The Bottom 3

In the words of the Chuckle Brothers, "oh dear oh dear". Putting aside for a moment our enthusiastic (and IMO healthy) infighting, the bottom 3 doesn't look good for anyone of a Lancashire persuasion. Personally I've long been proud of the achievements of clubs in this area, to have 3 PL regulars and 2 brief appearances from Blackpool and the Dingles, all from an area who's population can't be much above 1 million, is frankly incredible. This is where football began and this is where it continues to thrive. But with 20-30 big city clubs all in leagues below us, was it inevitable there'd come a point when the walls would crumble? Could this be the last of 11 (Rovers, Bolton) and 7 (Wigan) consecutive seasons in the top flight?

In this episode I will offer a two-thirds uneducated assessment of our chances of survival:

Rovers
Only the mentally unstable can now claim Steve Kean will turn things around. The season is yet young but if Venkys delay much longer in sacking him, the new manager could have a mountain to climb. I think we'd all wish the problems would stop there but will Venkys appoint another complete joker? Would any manager with backbone work for owners who require regular trips to India, for a club that doesn't have a chairman and with what will probably be little/no funds in January? Season ticket sales are down to 15,000, attendances are dropping like a stone, very few new signings have been impressive. Its a grim overall picture
Survival chances: 50%

Bolton
Surely Owen Coyle is a good manager. What he did with Burnley, taking a skint bottom of half of the championship club with crowds of 13,000, to mid-table in the premiership was phenomenal. And his overall record with Bolton is decent if not spectacular. However the recent downward trend must be a concern:
First half-season: 18th to 14th
Next half-season: 14th to 7th
Last half-season: 7th to 15th
This season: 15th to 20th
Is it possible to play good football in the premiership with limited players in the long-term? I think this way of playing always leads to an exposed defence and once opposition managers have had time to find figure out how to exploit it, it spells trouble.
Survival chances: 70%

Wigan
As ever Dave Whelan is the pivotal figure for this club. His money has long kept them afloat and he always has the ability to buy Wigan's way out of trouble in January. However I think its Whelan's current loyalty to Martinez that is putting them in trouble. The guy was exceptional at Swansea but I don't personally think he has what it takes in the premiership. Last season should have been a wake-up call but for some reason Whelan kept him on. Similarl loyalty will see them in trouble again this season. Wigan have had far more close calls than Rovers and Bolton since the 3 came up, maybe the next one will be too close.
Survival chances: 60%

Anywho thats my long-winded appraisal. It should also be noted that Rovers and Bolton are the only small PL clubs with a decent presence on ja606. That could be decisive in the final reckoning.