Boss Roy Keane feels that the planned extension of Premier League parachute payments to four years will make it harder for established Championship sides to compete for promotion. The new plan, which is still subject to a vote and agreement from the Football League, would see relegated clubs receive £16 million in each of their first two years out of the top flight and £8 million in each of the following two.
Keane says the proposal, which if agreed would come in next season, would make promotion more difficult for clubs in Town’s position: "It’s going to be extra hard.
"You look at the teams which have gone up this year, West Brom and Newcastle came down, they’ll always be strong anyway, but now they’re giving these extra few years and the money.
"So, the longer you’re out of the Premiership, it’s just going to get tougher and tougher. That’s why every pre-season each player you bring into the club seems to be a bigger decision than ever.”
After a meeting of the top flight clubs last Thursday a spokesman said that the proposals need the agreement of the Football League, while a vote will be taken at the Premier League's AGM in June: "Any decision regarding the future structure of parachute payments cannot be taken by the Premier League alone and must be agreed with the Football League.
"The Premier League is currently in positive discussions with the Football League on a number of issues; however an announcement will only be made once these have reached a satisfactory conclusion."
Looking at next season, Keane expects the Championship to again be difficult: "The teams which are coming down will be pretty strong, no doubt. The teams coming up, the likes of Leeds and Norwich, they’re very, very good Championship clubs.
"We keep saying it’s going to get harder and harder, that’s why the quicker you get out of it the better. It’s taken Burnley a long time to get out of it and they are struggling to stay in it.
"It’s very, very difficult, there’s no getting away from it. But that’s the aim, and the chief executive and owner are aware of it and that’s why when you invest in players you’ve got to try and get the right players. You can’t afford to make too many mistakes in the transfer market.”
The Blues boss is confident that his side aren’t too far away from being contenders: "I still think we’re not far from being a decent team, but we’re far enough away.
"We’ve got four or five players we want to get in and one of those is someone who is going to put the ball in the back of the net, and there aren’t many of those who are prepared to drop into the Championship. There is an element of a wage structure here, so it’s going to be tough.”