Gary Neville has suggested that the relegation of Tottenham Hotspur could ultimately have a positive impact on the competitiveness of the Premier League.
Spurs, who only just survived relegation with a 17th-place finish last season, find themselves in danger once again. They are currently just one point above the drop zone with nine games left to play, including five away matches—an area where they have collected 19 of their 29 points so far.
Their situation could deteriorate rapidly, with a difficult away clash against Liverpool FC looming on Sunday. Meanwhile, results elsewhere could see them slip into the relegation zone before kickoff if West Ham United and Nottingham Forest manage to secure victories over Manchester City and Fulham FC respectively.
Despite dismissing Thomas Frank and appointing Igor Tudor as interim manager, Tottenham have yet to reverse their fortunes and are still searching for their first league win of 2026.
Although relegation would be a major shock, it is a possibility the club is beginning to confront. Neville believes that while such an outcome would be painful for supporters, it could make the league stronger overall. He argued on the Stick to Football podcast that seeing established clubs relegated—rather than newly promoted sides immediately going back down—would create a more competitive and unpredictable division.
Using teams like Leeds United and Sunderland AFC as examples, Neville pointed out earlier concerns that promoted sides were at risk of being relegated straight away. In his view, the league doesn’t specifically need Tottenham to go down, but it does need greater rotation among relegated clubs. He also hinted that if Spurs were to suffer that fate, it would largely be the result of their own shortcomings.
