Sunderland and Sheffield United face off in Saturday’s Championship play-off final, with Premier League riches awaiting the winner. 

However, recent history shows the promotion dream can quickly sour, as all three sides promoted in the past two seasons have been relegated back immediately, a phenomenon previously only seen once in 1997/98.

The widening gap between the Premier League and the Championship is clear. The bottom three Premier League teams over the last two seasons have amassed historically low points totals, with Luton, Burnley, and Sheffield United collecting just 66 points last year, and this season’s relegation trio, Leicester, Ipswich, and Southampton, on track to break that record with only 59 points combined.

Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna commented on the challenge: “It’s clear that the gap is big… 17 teams have two full seasons of Premier League money and everything that comes with that. And it makes it harder for everyone to catch up.”

Sheffield United earned £110 million from Premier League TV and commercial revenues last season despite finishing last, and when parachute payments over three years are included, a single Premier League season can exceed £200 million in revenue.

The English Football League (EFL) is concerned about how these parachute payments distort the Championship’s competitive balance and sustainability. If Sheffield United join Leeds and Burnley in promotion this season, six of the last nine promoted clubs would have returned immediately after relegation.

EFL chairman Rick Parry said, “The impact of these payments on the competitive balance of the Championship, and on the sustainability of all other clubs, is a major concern.”