Middlesbrough are one of numerous clubs hoping to win promotion next season
Middlesbrough will want to gain promotion next season, but they have been told to anticipate a much stronger Championship field.
Compounding the disappointment of a truly disappointing campaign on Teesside was the reality that everyone thought last season to be the best chance in recent years to gain promotion. Though Leeds United and Burnley blew that idea out of the water with 100 points each, Sunderland’s promotion through the play-offs emphasised how much of a squandered opportunity Michael Carrick’s side had.
Boro are currently doing an in-depth analysis of the campaign to decide where they need to improve for next season, and they have been cautioned that significant improvements may be required because the competition will be better next season.
In addition to Sheffield United, who will be eager to rebound from their Wembley disappointment, Ipswich Town, Leicester City, and Southampton will return to the Championship with parachute payments. All three will be hoping for a challenge.
Add to that the ambitious promoted sides Birmingham City and Wrexham, who, with affluent owners, will be trying to repeat Ipswich’s record in 2024 by achieving back-to-back promotions. Wrexham will be aiming for a remarkable four successive promotions.
With all of that in mind, and the fact that Boro are one of about six Championship clubs hoping to have an ambitious summer like Sunderland’s and disrupt the balance of the advantages caused by parachute payments, it’s easy to see why things could be a lot tougher next season if the right improvements are not made.
Oxford United manager Gary Rowett warned them about the second-tier line-up for next season, saying: “There are some big clubs coming up and some big clubs coming down.” It’s going to be quite tough. It’ll be another tremendously difficult battle in an extremely difficult division.
“We’ll look forward to it, but I don’t think it will ever change, no matter how much money you spend or how big you are. It’s one of the toughest divisions in the world.”
Leave a Reply