Compared with last season when relegation was decided months before the final game, the climax of 2025-6 looks as if it could carry a cliffhanger threat right to the end: West Ham’s last -day match up against relegation rivals Leeds has the potential to be a Premier League survival shootout.

However such dramatic season endings have become rare with the gulf in quality between the Premier League and Championship. In recent seasons more often than not, the same three have been bundled back down one season after winning promotion.

To avert this and reintroduce the last – day drama, talksport.com‘s article

“Premier League urged to reintroduce radical ancient rule to determine relegation amid Tottenham drama”

Suggests a return to the 1980’s style bottom of the table playoffs to decide relegation, keeping the drama alive to the last and making the end-of-season ‘procession’ a thing of the past:

“The Premier League must introduce relegation play-offs – more excitement is needed at the bottom of the table.

That’s the view of legendary talkSPORT broadcaster Adrian Durham, who called on top-flight chiefs to implement the radical rule change.”

For those of you too young to remember, back in the ’80’s there...