Aston Villa have been relegated from the Premier League after a 1-0 defeat to Manchester United and Old Trafford.
Four managers, three wins and two chief executives was how one banner concisely summed up an atrocious season for the fifth most decorated club in English football history.
The Midlands club, who last lost their top-flight status in 1987, are 15 points from safety with four games to play.
Sunderland's 3-0 win over Norwich City had given Villa a stay of execution, but a solitary first-half goal from Marcus Rashford ensured that the 1982 European champions will play in England's second tier next season.
Villa, who sacked manager Remi Garde at the end of last month, have endured a torrid campaign in which supporters have protested both at the performance of the players and the management of the club.
The likes of Micah Richards and Joleon Lescott have been criticised by fans, while long-term servant Gabriel Agbonlahor caused controversy when he was pictured with a shisha pipe while on holiday and has since been removed from first-team duties to undergo a two-week personal fitness programme.
Former defender Paul McGrath went public in March to accuse players of failing to respect the history of the club and said their attitude had undermined Garde's work.
Aston Villa have been relegated from the top-flight for the first time since 1986/87— Soccer60 (@soccer60ng) April 17, 2016
Success off the pitch has been in similarly short supply. Villa announced pre-tax losses of £27million ($50m) for the year ending May 31, 2015, despite having spent comparatively little in the transfer market in order to arrest their declining performances.
The club were also forced to deny claims that a redesign of their crest had incurred costs of £2m ($3.6m).
CEO Tom Fox resigned in March and sporting director Henrik Almstadt left by mutual consent as part of an internal review by chairman Steve Hollis, who took charge in January.
"The business model is broken but the board is determined we get it right," he said last month. "We are being decisive and taking action which we hope will lead to a more enjoyable experience on the pitch.
"These are not easy times, we have made mistakes over the last few years, let's learn from those.
"Never waste a good crisis if you want to change and turn things around."
Caretaker manager Eric Black described Aston Villa's relegation as "devastating" and vowed the rebuilding work would start immediately.
Black said: "It's not been overnight but when the realisation hits that it is official, it's a sad dressing room. I thought the performance, they worked extremely hard for it, but it's not today (that's caused relegation). It's devastating really.
"We've got to dust ourselves down, take it on the chin and now try and get this club back to where I would think the majority of people would suggest it should be.
"I don't think anybody can point any fingers at the players (on Saturday) in terms of their energy, their willingness to get a bit of sweat on the shirt.
"It's a minimal step. I'm not talking here about changing the world. I just wanted in some small way to try and get supporters slightly towards the players again, and the only way they can do that is on the pitch. The job's got to start now."
The Villa fans made their feelings clear but supported their team throughout, and Black admitted they deserve better.
He said: "I've been stunned. The last two weeks at home we've had over 32,000 people there. For them to turn out in their numbers like that and again to follow them today, I think humbled is the right word.
Aston Villa are relegated from the #BPL following defeat against Man Utd pic.twitter.com/alscI0IyzJ— Soccer60 (@soccer60ng) April 17, 2016
"I know there are steps ongoing. There's been a freshness brought back on to the board, they're trying as quickly as possible to turn it round and give something to the supporters that encourages them to see that the club's going back to where it should be. That's really all we can do at this point."
Meanwhile, Joleon Lescott said the confirmation of relegation following was a "weight off the shoulders".
Aston Villa, currently the 6th longest serving team in the top division, have been relegated after 28 consecutive years in the top flight— Soccer60 (@soccer60ng) April 17, 2016
"Throughout the season we have given reasons for people to jump on us. It's part of football, we have to take that on the chin. It's a tough time at the minute. At the back of our minds is next season - to get promoted. I'm here for as long as Aston Villa want me."
