LONDON: Three rounds of matches remain for most of the endangered clubs., near the foot of the Premier League, to save themselves from one of the most expensive relegations in the history of the English game.

From 2016 the new, mammoth £5.1bn-a-year television deal takes effect when the gap between the ‘haves’ of the Premier League and the ‘have-nots’ of the second division will split wider than ever. Survival now and next season is crucial – and very few relegated clubs come bouncing straight back up.

Burnley, promoted only last year, are bottom and six points from safety. Their cause, effectively, is lost. Also heading straight back down are Queens Park Rangers who came back up only last season.

This leaves five clubs trying to claw their way clear of the one remaining relegation slot: Aston Villa (35 points), Newcastle (35), Leicester (34), Hull (34) and Sunderland (33). Sunderland appear to have a marginal advantage in that they have four matches remaining. However that is no real advantage because they face almost certain defeat away to Arsenal.

Aston Villa: Under the management of Tim Sherwood since February, Villa have shown marked improvement in both results and performance. In the last month they have won away to Tottenham, at home to Everton and beaten Liverpool to reach the FA Cup Final. They have a winning momentum and the advantage of a last game at home to doomed Burnley means they should survive.

Run-in – Sat: home v West Ham. May 16: a v Southampton. May 24: h v Burnley. Relegation prospect: 5pc.

Newcastle: The Magpies are a disaster zone. They have injuries, suspensions, the fans rebelling against billionaire owner Mike Ashley and a caretaker manager, in John Carver, who has run out of ideas. Newcastle have lost all their last eight games but skipper Fabrizio Coloccini has promised they will play their last games “like three cup finals.”

Run-in – Sat: h v West Brom. May 16: a v QPR. May 24: h v West Ham. Relegation prospect: 10pc.

Leicester City: The Foxes have spent most of the season in the relegation zone but edged to safety with five wins in their last six games. Last weekend they beat fellow strugglers Newcastle 3:0 with two strikes from 10-goal top-scoring Leonardo Ulloa. Momentum, renewed confidence and magnificent fan support should see them through even if it goes down to a last-game decided at home to vanishing QPR.

Run-in – Sat: h v Southampton. May 16: a v Sunderland. May 24: h v QPR. Relegation prospect: 20pc

Hull City: The Tigers do not appear to have the teeth for a fight. They have hovered above the relegation zone all season. However even manager Steve Bruce’s warning to his players about relegation pay cuts has failed to halt a downward slide. The run-in is potentially fatal including games at Tottenham and home to Manchester United.

Run-in – Sat: h v Burnley. May 16: a v Tottenham. May 24: h v Manchester United. Relegation prospect: 30pc

Sunderland: The Black Cats’ fate will be decided in the next 10 days. They must win at Everton and then home to Leicester because they can expect nothing from two concluding visits to London. Also, with minus-22, they have a far inferior goal difference to Hull with whom they could be level on points at the end of last day.

Run-in – Sat: a v Everton. May 16: h v Leicester. May 20: a v Arsenal. May 24: a v Chelsea. Relegation prospect: 35pc

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