The cost to West Ham’s owners of relegation has been estimated as some £40m by David Sullivan. That injection of cash to keep the club afloat is unlikely to be repaid. The situation will only deteriorate should they be relegated as the class players are sold to fend off creditors.

West Ham face Wigan this Sunday, a team who are also in the relegation zone. However with 3 straight away losses in a row, the Hammers will still need a good performance and a fair dose of luck to get the 3 points they surely need to escape Championship football next season. With the debts piling up, they may see themselves as fortunate to be playing any football at all.

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