Ambitious

Missed that bit, but equally the gap between League One and the Championship is ever-growing and more significant year on year so wouldn’t be ideal either. The playoffs typically keep the season alive too, it’s actually a very good system albeit can leave the team finishing third feeling robbed.

Hate this idea, it gives a team in the Premier League who has been able to enjoy the fruits of £150m plus revenues to snatch the same chance away from a championship club who are probably turning over £20-25m (if not already subsidised by parachute payments). Last season it would’ve matched Luton with their £18m turnover and £24m wage bill (a lot of which would’ve been promotion bonus payouts) against Leicester with their £177m turnover and their £171m wage bill. It’s bad enough with 5 parachute payment clubs in the top 6 this season. It’s already becoming an ever-increasingly difficult proposition for non-parachute payment clubs to compete - this makes it much more difficult.

We are already likely paying wages a lot higher than a number of Championship clubs - but equally I read that even in League One our revenue was greater than 11 of the 24 Championship clubs last season. I'd certainly expect us to be competitive next season in terms of wages, but really wouldn't know where to expect us to be at in terms of transfer fees. We aren't really going to sell anyone that makes us money, unless Cashin goes, but even that wouldn't change our transfer approach too much. I'm intrigued to see how we approach the summer. It's a big rebuild job, promoted or not, ideal for Warne to really put his stamp on things. I'd love to see us sign players on the upward trajectory of their career - it's something that we simply haven't done well as a club for as long as I can remember. Although, saying that, it's not as though League One has been littered with players with ability that catch the eye. I've been particularly baffled at the quality of the strikers at this level - I didn't have high expectations but holy s***. They're awful. It's no wonder Rhodes, Martin & Gayle (when he played) drop a level and look 10 years younger! There's a few wingers: Poku, Mason-Clarke, Dembele, Kamara, Azeez who potentially could make the step up. A handful of good players elsewhere, but I think largely aside from ourselves at CB with Cashin & Nelson - I'm completely disregarding players in both boxes (CB & ST).

There will be a huge queue for him - a very good player.

Realistically, about 80% of our summer signings will cover only two positions - CM & ST. I suspect with promotion we make roughly 12-14 signings just looking at the squad, you're potentially looking at: 4 or 5 signings not in these positions - GK (maybe 2 depending on Wildsmith), left back, centre back & wide midfielder. You're then looking at least 7 potentially up to 9 players who play CM & ST. If we nail the recruitment in that area then it will make a big difference, not to paraphrase the Roses but until Ebou I was never happy. Bird, gone, Hourihane, retired, Smith & Thompson, out of contract. Ebou, back to Cardiff. Ignoring we had Embleton for this position, albeit not really and Sibley (also out of contract) who hasn't really played here anyway under Warne. There are 5 (7) players who play in this position potentially out the door this summer. Similarly upfront: Gayle, Waghorn & Collins out of contract. TJJ out of contract, no deal lined up. It leaves Washington who has struggled to hold down a place in League One, blighted by injuries. The players leaving in those positions, I would argue need to be improved up - particularly upfront. Gayle speed of thought was nice in League One, but he's struggled in the Championship of late. Collins and Waghorn (for me) are done at being impactful players at that level. The rebuild is huge, but ultimately focused in two key areas that will determine our relative success.

The opportunity to win promotion at Pride Park, in front of a sell out crowd, after what the club has essentially gone through the last four years, is something that could create memories that will last a lifetime. If, and hopefully when it happens, I'll definitely spare a thought for B4 and others who marched through the city to help keep the club alive but sadly won't be here to see this significant step in our rebuilding process.

As someone who hasn't been (and still isn't) completely sold on Warne, I do think he deserves a ton of credit for how he's navigated situations this season. Nyambe, Adams & Gayle in particular. Gayle was short-lived but he changed the dynamic to the point we were playing our best football. I have absolutely no problem with Warne's ability as a man-manager or as a tactician. In fact, I think he's probably one of the most astute tactical managers we have had in our modern era and I get why Clowes wanted to work with him. My worry is the coaching side, he's very good at creating short-cuts and drawing up schemes to catch teams cold. In both boxes, we are the best team in the league, but in the middle of the pitch we're significantly lacking and that's purely due to scheme. I think if (when) we go up to the Championship, it will need to be better and maybe that comes through better players. He said himself it's easier to coach in the Championship than League One and we have to take him at his word. If (when) we go up the standard is going to be avoiding a relegation battle which is difficult as you're either in a promotion hunt or in a relegation battle, unless you're Bristol City. I think that would be my goal for next season - to finish above Bristol City. It will probably mean we're out of a relegation battle. It would take a lot of surgery in the summer to make that jump (of course) but that's the standard. I do get the feeling, from listening to him, that he understands the scale of the jump and I actually have faith in him. The Championship is a rancid division in itself and it may play into his favour should he recruit well.

