The highs of promotion and lows of relegation are two of the defining aspects of the English Football League and its famed pyramid system.
After reaching the end of another season, several teams are beginning to prepare for a season in the league above or, are now faced with the daunting realities of dropping down a division or even out of the pyramid entirely.
Wolves, Burnley and West Ham have been condemned to the Championship, while Oxford United, Leicester City and Sheffield Wednesday are heading to League One. There was drama in League Two though, with the relegation battle going down to the final day.
- Lampard's Coventry City promoted to Premier League
- Ipswich seal Premier League return with win on final day of season
Premier League
18th: West Ham
Relegated on May 24
West Ham's relegation may have been confirmed on the final day of the season, but the dreaded drop felt like a long-time coming.
After 15 years, West Ham will make a return to the Championship. Nuno Espírito Santo took charge of the club when they were sat in 19th in September after the sacking of Graham Potter, and despite a brief upturn in results, Nuno failed to steer the side away from relegation.
Chances of survival were slim heading into the final day, as West Ham knew a win against Leeds would only be good enough, if Tottenham, who were 17th before kick off, were beaten by Everton at home.
The east London side did their part, beating Leeds 3-0, but to their deepest regret, Spurs sealed a 1-0 victory 12 miles further north.
Following their relegation West Ham released a statement:
"The Club wishes to sincerely thank every single one of our supporters for the constant and loyal backing they have given, throughout what has been an extremely difficult and disappointing season.
"Ultimately, we have not repaid that support. The plain truth is that we have not been good enough. We must now face the consequences of that failure with honesty, transparency and a determination to repair, refocus and rebuild."
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19th: Burnley
Relegated on April 23
While there were signs of optimism earlier in the season, recently Burnley have been the whipping boys of the Premier League and have looked destined for the Championship for some time.
Their relegation was confirmed with a home defeat to Manchester City, who briefly overtook Arsenal at the top of the table with a 1-0 win.
Just over a week after their relegation was confirmed, the Clarets parted ways with manager Scott Parker. Parker had overseen Burnley's promotion to the Premier League just last season.
They have managed only one win in their last 25 league games, and Parker had heard the anger and frustration of the Clarets fans for several weeks. The club said that the decision to call time on Parker's stint at Turf Moor was a mutual one.
In a statement, Burnley said:
"The Club would like to place on record its sincere thanks to Scott for his professionalism, dedication and contribution. He leaves with the respect and gratitude of everyone connected with Burnley Football Club.
"Mike Jackson, supported by the existing backroom staff, will take interim charge for the Clarets' remaining four Premier League fixtures, beginning with Friday's match away to Leeds United.
"The process of appointing a new permanent Head Coach ahead of the 2026-27 season has begun."
20th: Wolves
Relegated on April 20
Failing to register their first league win until January, Wolves' return to the Championship has long been a foregone conclusion.
Rob Edwards' arrival threatened to light a spark but it was ultimately too little too late with the former Luton and Middlesbrough boss unable to oversee a great escape, despite wins over Liverpool and Aston Villa.
West Ham's 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace on April 20 confirmed their fate with five games still to play.
"We are clear on what needs to improve, and our focus is now on strengthening the club, building momentum and creating a team our supporters can believe in. We know what is required and will approach the months ahead with purpose," Wolves interim executive Nathan Shi said after the club's relegation was confirmed.
"You deserve better and giving you a club you can genuinely be proud of is what drives everything we do from this point forward."
- Wolves relegated from Premier League as West Ham, Crystal Palace draw
Championship
1st: Coventry City
Promoted on April 17
Frank Lampard's Coventry City have strolled to promotion in the second-tier, not dropping out of the top two since September and go up to the Premier League as champions.
Boasting three players on ten goals or more for the season in the form of Haji Wright, Brandon Thomas-Asante and Ellis Simms, the Midlands side have led the way in the league and barring a blip in January, have never really looked like being caught.
They return to the top-flight after 25 years away.
"There's a lot of work to do because we know the step that it will be for the football club," Lampard said.
"So that's something we have to work on quickly now because of where we're at, we have to be ambitious -- we're Coventry City football club.
"I know what the Premier League is and its going to be a challenge, we can enjoy the moment for the next two weeks, but of course we have to work behind the scenes to ensure we go up the right way."
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2nd: Ipswich
Promoted on May 2
Going into the final day in the driving seat, Ipswich never let up and a 3-0 win over QPR at Portman Road secured their promotion and Premier League return.
After missing the opportunity to confirm second in the week prior, Kieran McKenna and Co. were in no mood to slip up again in their Championship finale.
McKenna said after the game and a long season: "It's hard to enjoy to be honest. You just really want it for everyone else, the lads who haven't had it in the group and for the supporters and your family, it means so much.
"It's not been easy for that group of players but they've really stuck at it and you can't ever understand how hard it is to get into the Premier League. It's a great achievement.
