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FA Cup triumph and relegation: A bittersweet legacy
Wigan Athletic made history in 2013 as the first club to lift the FA Cup and suffer relegation from the Premier League in the same season. More than a decade later, the question lingers: was the trophy worth the cost?
Leeds and West Ham face the same gamble
This season, Leeds United and West Ham United stand two matches away from a rare domestic final. Yet both clubs hover dangerously close to the Premier League drop zone. For their supporters, the prospect of silverware comes with a stark trade-off-potential relegation.
Leeds last claimed a major trophy in 1992, the final First Division title before the Premier League's inception. West Ham's last triumph dates back even further, to their 1980 FA Cup victory over Arsenal. Since then, neither club has reached a major final on home soil, leaving generations of fans without a taste of glory.
Priorities clash as cup runs collide with survival
In the last round, both managers made sweeping changes. Daniel Farke fielded nine alterations as Leeds overcame Championship side Norwich City, while Nuno Espírito Santo rotated seven players in West Ham's penalty shootout win over Brentford. With a free week before their next league fixtures, the focus appeared squarely on the cup.
The financial stakes underscore the dilemma. The FA Cup winners will earn £2.1 million-a modest sum compared to Premier League riches. Each position in the top flight is worth £2.7 million, meaning 17th place secures £10.8 million, more than five times the cup prize.
The £100m cost of relegation
Football finance expert Kieran Maguire estimates that dropping out of the Premier League in 2025-26 could cost clubs an average of £100 million. Broadcast revenue alone plummets from around £120 million to £45 million, a £75 million loss. Factor in reduced matchday and commercial income, and the total impact soars.
"The club that finished bottom two years ago received £111 million. This season, we're looking at £120 million from broadcasters alone. That drops to £45 million in the Championship," Maguire told the Daily Mail in January.
Fans divided over the path forward
For Wigan supporters, the 2013 FA Cup triumph remains a cherished memory, outweighing the pain of relegation. Martin Tarbuck, editor of the Mudhutter Football Express fanzine, reflects the sentiment of many fans:
"Football shouldn't be about making up the numbers; it should be about winning trophies. Ask any Wigan Athletic fan whether they'd prefer to have stayed up that season, and the answer is a unanimous no. That piece of silverware is something we'll take to our last breath."
West Ham and Leeds supporters, however, are split. Holly Turbutt of West Ham Network argues for survival:
"Focusing too much on the FA Cup now risks relegation. We don't have the squad depth to rotate without weakening our league side. Staying up is the priority-any cup progress is a bonus."
Leeds fan writer Molly Whitmore counters:
"The FA Cup is where the excitement is-the goals, the energy, the sense of occasion. Football is about moments, and this cup run gives us something to believe in."
Fan voices reveal the divide
West Ham supporters echo mixed views:
- Mike: "Priority one: stay in the Premier League. Two: send Spurs down. Three: lift the FA Cup as icing on the cake."
- Conor: "What's an FA Cup worth in the Championship? Survival is everything."
- Tim: "Give the FA Cup a real effort-it's a rare opportunity."
Leeds fans are similarly torn:
- Pat: "Premier League survival, no question. The money is too important."
- Matt: "Why choose? Play your best in every match."
- Michael: "I want to stay up, but two Wembley trips and a goal there would be unforgettable. Can't we do both?"
The managerial tightrope
With such high financial stakes, managers increasingly treat domestic cups as secondary. The allure of silverware may captivate fans and players, but for those steering the club, the math is brutal. The question remains: is a day of glory worth the £100 million gamble?
