SWINDON TOWN: Wray targets swift passage to Championship

6:50am Monday 23rd July 2012 in Sport

Jeremy Wray Jeremy Wray

SWINDON Town chairman Jeremy Wray feels the club needs to secure elevation to the second tier of English football before “the drawbridge is lifted” between the top end of the Football League and sides in League One and League Two.

Wray and his board of directors have given considerable financial backing to manager Paolo Di Canio this summer as the Town boss bids to become the first Swindon manager to lead the Robins in the Championship since Jimmy Quinn oversaw relegation to the third tier in 2000.

However, Wray has outlined the reasons behind the club’s decision to heavily invest in the squad – stating that the only way Swindon can become sustainable is to consolidate a place in the Championship.

And he went on to reveal his fears that the top two leagues in England may soon become an elite almost impossible to break into.

“I really think, from what I’m hearing, that that is what’s likely to happen in football in the not-too-distant future,” he said. “There will be more of a split and we will get Premier League One and Premier League Two.

“I think, from the Premier League’s point of view, there are huge revenues coming in there and that’s all well and good but three clubs get relegated every year. “They need to manage their finances. I think dropping to the Championship becomes more palatable if some of the finances are more evenly spread between Premiership and Championship. “Obviously more Championship clubs would welcome that but I get the impression that it’s not going to filter down into League One and League Two and that the barriers to entry to the Championship soon are going to become pretty substantial.

“You’re going to need a pretty vast budget to try to compete and get in there so I think this is the right time for us to really push and get in before the drawbridge is lifted on the two lower leagues.”

Meanwhile, Jonathan Smith has completed his move back to former club York City.

The midfielder, who was told he was surplus to requirements in Wiltshire last month, has signed a two-year deal at Bootham Crescent.

Comments(19)

chalkswindon says...
3:43pm Mon 23 Jul 12

The more I hear from JayWray the more I think this man really grasps the job ahead.

He just speaks such sense, whilst I will always be greatful for Fittons work as Chairman JW is a class above Fitton.

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Swindon1984 says...
6:02pm Mon 23 Jul 12

I think he's right, the gulf seems to get bigger every year, and if you look at the huge clubs in the championship who struggle it puts it into perspective. All the more reason we need to keep the momentum going.COYR

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Sparticus says...
7:08pm Mon 23 Jul 12

This is an accurate report of part of what JayWray said during the General Meeting that followed the Club's AGM last Friday, which I attended. It was clear to me that he and his fellow Board members are quite sure that we need to get to the next level and establish our position there quickly, if our Club is to become financially viable.

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the wizard says...
7:40pm Mon 23 Jul 12

Excellent perception of the future of British football. Wray just continues to get better by the day.

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mike1990 says...
7:50pm Mon 23 Jul 12

the wizard wrote:
Excellent perception of the future of British football. Wray just continues to get better by the day.
Come on Wizard,we been saying that for years,it's old hat.

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Stratton Red says...
7:51pm Mon 23 Jul 12

the wizard wrote:
Excellent perception of the future of British football. Wray just continues to get better by the day.
Come on people, but you don't need to know that much about football to know this is the case.In fact I would say his assessment doesn't go far enough, in ten years time there will be a European super league and the Prem will be a thing of the past.
*
Makes you wonder why Rangers aren't applying to be in the English leagues...

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red white says...
8:25pm Mon 23 Jul 12

Prem league for us,and top European nights midweek under the iconic floodlights at the CG.

This is our future.

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DarrenSTFCRomain says...
9:31pm Mon 23 Jul 12

How many years has this board been at STFC...????..
And we are stil in the same division..

When AF was chairman we somehow went from a average team to a very very sad team...
This is one of the reasons why the board are putting in money..
BUT there are alot of teams in our division that are also playing the same game BUT they are putting in alot more than we are..A LOT MORE....
THIS SEASON WILL BE VERY VERY TOUGH and all the people that think that were up already...we are no way near it

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dreamofacleansheet2 says...
9:35pm Mon 23 Jul 12

Stratton, one of my best mates is a Rangers fan and I suggested the same to him. Do an AFC Wimbledon and start in division 9. His Scottish blood stopped him agreeing it was a good idea!

Romain, cheer up. No ones suggesting we are up, just expressing the utmost confidence in the managers methods. Regardless of what our budget is, he's always going to drive this team forward.