"This one has been more difficult in some ways. This has been a completely different challenge and has been a big challenge, so I know how hard we've had to work at it and I know it could have gone in a completely different direction, so I'm really proud that we've kept it together and got it over the line."
6th: Hull City
Promoted on May 23: Championship playoff final winners
Hull City's promotion to the Premier League could not have been more dramatic.
The Championship playoff semifinals were largely overshadowed by the 'Spygate' scandal, as Southampton, who beat Middlesbrough in the semifinals, were expelled from the final by the EFL due to illegally spying on their opponents.
After learning their opponents would be Middlesbrough only days before the final, Hull went on to triumph 1-0 win as Oli McBurnie scored deep into stoppage time to send his side into the top flight for the first time in a decade.
Hull became the first team since Blackpool in 2010 to finish sixth in the Championship before winning the playoffs.
Head coach Sergej Jakirovic told Sky Sports: "It is an amazing feeling, I can't believe it. We did it because we suffered a lot with the game.
"The regular season was the worst, and then we started a completely new tournament," and there it didn't matter how many points you had won."
22nd: Oxford United
Relegated on April 25
Oxford United's time in the Championship came to an end before their clash with Sheffield Wednesday, after Charlton Athletic defeated Hull City in the early kick-off.
The U's were facing a big uphill struggle to stay in the second division after losing their opening three league games of the season and at Christmas time, they had only won four matches.
After sacking Gary Rowett, Matt Bloomfield failed to have the desired effect, only winning one of his first nine matches.
But when winning three matches in a row in late February, over West Bromwich Albion, Preston North End and Blackburn Rovers, it looked like Oxford may find a way out of relegation.
Since then though, Oxford have won just one match in seven, and with results not going their way, relegation was confirmed back to League One.
23rd: Leicester City
Relegated on April 21
Just 10 years ago, Leicester City were Premier League champions. Now, they are condemned to League One.
The Foxes were deducted six points by the EFL in February and a 2-2 draw at home to Hull on April 21 confirmed their relegation to England's third division for a side that were only recently sitting at the top table of European football.
Leicester boss Gary Rowett has said he believes the club can have a bright future but has called on the hierarchy to make "big decisions" after they were relegated.
Rowett, who held his post-match press conference amid a backdrop of protesting fans outside the stadium, believes the club's downward spiral can be arrested but wants decisive action.
"We all know the journey of a football fan. But of course, it's been incredibly extreme here," he said. "Ten years ago, winning the Premier League and such an incredible achievement, to then have this kind of low.
"It's going to sting for a few days, but I do believe this football club has the ability to bounce back. But of course, some big decisions are going to be have to be made over the next few weeks.
"I'm pretty sure they're not going to be able to have complete clarity on that over the next week or two, but ultimately they are going to have to be decisive in what they see the future looking like for the football club.
"Because big decisions are going to have to be made, tough decisions will have to be made to get the club going back in the right direction.
24th: Sheffield Wednesday
Relegated on Feb. 22
After having a whopping 18 points deducted for financial breaches linked to previous owner Dejphon Chansiri, along with various periods of unpaid wages and severe financial instability before being put into administration, it was always going to be a near-impossible task for Wednesday to stay up.
Club captain Barry Bannan also left for promotion-chasing Millwall in January, leaving behind a squad, largely filled with youth players, that was unequipped for the rigours of the Championship.
But a first home win on the final day of the season coupled with the announcement of Arise Capital Partners completing their takeover of the club mean that there could be light at the end of the tunnel for Wednesday,.
- Sheffield Wednesday avoid 15-point deduction after successful takeover
League One
1st: Lincoln City
Promoted on April 6
Lincoln City's season in League One is an underdog story for the ages.
With one of the lowest wage bills and budgets in the division, Lincoln have smashed every expectation that even the most ardent of supporters could have had by securing promotion in early April.
The Imps, astonishingly, finished on a total of 103.
Like Coventry, they go up as champions and will grace the Championship for the first time in 65 years after seven-successive seasons in the third-tier.
2nd: Cardiff City
Promoted on April 18
Cardiff City could hardly have been promoted in more dramatic circumstances.
Leading 3-1 at Reading, Cardiff were set to be made to wait to confirm automatic promotion with rivals Stockport winning against Exeter. Up step Jack Bycroft.
The Exeter goalkeeper scored a stunning equaliser in stoppage time to secure not only a vital point in his own side's relegation fight but also confirm Cardiff's promotion, courtesy of Stockport's dropped points and rendering the Welsh club's points tally of 85 unassailable in second.
It meant Cardiff, who were in the Premier League as recently as 2019, have wasted no time in getting back up to the Championship after relegation last year.
5th: Bolton
Promoted on May 24: League One playoff final winners
Bolton will make a return to the Championship for the first time in seven years, after thrashing Stockport 4-1 in the League One playoff final.
