Swansea

The Swans will be mixing it with the big boys for the first time since 1983 and, in beating Reading in the Championship play-off showdown, they become the first-ever Welsh club to make it into the Premier League.

As Blackpool found out 12 months ago, winning at Wembley can provide the platform to give any side the momentum needed to have a real crack at the Premier League.

However,the Seasiders’ attacking, gung-ho approach, which initially worked wonders but ultimately proved to be their downfall, needs to be taken note of by Brendan Rodgers and proves a more measured approach to tackle the top flight is needed.

In Rodgers they have one of the most respected young coaches in the game and he is unlikely to make the same mistakes as Ian Holloway but they will need to make some astute additions to their squad over the summer if they are to hold on to their place after a season back in the big time.

Players with plenty of Premier League experience will have to be drafted in, no doubt on the cheap, to bolster a squad which can be moulded into a hard-to-beat top-flight side. They do have attacking talent in the shape of Nathan Dyer, Stephen Dobbie and Scott Sinclair but more will be needed if they are to stay up.

We envisage a busy summer at the Liberty Stadium as Rodgers prepares a squad for the big test that lies ahead and, while the canny Ulsterman faces his ultimate challenge, we reckon he can succeed where Holloway failed and keep the Swans up.

Verdict: Stay up

Norwich

Paul Lambert has done a superb job at Carrow Road and leading the Canaries to successive promotions is the stuff of dreams for a side regularly part of the top flight in the 90s.

This achievement cannot be underestimated and they are likely to claim a few Premier League scalps in East Anglia next term, such is the vociferous atmosphere the home fans will generate. But a real struggle looks on the cards for Norwich unless serious investment is forthcoming into Lambert’s squad over the summer.

The Scot will have to delve into the free transfer market of released top-flight journeymen to beef up his squad while he will hope the likes of Grant Holt and Andrew Crofts can handle the step up in class. He will also look to bring players in on loan again and persuading Arsenal and Liverpool to give them Henri Lansbury and Dani Pacheco for the season could be key.

Verdict: Relegated

QPR

Rangers romped to the Championship title and then survived a potential points docking to ensure they are back in the Premier League despite a nervous few days at the end to the season.

There is undoubted raw talent in Neil Warnock’s side with the likes of Adel Tarabt and Wayne Routledge but, again, money will need to be pumped into the squad for them to be competitive next season.

Despite having mega-rich owners, Warnock may only be given around £10million to improve his squad over the summer. That should give him scope to find some important players and they have the resources and experience to ensure the club’s long-term plan of establishing themselves in the Premier League can be achieved.

Verdict: Stay up

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