All good things must come to an end and, for Steve Coppell and his Reading team, that moment could arrive tomorrow after they have played Derby County. If Reading are relegated from the top flight after a stay of two years, their manager could also move on to pastures new.

Coppell's departure would be of his own volition. John Madejski, the Reading chairman, has emphasised that he will not dismiss him. Coppell said little yesterday to disprove the theory that, after four years of mostly unbridled success at the Berkshire club, he may jump ship halfway through a two-year contract. Asked if he would be in charge whatever the outcome at Pride Park, Coppell said: “I can't say that. Let's get Sunday out of the way and we'll go from there. That's not leaving myself an 'out'. My whole concentration is on Sunday. It's got nothing to do with me or my personal situation. It's about Reading winning a football match. Nothing else.

“The manager is always accountable and I've never hidden from that. At this club, I've made a great issue of the fact that the chairman leaves me alone, that there is no interference. He leaves me to look after the football and if the football is not working, that is my responsibility 100 per cent.”

If Fulham defeat Portsmouth at Fratton Park, Reading are down; Birmingham City also. If Coppell continues in the job, whether in the Premier League or Coca-Cola Championship, he faces a hectic summer overhauling his squad. The creditable eighth-place finish of last season is but a distant memory.

“Over the past month I've sort of felt that it might go all the way,” Coppell said, “but I'm quite happy to go to 38 games, that's what you sign up for at the start of the season. It's been in our own hands for 37 games, now it isn't and we've got to deal with it. I'm just grateful that we have this opportunity. Looking back, analysing and drawing a conclusion we can do on Monday morning.

“For the time being, everyone is anxiously looking forward to Sunday. The days have dragged but the weather has been beautiful and it just proves what a joy it is to be a professional footballer in this day and age. Three teams are fighting for their lives to be competing at this level again next season. Unfortunately, two of them aren't going to make it.”

Birmingham City, at home to Blackburn Rovers, will stay up if they get a better result than Fulham, away to Portsmouth, and Reading, away to Derby County. Fulham need to match the results of the other two, while Reading must match Birmingham's and do better than Fulham's. Bolton, away to Chelsea, will go down if they lose while suffering swings of 11 goals to Reading and five to Fulham, with the latter pair winning.