Backing available if promotion is achieved

Simon Blitz has added his financial backing if Athletic gain promotion to the Championship. He said, "It's still a big 'if', but if we do reach the Championship our aim will be to stay there. At board level we've discussed how much money would be available so that we could hold our own next season. It's a myth that promotion from League One to the Championship would be financially beneficial, our income would increase, but so would our wage bill. We would actually lose more money, but I'm not bothered because it would be fantastic to go up."

John Sheridan added, "In all honesty, I think we would struggle with the team and squad we've got at the moment. If we do go up, I would have to look at the situation and bring in four or five players of better quality."