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Stilloyal says...
9:40pm Mon 23 Jul 12

Stratton Red wrote:
the wizard wrote: Excellent perception of the future of British football. Wray just continues to get better by the day.
Come on people, but you don't need to know that much about football to know this is the case.In fact I would say his assessment doesn't go far enough, in ten years time there will be a European super league and the Prem will be a thing of the past. * Makes you wonder why Rangers aren't applying to be in the English leagues...
Because it's a long way from Torquay to Glasgow.
Even if Pompey are liquidated in the next few days which seems increasingly likely Rangers would still need to start lower down.
BTW if Pompey do go bust then that robs us of possible our biggest gate for the season. Sad !

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Malkym says...
9:50pm Mon 23 Jul 12

mike1990 wrote:
the wizard wrote: Excellent perception of the future of British football. Wray just continues to get better by the day.
Come on Wizard,we been saying that for years,it's old hat.
Mike- Wiz is just after another OBN for the other end of the mantelpiece!

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DarrenSTFCRomain says...
10:31pm Mon 23 Jul 12

dreamofacleansheet2 wrote:
Stratton, one of my best mates is a Rangers fan and I suggested the same to him. Do an AFC Wimbledon and start in division 9. His Scottish blood stopped him agreeing it was a good idea! Romain, cheer up. No ones suggesting we are up, just expressing the utmost confidence in the managers methods. Regardless of what our budget is, he's always going to drive this team forward.
I am very happy Swindon fan BUT some on here think that we will walk this division because we have spent a little bit of money...
All i was saying is that we are not the only ones spending and there area lot of team spending a lot lot more money than we are...
APART FROM POMPEY

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red white says...
10:59pm Mon 23 Jul 12

We won't walk this division,we will win it like last year through top coach,top players,top belief top board and top fans and hard work.

Up yer belief,we are Swindon.

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joey butler says...
11:13pm Mon 23 Jul 12

Malkym wrote:
mike1990 wrote:
the wizard wrote: Excellent perception of the future of British football. Wray just continues to get better by the day.
Come on Wizard,we been saying that for years,it's old hat.
Mike- Wiz is just after another OBN for the other end of the mantelpiece!
And please don't forget Malky, that Wiz has a love child from his relationship with Hart!!

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Stilloyal says...
8:03am Tue 24 Jul 12

James Altea ""!!!!

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joey butler says...
4:59pm Tue 24 Jul 12

Stilloyal wrote:
James Altea ""!!!!
Nice one loyal!

Your reply was very good to my previous comment and I nearly knocked over my mug of tea laughing!

Report this post »

STEADY EDDIE 1 for the road says...
5:17pm Tue 24 Jul 12

Stilloyal wrote:
Stratton Red wrote:
the wizard wrote: Excellent perception of the future of British football. Wray just continues to get better by the day.
Come on people, but you don't need to know that much about football to know this is the case.In fact I would say his assessment doesn't go far enough, in ten years time there will be a European super league and the Prem will be a thing of the past. * Makes you wonder why Rangers aren't applying to be in the English leagues...
Because it's a long way from Torquay to Glasgow.
Even if Pompey are liquidated in the next few days which seems increasingly likely Rangers would still need to start lower down.
BTW if Pompey do go bust then that robs us of possible our biggest gate for the season. Sad !
your bibbest gate of the season will be on 22nd September, no doubt.

Report this post »

STEADY EDDIE 1 for the road says...
5:21pm Tue 24 Jul 12

STEADY EDDIE 1 for the road wrote:
Stilloyal wrote:
Stratton Red wrote:
the wizard wrote: Excellent perception of the future of British football. Wray just continues to get better by the day.
Come on people, but you don't need to know that much about football to know this is the case.In fact I would say his assessment doesn't go far enough, in ten years time there will be a European super league and the Prem will be a thing of the past. * Makes you wonder why Rangers aren't applying to be in the English leagues...
Because it's a long way from Torquay to Glasgow.
Even if Pompey are liquidated in the next few days which seems increasingly likely Rangers would still need to start lower down.
BTW if Pompey do go bust then that robs us of possible our biggest gate for the season. Sad !
your bibbest gate of the season will be on 22nd September, no doubt.
typo error, should read biggest

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Stilloyal says...
8:37pm Tue 24 Jul 12

joey butler wrote:
Stilloyal wrote: James Altea ""!!!!
Nice one loyal! Your reply was very good to my previous comment and I nearly knocked over my mug of tea laughing!
Where did he go ???

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