5 former Premier League clubs currently rotting in the lower leagues
As the 3rd round of the FA Cup was played last weekend, many lesser-known clubs around England got their 15 minutes of fame. Nottingham Forest's 4-2 win over Arsenal was the most memorable match.
Forest is one of many former Premier League sides that have been stuck in the lower leagues ever since getting relegated from the top-flight. However, as a Championship team, they aren't far from returning to the Premier League. They only need one successful season.
Many other former Premier League clubs find themselves in much tougher circumstances. Their fall from grace has been spectacular and here's a closer look at five former Premier League clubs that are currently stuck in the lower leagues below the Championship.
#5 Wigan Athletic
Wigan played in the Championship last season, but they got relegated following a miserable year in which they won only ten matches. The former solid mid-table finisher in the Premier League has become a yo-yo club between the second and the third tier of English football.
Following relegation from the Premier League in 2013, Wigan got close to bouncing back straight away as they reached the Championship playoffs, but it wasn't to be. They lost in the semifinals 2-1 to Queens Park Rangers in extra-time with a Charlie Austin penalty sealing Wigan's fate.
The moderately successful season was followed up with a horror show. In 2014/15 Wigan managed to collect only 39 points and off to League One they went. The 2013 FA Cup winner found life easy in the third tier, so they came straight back to the Championship as league winners, but only for one season.
Currently, it looks like history might be repeating itself. Wigan is once again leading League One - suffering only three losses so far - and they look set to get promoted again, but once again, there will be a danger of going back down straight away.