After a tough ride for Bolton, with many challenges like points deductions, emergency loans and a spell in League Two, they finally made a dream return to the second tier.
Sharon Brittan, Chairman of Bolton, said: "We are incredibly proud to have secured promotion and to bring this success back to Bolton.
"The support from the town and our fans has been unwavering, and this achievement belongs to everyone connected to the club."
21st: Exeter City
Relegated on May 2
Exeter City were relegated after a 2-1 defeat to Bradford City, who went on to play Bolton in the League One playoff semifinal.
In a season to forget, Exeter endured a poor record of one win in their last 20 games, condemning them to League Two for the first time since 2022.
22nd: Port Vale
Relegated on April 22
Cardiff confirmed Port Vale's relegation, with a goal from Rubin Colwill in the 79th minute sending the Valiants back to the league from which they were promoted last year.
"It's a bit raw at the moment and the reality is kicking in. It's hard to take because we always had the belief we could survive," said Jon Brady, who came in as manager in January.
"Even tonight we played well against a side that are going to be a good Championship team next season. We contained them to one shot on target, but that's the one they scored."
23rd: Rotherham
Relegated on April 14
Rotherham's relegation from League One was confirmed following a 3-0 defeat at Wigan.
Goals from Jason Kerr, Joe Taylor and Callum Wright secured victory for the Latics to cement the Millers' place in League Two next season.
Lee Clark accepts Rotherham have "a big job ahead" of them.
24th: Northampton Town
Relegated on April 15
Northampton's return to League Two was confirmed with defeat to Jack Wilshere's Luton.
They just staved off relegation last term with a 19th-placed finish but endured a terrible time of things this time around, winning just nine times and losing 26 games.
"Lessons will be learnt, we have proved we can get out of League Two, and now the goal is to get back into League One as soon as possible and all of our focus moves towards that," Northampton chairman Kelvin Thomas said.
League Two
1st: Bromley
Promoted on April 18
In the National League South in 2015, Bromley will be in League One for the first time in their history next season.
Managed by none other than Liverpool goalkeeper and recent debutant Freddie Woodman's father, Andy Woodman, Bromley's promotion was confirmed by Notts County's 2-1 defeat to Barnet.
They remain unbeaten at home this season.
2nd: MK Dons
Promoted on April 25
MK Dons secured promotion to League One after a 3-0 win over Tranmere Rovers.
Goals from Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, Alex Gilbey and Callum Patterson ensured the Dons were the second team to be promoted from League 2 and saw them overtake Bromley, who were already promoted into first with one game to go.
Manager Paul Warne secured his fifth promotion, having previously been promoted three times with Rotherham United and once with Derby County.
He came into the club in April 2025 with the team struggling in the bottom half and has turned things around, with a run of 14 matches without defeat seeing the club promoted.
3rd: Cambridge United
Promoted on May 2
A strong season for Cambridge United has rewarded them with promotion to League One. Boasting the best defensive record in the EFL season -- conceding just 33 goals from 46 games -- it's been a season to revel in.
Their goalless draw to Crewe Alexandra on May 2 confirmed their promotion.
Club directors Paul and Mark said: "This time last year, we talked about all feeling the sting of relegation. It hurt. It was deserved, and we knew we had made mistakes.
"The Cledara Abbey turned into a real fortress for us, and we ended the season as promotion winners."
5th: Notts County
Promoted on May 25: League Two playoff final winners
Notts County make a highly-anticipated return to League One, after an 11-year absence, courtesy of a comprehensive 3-0 win in the League Two playoff final against Salford City at Wembley.
Notts County dropped to non-league level for the first time in 2019, tackling multiple ownership changes and financial challenges.
Head coach Martin Paterson reflected on a positive final performance:
"I thought we were excellent, we respected the game, we respected the opponents and performed excellently. We played the game and not the occasion."
23rd: Harrogate Town
Relegated on May 2
Still in with a chance of safety on the final day of the season, Harrogate's six-season stay in the Football League was ended after teenage Barnet substitute Phillip Chinedu consigned the hosts to a 2-1 defeat with his first touch of the game.
Events at Newport had plunged Harrogate back into the bottom two after a brief comeback, and more despair followed when hesitant home defending was punished as Chinedu squeezed a low six-yard shot inside Oxley's right-hand post to seal Harrogate's fate.
24th: Barrow
Relegated on May 2
Needing a near-miracle to avoid the drop on the season's finale, Barrow were relegated after second-half goals from Tom Davies and Bobby Kamwa gave Newport a 2-1 win.
Both sides were destined to go down following Charlie McCann's opener before Davies' leveller moved the Exiles out of the drop zone before Kamwa secured victory at Holker Street as Newport finished in 20th.
Charlie McCann fired the hosts -- who needed a lot to go their way elsewhere for a chance of survival -- into an early lead after the ball was cleared into his path, but it proved meaningless in the end with Barrow out of the Football League at full-time.
Information from PA contributed to this report.