Adrian Durham: Radical rule change to Premier League relegation and promotion is needed to force clubs like Burnley to compete

If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.

But according to talkSPORT’s Adrian Durham, the Premier League’s relegation rules are very much broken and require urgent fixing.

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Speaking on the latest episode of the Fiery Friday edition of the talkSPORT Daily Podcast, Durham tore into Burnley, who are fighting for their lives to stay in the top-flight.

Burnley’s questionable transfer business

Durham was especially critical of the Clarets’ transfer spending in the summer and winter, which, according to Transfermarkt, was approximately £111million.

Burnley’s two most expensive signings were Lesley Ugochukwu and Armando Broja, who both joined from Chelsea.

However, Broja had only eight Premier League goals to his name prior to joining, while Ugochukwu endured relegation while on loan at Southampton last term.

Burnley’s work in the market was in stark contrast to that of Sunderland, who won promotion via the Championship play-off final.

The Black Cats splashed out an estimated £184m on arrivals, with the likes of former Arsenal skipper Granit Xhaka and ex-Brighton winger Simon Adingra among them.

It was evident Sunderland were bringing in players for the here and now, while Burnley appeared to be assembling a team that could instantly rocket them back up to the Premier League unless they achieved an unlikely survival.

The large disparity in transfer expenditure prompted Durham to question ‘how serious’ Burnley were about staying up and whether they only achieved promotion just to absorb the riches on offer in the Premier League.

Adrian Durham’s new relegation rules

But Durham went even further as he proposed a two-up, two-down system for promotion and relegation.

“Burnley are an example of a club that have come up from the Championship,” Durham said.

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“Been brilliant in the Championship, their defensive record was phenomenal. The thing is, three clean sheets this season, pathetic.

“Are they taking it seriously enough, or are they just taking the Premier League money?

“As a quick example, a controlled experiment if you like, Ipswich Town, busy signing a load of players who are not good enough for the Premier League, and they’re trying to get promotion with those players.

“So if they go up, they’re left with a squad full of Championship players that will not be able to compete in the Premier League.

“I spoke to an Ipswich fan and pointed this out, and that Ipswich fan said, ‘Yeah, but we get the Premier League money’.

“So it’s come to this, they just go up to get Premier League money and are quite happy to go back down.

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“We know this is the case, so it’s about time they restricted it. Two up, two down to stop clubs like that just taking the money and being uncompetitive in the Premier League. That’s my take.”

Yo-yo? More like no-no

In the last two seasons, all six teams who were promoted to the top-flight made an instant return to the Championship.

Thanks to Sunderland’s success this term coupled with Wolves being rooted to the foot of the table, the streak almost certainly won’t extend to a third season.

Going back further, Norwich City and Fulham became known as ‘yo-yo clubs’ for their tendencies to get promoted, only to go straight back down the following season.

Norwich followed this pattern for seven seasons between 2013/14 and 2021/22.

As for Fulham, they endured the journey from 2017/18 to 2021/22, but they have maintained their place in the Premier League since their last promotion.

“It’s Burnley this season, but we know other clubs that have done exactly the same,” Durham added.

“They come up, take the money, go back down. What’s that all about? Why do fans get excited? You’re not going to see any of it (the money), are you? Just ridiculous. I’m against it.”

Second thoughts in the second tier?

Of course, if the Premier League tweaks their relegation rules, it would force the Championship to alter the promotion regulations too.

At present, the teams that finish in the top two are automatically promoted, while the teams who finish from third to sixth enter the play-offs, with the eventual winner claiming the third promotion spot up for grabs.

Durham believed the Championship should look a few tiers down the pyramid for the perfect example on how to change things.

“I also think it could help the Championship.” Durham said.

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“One automatic place, and that is everybody’s holy grail. A bit like the National League.

“Then they’ll expand the play-offs. So the next six are in the play-offs, one-off games, loads of jeopardy. I think that would be fantastic.

“I also think that would focus minds once you do get in the Premier League and you think a bit more like Sunderland.”