More on the line than bragging rights...

ON current form, the relegation battle is likely to see two from Newcastle, Sunderland and Norwich joining Aston Villa in the drop to the Championship. Newcastle host Sunderland today in a match where any winner would take a significant step away from danger. NICK HARRIS explains what damage the loser could suffer in relegation.

39%

The chance of dropping below the Championship. Thirty-one different clubs have been represented in the 45 relegations and 12 of them, or 39 per cent, have fallen lower than the Championship. Two clubs, Bradford and Portsmouth, have gone from the top flight to the fourth tier since the Millennium.

£40m

Drop in income in year one. Over the past 15 years, relegated teams have seen their income drop by an average of £20.1m, but as the top flight has become more lucrative that has increased. A hit of £40m is now probable.

£2.5m

Expected TV income of clubs relegated into the Championship next season. The new Premier League TV deals from 2016-17 will see even the bottom club next season making around £100m from central funds alone (up from £63m), and the top club making £150m (up from £100m). The average PL TV income will rise from £80m to £120m.

3,854

The average drop in crowds in the first year after relegation since 2001, but this was skewed favourably by Leicester boosting crowds by moving to a new ground after relegation in 2002. Removing that freak event means average gates drop by more than 4,300. Sunderland’s, for example, plummeted by 12,500 after they went down in 2003.