Mowbray advises relegated pair

25 May 2009 18:53
West Brom manager Tony Mowbray has warned fellow relegation victims Newcastle and Middlesbrough to expect a tough battle in the Championship. The Baggies' fate was already sealed before the final day of Premier League fixtures on Sunday, while the North East pair suffered simultaneous defeats which also relegated them. Mowbray's side return to the second tier after just one season in the top flight but he has warned former club Middlesbrough and their rivals Newcastle that there is no place for complacency in the Championship. "The Championship is always competitive. It is a league of attrition with so many games," said Mowbray. "You have to be up for every game. There are no easy matches. If you do not compete you will be beaten. As we have found in the past, the extra quality does not always get you there. "The organisation and the team spirit of the opposition and the fact you are a big scalp can make that difference and you can lose games." Legend Mowbray, who was born in Middlesbrough, captained the club and is considered a legend for helping steer them away from liquidation to the top tier of English football. A drop in divisions is well known to have serious financial consequences on clubs and Mowbray hopes both Newcastle and his former team can deal with any loss of funds. "It is obviously disappointing what has happened to Middlesbrough and I think a lot of people are wondering what they and Newcastle will do," he added. "I hope they can get the equation right financially so they do not end up in a mess. He added: "What I do know is that the Premier League demands salaries way above what the Championship can sustain. There is a huge imbalance. "As Leeds found out if you are stuck with players on huge wages and people do not want to take them on you are losing money hand over fist every week. "That is the concern for Newcastle and Middlesbrough. We will see how they adjust their squads, who will leave and how they rebuild for next season."

Source: SKY_Sports