Ipswich Town, Coventry City and Hull City have all taken different paths to reach England's top flight, but former Premier League manager Dave Jones believes they now face the same challenge: building squads capable of surviving at the highest level.
Jones speaks with the authority of someone who has experienced almost every stage of English football's promotion battle.
The former Everton defender began his managerial career by guiding Stockport County to promotion to the old First Division before later taking Sheffield Wednesday back into the Championship. He returned Wolverhampton Wanderers to the Premier League in 2009 and built Cardiff City into one of the Championship's strongest sides, famously leading them to the FA Cup final in 2008.
That experience has given Jones a clear view of what separates clubs that establish themselves in the Premier League from those who struggle after promotion.
Speaking exclusively to Football Presse, Jones highlighted one area above all others.
"The biggest thing you have to do is make sure your recruitment is spot on," Jones said. "That goes for every club. New clubs into the Premier League, the biggest thing you have to do is make sure your recruitment is right."
The challenge facing promoted clubs is one Jones knows only too well. Winning promotion is built on momentum, consistency and confidence. The Premier League, however, demands a different level of quality, depth and adaptability.
"You can't afford to make many mistakes in the Premier League or you will be punished," he said. "The Premiership is a totally different animal to the Championship."
Coventry City arrive in the Premier League after one of the most impressive campaigns in their recent history, winning the Championship title to secure their return to the top division for the first time since 2001.
Jones, who has remained close to the club and recently attended their annual golf day, praised the work done under Frank Lampard but believes the next challenge will test everyone involved.
"Anybody who takes the team up from the Championship to the Premiership has done well," Jones said. "Frank had a couple of sticky patches in previous clubs, but no one can complain about him. He's done really, really well.
"He’s taken the team up."
But Jones warned that success in the Championship does not automatically translate into Premier League survival.
"This will be a big test now because the Premiership is a totally different animal to the Championship. Frank's next test is to make sure that they stay there, and I think that's going to be a lot harder than people imagine sometimes."
For Coventry, the recruitment process will be vital.
Jones pointed to the example of Sunderland, who strengthened effectively after promotion, as a model for newly promoted clubs.
"They bought well," he said. "Their recruitment was very, very good."
"And Coventry have got to do the same."
Ipswich Town face a different challenge after returning to the Premier League following their previous promotion and subsequent battle to compete among England's elite.
Jones believes the lessons remain the same: identify the right players, improve the squad and understand that the Premier League allows very little margin for error.
"You've got to recruit well," he said. "That goes for every club."
Ipswich's journey showed the value of long-term planning and stability, but Jones believes the next stage requires different qualities.
The Championship rewards patience and development. The Premier League demands immediate impact.
Hull City, meanwhile, have earned their place through the pressure of the play-offs, overcoming the emotional and physical demands of football's most intense promotion route.
Jones understands how difficult that achievement is. The play-offs provide no room for recovery, with one moment capable of defining an entire season. But once promotion is secured, the focus quickly moves towards strengthening the squad.
For Jones, the message is simple.
"The biggest thing you have to do is make sure your recruitment is spot on."
His own career has shown that there is more than one route to success.
At Stockport and Sheffield Wednesday, he experienced the battle of earning promotion. At Wolves, he handled the challenge of returning a historic club to the Premier League. At Cardiff, he demonstrated his ability to build a competitive Championship side capable of challenging the established order.
Now he believes Ipswich, Coventry and Hull must understand the same reality.
Promotion is an achievement.
Survival is another.
"They're there," Jones said. "They've done it. They've done fantastic to get there.
"Now they have to make sure they stay there."
For three clubs celebrating a return to English football's biggest stage, the dream has been realised.
According to Jones, the next chapter will be decided not by the promotion celebrations, but by the decisions made afterwards.