ANOTHER season is over and there will not be a Newcastle United, Sunderland or Middlesbrough fan out there disappointed about that.

Back in August, hope was high.

Newcastle were talking about challenging the top four and preparing to head back in to Europe after finishing fifth.

Sunderland had Martin O'Neill as manager and, despite a low-key close-season of transfer business, he was the man the majority of supporters wanted and optimism remained strong ahead of his first full season in charge.

And Middlesbrough had their sights set on a play-off place at least. What a difference nine months can make.

Back in the real world, in May 2013, and it is hard to believe that such expectations were so wildly inaccurate.

Newcastle had to wait until the penultimate weekend of the season to erase a threat of relegation which could easily have ended in complete disaster after home defeats to Sunderland and Liverpool.

After O'Neill lost his spark and his job, Paolo Di Canio's true assessment of the Sunderland squad he inherited is now coming out after securing Premier League status in his eight games in charge.

And then there is Middlesbrough: set for a further summer of change and realignment after failing to build on an excellent first half of the season which raised hope of automatic promotion from the Championship.

It is impossible to predict what will happen next season. The summer is going to be a crucial period at St James' Park, the Stadium of Light and the Riverside Stadium.

With Di Canio threatening to move everyone in sight out on Wearside and Tony Mowbray exploring an extensive list of bargain basement options in a bid to improve Boro, Newcastle look the most stable.

That, though, could all soon change. Without the prospect of a hectic midweek Europa League campaign to heighten fitness concerns, the Magpies should be able to focus purely on the domestic front.

Following this season's early exits in the Capital One Cup and the FA Cup, that is something Pardew needs to get it right next time out if the pressure on him is not to increase further at the start of the new campaign.

With a couple of attacking additions - with Liverpool's Andy Carroll a likely name to be in the frame once more - Newcastle should have a squad capable of avoiding a repeat of this year's failings.

But that will be heavily reliant on being able to retain the likes of Yohan Cabaye, Fabricio Coloccini, Hatem Ben Arfa and Tim Krul. A failure to do so and Pardew could have an even greater job on his hands at Newcastle.

Over at Sunderland, Di Canio's outspoken methods this week in revealing rife indiscipline within the camp has paved the way for a complete overhaul of the Sunderland squad.

Phil Bardsley, for his casino antics, and Matt Kilgallon will seemingly be the first two out of the door. But how many more? And will the club's revamp of the recruitment structure gain immediate rewards?

Sunderland are set for a significant period of transistion under the Italian. It is important he gets off to a good start in August or the whole thing could implode once more.

The region's football fraternity will again be hoping for better next time around. While such feelings are commendable, it's not the time to bank on much improvement just yet.