We really need Peterborough to win mid-week to take this game seriously. We saw Oxford turn them over 5-0 and they’ve conceded 56 goals this season so they’ve got a problem keeping the ball out the net, I wouldn’t fancy them keeping the score down if they rest players against Bolton. Bolton really only need to win by three goals as they have the goal scored tiebreaker (should we lose). It helps the League One play-offs starts the following Friday (3rd placed) so you’d imagine that it will be situational based on their result, our result. If I’m Warne, I’m tempted to play the low block, keep things tight and hit Carlisle on the counter. Starve them of opportunities. Ultimately we only need a point and it makes no odds to Carlisle so we could play it out, slow the game right down. They’ve lost 16 of their last 21 games (2024 record). It’s been a limp finish from them. Give them a way out of getting a draw to end the season, don’t force the issue and give them an opportunity, just play it around and keep them at arms length. If they want to commit players then hit them on the counter, otherwise I would see if they would like a point and an unbeaten finish to the season.

He’ll get a deal with a Premier League side, maybe a promoted side: Leicester, Ipswich, etc. I suspect most of our work will come through free agency, again, as there is a lot of players out of contract but will be a very competitive market. Players like Tyrese Campbell, Liam Cullen, Sinclair Armstrong & Chris Willock will be available but everyone will be in for them. We are going to need to be creative in our recruitment.

One thing I know for sure: we aren't winning this game. We won't make it that easy and will go into the last game needing a win for promotion. Cambridge late penalty to draw or win the game - it's inevitable.

We've been paying Championship wages to players who were willing to jump down into League One. For reference, our wage bill in 22/23 was £6m higher than Rotherham - 170% We have increased the wage bill this season even further so could already be inline or greater than the likes of Preston (£18.8m). I would assume there is going to be even greater investment going into next season, but paying the wages hasn't been the problem. It's been the recruitment and how we have had to recruit. I'm excited (albeit nervous too) to see how the club approach it should we win promotion. I think there will be a whole host of changes and I think the club know that which is why they've put the brakes on new contracts for next season. I actually believe they understand the gravity of the task and the standard we will need to be at in order to be competitive.

The concern I have is the level of player we would need to attract to the club would have to be substantial. We know players like Curtis Nelson, Ebou Adams, Mendez-Laing, who have been incredible for us at this level have all suffered in the Championship. Not to the point where they can't play, albeit Ebou is far from proven at that level, but where their impact is diminished. I would say we're very similar to the Sheffield Wednesday side who won promotion last season. Players like Josh Windass, Michael Smith, Barry Bannan, George Byers, Michael Ihiekwe & Will Vaulks all were key players in that side but none of them have managed the step-up with much class. Michael Smith had 50 goal contributions in his last two seasons in League One. He has four this season. Josh Windass and Barry Bannan had 39 goal contributions last season in League One - both have contributed to 7 in the Championship. If promoted, we would see some of our most assured, consistent performers at this level go back to looking human and become a cause of frustration. Ultimately, I have to have faith that the club know the size of the challenge ahead. It's an incredibly difficult market. Still, I feel that we would be in a good position knowing that we are looking at a relatively new blank canvas ahead of next season. I think Portsmouth, who recruited well for League One, but expanded the squad over the past 12 months will find the jump more demanding.

I was going to vote Nelson, but considering his impact and how important goals are in football then I opted for NML. When he was in full flow he was brilliant, although I think the downturn in his output recently will cost him. Cashin will win young player with likely 90% plus of the vote. Nelson, Cashin or NML are worthy winners.

I do agree, but the wage bill last season was still significant. The wage bill last season at Derby (total) was larger than Sunderland during their promotion season which I assume also included promotion bonuses - and they had a category one academy.

I think it's a good move, commercially. The EFL have long been unable to market their own product adequately and this amount of coverage can only be good for the league. The more coverage the EFL can get on their product the more it will grow, because it's a very good product in it's own right which is why I really dislike the hat in hand approach to the Premier League. Realistically, the amount of coverage around the top 6 is driving more and more young people in their direction so the only way to combat it is to sell the soul to the proverbial devil and get content under the noses of people.