As we reach the climax of the English domestic season, soon we will know which teams will be lifting the silverware that comes with winning one of the four divisions in its league setup. While the victor receives the spoils at the top end of the table, there can only be despair for the teams at the bottom.
One of three clubs that suffered the ignominy of relegation from the Premier League last season were Sunderland. The North-East outfit had a campaign to forget last time around, as they finished at the foot of the table, some 16 points from safety.
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At least with demotion in one season, there usually is optimism for success in the following one. The expectation is to bounce back at the first attempt as, on paper, you will still have a squad that is befitting of playing at the level above.
Only it seems as if lightning could strike twice for the Black Cats as they now find themselves propping up the EFL Championship and are in serious danger of dropping down to League One next season. Looking at the English football online betting market it seems as if there is little confidence in them fighting off a second successive relegation - they stand at 1/20 to go down.
The club have seen their fortunes slump dramatically around the same time that owner Ellis Short decided that he would not be willing to invest his personal wealth in the club anymore. That lack of financial aid has coincided with the club sinking like a stone.
With debts of £137.3m the American owner is even willing to give the club away for free, just to get rid of this financial millstone which is weighing heavily around his neck at present. But whoever takes on the club would also have to service the eye-watering level of debt that the club find themselves in.
So among a backdrop of financial insecurity, the club should be doing their utmost on the pitch to keep the club afloat, in the league at least. However, recent losses to teams like Preston have sucked life out of the fans, and the Stadium of Light is often half empty.
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After the sacking of Simon Grayson back in late October 2017, it was imperative that the club made the right decision in terms of who would be the next person to take the managerial reigns. The appointment of the former Wales boss Chris Coleman certainly was something of a surprise, but one lauded by many.
Many asked why the 47-year-old would swap a comfortable job in charge of his country for one where he is thrown into the lion's den straight from the off, but it is the weekly cut and thrust of club management that cannot be replicated on the international stage which would have no doubt been appealing.
However, the former Fulham defender will have every right to be thinking whether or not he made the right choice to swap Wales for Wearside, as the club face an uphill struggle if they are not to be playing their football in England's third tier next season.
At times he must feel as if he is doing the job with one arm behind his back — with no financial backing from the owner, he can only work with what he has been given and, although there is talent in the squad, it is not enough without confidence to go with it.
It seems as if Sunderland's negative spiral will continue and then the question will be asked: just how do they cope at an even lower level with such a huge debt, especially when revenues will diminish even further? They have a huge fight on their hands to stay up, and it looks like they may have left it too late.
