Promotion race will be even tougher, so we need strength – boss

CHRIS Wilder expects the Championship promotion race to be even tighter this season, as he explains why he’s so keen to add to Middlesbrough’s squad this summer.

Boro are working hard for reinforcements to strengthen Wilder’s squad, with the Boro boss clear in his ambitions to take the club back to the Premier League.

Three solid additions have arrived in the form of Liam Roberts, Ryan

Giles and Darragh Lenihan so far this summer, but there is an appreciation that much more will be needed if Boro are to achieve their goals. They missed out on a place in the top six last season on the last day, but hope to go at least one better this term.

The relegated teams all carry an air of uncertainty but will be favourites to compete at the top of the division, while the sides that went close last term will all hope to challenge again in the upcoming campaign. Wilder is setting Boro’s sets high knows it will be a tough challenge ahead.

Offering his verdict on the Championship promotion race, the Boro boss said: “If we want to be pushing towards the top of the division, which I’ve always said we should be, we know we need to add competition. I think it will be a tougher division next season.

“We talk a lot about the clubs coming down and the advantages they have and then there are a couple of strong teams who just missed out last year that will be hoping to be there or thereabouts again. There is always one or two teams that come from sort of left field to challenge as well. But we want to be really competitive. There are no guarantees, but we set our goals high for the season ahead.”