Downside to London's three-pronged attack

2000. "You have to prepare for it. You have to know what to expect when you get there."

Curbishley, of course, had the benefit of previous Premiership experience as Charlton manager. But for Alan Pardew, Dennis Wise and Iain Dowie it is going to be new territory in their management careers - if they get there.

Pardew's West Ham clearly have the best chance of retaining their status if they win promotion simply because of their heritage. Whatever your local allegiance, it's hard to dispute the fact that West Ham are essentially a Premier League club. Since climbing out of the old Second Division in 1958 they've spent all but six seasons among the elite.

In the same 46-year period Wise's Millwall have had two seasons in the top flight and Dowie's Palace have had 12.

This is not meant to diminish their prospects but it does explain why a club of West Ham's stature would have fewer problems adapting to life in the Premiership.

Of course, West Ham had to sell their Premiership-standard team when they were relegated. But with a debt of more than £30million they had little option.

For them, promotion would lift their annual turnover from £30m to £50m and the extra revenue would not only service the debt but allow investment to strengthen the squad.

Significantly, their average home attendance has remained static at around 30,000 despite relegation. This is a remarkable testament to the loyalty of their fans.

Palace's average this season is around 17,000 in a stadium with a 27,000 capacity and Millwall's average is about 10,000, half the capacity of The Den.

They may have corner- shop economies alongside that of West Ham, but they have few of the Upton Park club's ongoing debt commitments. Nor would they want them in the future.

Millwall's net debt at the end of November was about £1.4m while Palace's fortunes are bound to those of their owner Simon Jordan.

He has spent £29m since taking over three years ago and, although there's recent evidence of belt-tightening at Selhurst Park, he would dip into his own fortune again to finance a Premiership budget if it became necessary.

And it will be necessary. Promotion requires investment. Palace have two valuable players in Andy Johnson, the First Division's top scorer, and 18-year-old winger Wayne Routledge but are short of Premiership experience.

Millwall have potential in Australian midfielder Tim Cahill and Paul Ifill, and experience in 37-yearold Wise, but they wouldn't expect to survive long in the top flight with their present squad.

West Ham had a talented squad of big-name international players - and look what happened to them.

Serious money awaits those who gain admittance to the Premier League but, in the modern game, those budgeting for promotion know they must also budget for relegation.