Why plenty of Brighton fans and others would love it if Tottenham were relegated

The quintet had looked at maximising TV rights, and after over a century of the league running the show, we had the tail (ie the clubs) wagging than dog.

Obviously over a period of 30 years or so, things change. Blackburn Rovers ‘bought’ their way to the league title one year, Middle Eastern sovereign states have since purchased clubs, City and Newcastle, and one year Leicester caught everyone else napping and pulled off one of the most romantic title wins in the history of the domestic game.

Yet a decade on from the Foxes’ Premier League win, one of the aforementioned big five, Spurs, find themselves on the cusp of the ignominy of relegation from the top flight.

As a football fan, obviously predominantly a Brighton one, I find myself with mixed feelings.

I travelled to North London at the weekend to watch a late, but ultimately deserved, equaliser keep Albion on track in their quest for return to European competition.

There’s no doubt White Hart Lane is the best stadium in Europe, and right up there with any football ground on the planet, but in certain sections of the Tottenham support there’s almost a sense of entitlement, possibly emanating from their original membership of the big five, that not only gives them a false perspective of the gravity of the situation but also rubs fans of other teams up the wrong way.

Relegation is part and parcel of football, everyone starts in August: 38 games, three points for a win, one for a draw, and guess what – finish in the bottom three and you’re gone!

But if Spurs do go down, looking at social media, it will possibly be one of the most ‘celebrated’ relegations in EPL history.

But is that really fair? And is ‘fair’ an appropriate adjective?

It’s football.

I had thought the recent appointment of former Albion boss Roberto De Zerbi would ultimately be enough to save Spurs; after Saturday I’m not so sure.

I’m also of the opinion as an outsider looking in, that if Spurs hadn’t sacked Ange Postecoglu 11 months ago they wouldn’t be anywhere near the bottom of the league, a view shared by a number of Spurs fans I met on Saturday.

I’m torn – my son-in-law supports Spurs, therefore both my grandsons will have an allegiance. But the aforementioned attitude of entitlement by a section of the Tottenham supporters almost dictates a touch of the Kevin Keegan approach about Spurs’ potential relegation: deep down, how many of us would ‘love it’ if Spurs go down?

Maybe a fair few Albion fans of a certain age, given a certain result between Southampton and Spurs at The Dell in April 1978 which denied the Albion the feat of back-to-back promotions and a place in the top flight. As a 13-year-old it hurt. But that was then and this is now.

It’s all down to the footballing Gods now, and we all know what a warped sense of humour they have!