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If football is about money these days, then Sunderland's 'miracle' survival was an immensely profitable one.
When the Black Cats were rooted to the foot of the table in mid-April and seven points adrift with just six games remaining, I don't think there were many who genuinely expected Gus Poyet's side to end the season anywhere else. Due to the new TV deal, that still would have seen a jump of about £20m on last season, but that is dwarfed by the estimated income of survival.
It is believed that Sunderland's unlikely 14th placed finish will see the club rake in around £73m from prize money and TV income. That is a huge increase from the reported £42m received a year ago.
Obviously the bulk of that is due to the jump central funds (annual share of the TV deal). However, prize money has also seen a significant jump, to £8.4m from £3m for last season's 17th place.
This season's income only tells half of the story, though. Survival also guarantees another windfall next summer of at least £64m - the amount generated by bottom-of-the-table Cardiff City - and hopefully a lot more!
I don't know what the going rate for a miracle is, but this one looks mightily profitable to us.
