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Championship clubs chase the holy grail

It's not really news that Championship clubs are running up big losses or that they are spending more on players' wages than their incomes. The urge to get to the promised land of the Premier League is just too strong. Preston North End have been losing £112,000 a week over the last decade.

I am always sceptical when I read about 'bubbles about to burst'. We shouldn't forget that many of these clubs have very generous benefactors. Sometimes their generosity pays off as at Brighton, sometimes it doesn't as at Middlesbrough. Nevertheless, this Radio 5 analysis contains some interesting detail: Championship in the red

Kieran Maguire of the Price of Football notes, 'Championship revenues have risen over the last 5 years due to higher parachute and solidarity payments from the Premier League. The new domestic TV deal that starts this season is worth 10% less than the old one which will hit Championship, League One and League Two income. Half of Championship income comes from the Premier League in the form of Parachute &andSolidarity payments.'

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