9 Biggest Downward Spirals By Former Premier League Clubs

9. Coventry City

The Sky Blues spent 34 years in the top flight before they slipped into decline at the turn of the century. Coventry were a side that perennially occupied a position in the lower reaches of the Premiership, climbing to their highest ever finish of 11th in the 1997-98 season by golden boot winner Dion Dublin. Three years later and Coventry dropped out of the Premier League; at that time only Liverpool, Arsenal and Everton could boast longer spells in England's top flight. The biggest thing to happen to Coventry during their 11 year stay in the Championship was their move to the 32,000 seater Ricoh Arena in 2005, leaving their home of Highfield Road after 106 years. The move was meant to bring in big crowds and matchday revenues that could drive a move for promotion. Instead, the Sky Blues slipped into League One in 2012, the lowest ebb for the club in 48 years. Things got even worse a year later when Coventry City left the Ricoh, following a rent dispute between club owners SISU Capital and stadium operator ACL. Home matches were played at Northampton's Sixfields Stadium 32 miles away for over a year before City returned to the Ricoh in September 2014. The situation left a bitter taste in the mouths of supporters and everyone with ties to the club; those wounds now seem to have healed, with Coventry currently pushing for a playoff position in League One.