Relegation is not the end of the world for a Premier League club but it is undoubtedly costly. With just over two months of the season left, the top division's current bottom three -- Sunderland, Hull and Middlesbrough -- may well be making plans to avert the financial flux that demotion will bring.
The blow can be cushioned, chiefly by getting back up as soon as possible with the benefit of parachute payments, as Hull and Burnley were able to do last season at the first attempt, but that requires continued backing from owners already set for significant losses.