It looks like the question now for Fulham is not if but when.
32 games played, Fulham's record stands at won 7, drew 3, lost 22, with a goal difference of negative 42 and sitting on 24 points, 5 points from 17th and safety.
At this stage of the the season, 5 points is a lot of ground to cover even in this most competitive of Premier League seasons and would require Fulham to win all their last 6 games at least - and hope the clubs above them lose all their games.
It is a real shame as the Cottagers have now become a part and parcel of the Premier League since their promotion as champions of the old First Division back in 2001 under the guidance of Kevin Keegan.
During their 12 seasons in the Premier League, the Cottagers have generally stayed above the danger zone although they came close to relegation in the 2007/08 season - an Andy Johnson goal at Portsmouth sealed their survival on the final day at the expense of Birmingham City and Reading.
Indeed, at times, Fulham have outperformed themselves despite their small ground and relative size compared to many other Premier League sides with their most memorable period coming between 2008 and 2010 when under the guidance of current England manager, Roy Hodgson and the goals of Bobby Zamora, they qualified for the UEFA Cup and then reached the Final where they lost to Diego Forlan's Atletico Madrid - no shame losing to the eventual World Cup player of the tournament later that summer.
Their derby with local rivals Chelsea - and QPR briefly - had become one of the London derbies to watch - albeit of a more placid nature compared to the north London derby.
Fulham along with its celebrity fans like Hugh Grant, Daniel Day-Lewis, Daniel Radcliffe - and celebrity ex-owner, Mohammed el-Fayed who sold the club in 2012 to the current owners - and intimate ground by the River Thames will definitely be missed - the next time Craven Cottage will be in the national limelight will be in that annual boat race when Oxford races Cambridge down the Thames.
However, it is part and parcel of the harsh reality of football and the Premier League that you've really got to be a big name club like Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Everton or Tottenham to be guaranteed top flight status each season and unless you have something really special behind you like a sugar daddy, or the next Lionel Messi, you're pretty much risking spending time away from the bright lights of the Premier League.
Unfortunately, Fulham's good time looks set to end and the Cottagers are set for life in the Championship - although keeping some key players could mean their return could be soon. But as the likes of Middlesbrough, Nottingham Forest, Blackburn, Bolton, Southampton, Norwich, Leicester City, Leeds, West Ham, QPR, Blackpool etc. all found out, the Championship is not as easy as it seems for the ex-Premier League sides - especially now with many Championship clubs featuring as much quality as some of the bottom Premier League sides.
We'll miss you Fulham but hopefully you won't be gone for too long!
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