, Hedman.
Michael Morter, England

It is my belief that Coventry City and Manchester City both have the quality in their squads to bounce back into the Premiership but I also feel that it is imperative that they do it in their first year in Division One, otherwise it might not happen. Clubs that dont bounce right back like Wimbledon and even QPR get dragged down, lose their best players and end up stuck with a mid table place in Division 1.
Rhys Griffiths, UK

City won't come back until they sack Joe Royle. He spent all seson making scapegoats out of innocent targets to divert attention from the fact that he lacks the ability to manage at the highest level. City are a first class club with first rate fans. They just need to get rid of their third rate manager.
Mr. Happy, England

Man City will return within the year to the Premier League because they have a great coach and a fantastic crowd. They should only try to get some more quality players in their squad.
Rick, Netherlands