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LONDON - THE latest estimate of the cost of relegation is £35 million (S$93.8 million), mainly through the loss of TV revenue.
Come Survival Sunday, two teams from the trio of Fulham, Reading and Birmingham will find out if they are the ones to join Derby County in paying the price.
One other club that could go down, but have probably clawed their way to safety, are Bolton Wanderers.
Their plight seemed hopeless even a month ago, but with their brand of physical football, Bolton have gained 10 points from their last four contests.
The talisman who set up Saturday's 2-0 home win over Sunderland was El Hadji Diouf, and he insisted yesterday he will not play for Bolton next season.
Still, what a going-away present. He lurked beyond the furthest post when Matt Taylor's cross came in.
While Sunderland's defence hesitated, the Senegalese plucked the ball from the air, controlled it and lashed it high into the net.
'I need another one challenge,' he later told the BBC.
'I know it was my last game at the Reebok Stadium. I left with a goal that means I can come back with another team.'
Bolton face Chelsea in their last match and could still be caught on points by Fulham and Reading if they lose.
But their superior goal difference means it will take freak results to send Bolton down.
Like Bolton, Fulham's destiny lies in their own hands.
April was the most astonishing month for Fulham.
Not having won away for 18 months, they beat Reading impressively, then won an improbable victory at Manchester City with Diomansy Kamara's last-gasp winner.
A side that had won only six games all season made it three wins in their last seven games with Saturday's 2-0 result over Birmingham.
A win at Portsmouth this Sunday will be enough to save them.
Fulham manager Roy Hodgson is taking nothing for granted even if the fans celebrated on Saturday as if survival was assured.
'We have been written off for a long time and it hasn't been easy to consistently face the questions about whether we were finished,' Hodgson said.
'The euphoria could turn into sadness if we get the wrong result at Portsmouth and we're relegated.'
After 551 minutes without a single goal, Reading are further out on the edge of the abyss.
Not even a win at Derby on Sunday can guarantee survival. The 0-1 loss to Tottenham on Saturday pushed them to third from bottom, tied with Fulham on points but with an atrocious goal difference that is six worse than the London side's.
'We have to forget what's happened in the last 10 months,' manager Steve Coppell urged.
'We have to focus on next week. If we win the game, which is all I can ask, we will see what happens elsewhere.
'If we fail, it's my fault. I took a calculated risk not to buy new players.'
The situation is even worse for Birmingham manager Alex McLeish, without a win in five matches.
Birmingham must beat Blackburn on Sunday, and hope that both Fulham and Reading lose.
McLeish said: 'We've got to go for it.'
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
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