BOOM & BUST

Neil: Chasing top-flight dream can leave clubs at financial breaking point

than some Premier League clubs in an attempt to bounce back from relegation first time around.

For Preston, the plan is careful spending and trying to hold on to the best players, like much-coveted former Manchester United academy midfielder Ben Pearson and Republic of Ireland striker Sean Maguire.

Neil said: “One thing is for certain, we will be probably be in the bottom four in the Championship when it comes to budgets, as we were last season.

“But that won’t put us off talking about possible promotion, because money isn’t guaranteed to bring you success.

“At Preston, you have to do it in a different, steady way – one that doesn’t harm the club.

“We are building a real camaraderie between the fans and the players because here they can still relate to them – not like at some clubs where the players are these superstars who can’t talk to anybody.

“Our lads are normal lads who come in, work really hard, but are also very talented.

“People look at Huddersfield and what they have achieved as maybe an inspiration for clubs like Preston.

“I don’t want to take anything away from Huddersfield, but they did gain their promotion by using a lot of loan players – the likes of Aaron Mooy (left, top), Kasey Palmer, Izzy Brown (left) and others who made the difference.

“We are trying to do it with our players.

“So I think that we would deserve even more credit if we managed to get promoted.

“But money does help you invest in players who have already been there and done it.”

Against the odds, Preston finished seventh last season. They were just two points short of Derby County in the promotion play-off places.

Neil added: “The Championship is a bit of a mismatch these days because you have the so-called bigger clubs with bigger budgets and those who have come down from the Premier League with the parachute payments.

“But at some of them you can see that any camaraderie and team spirit is manufactured, because you are basically trying to purchase the best players.

“My players want to be here. We had our best finish for decades last season.

“It hasn’t been a difficult sell for us [to keep the best players].

“But, in the short-term future we will have to get ourselves up if we are going to retain our best players and keep this team together.

“What can we achieve? It’s a difficult question because you have your hopes and aspirations – and then you’ve got the reality of what this league brings.”

One thing’s certain, unlike others in the Championship there will be no reckless spending at Deepdale.