Promotion Dream Can’t Come Too Early

The opportunity to play in the Premiership cannot come too soon according to Swansea boss Roberto Martinez.

The Spaniard admitted for the first time after Saturday’s 3-0 win over Ipswich that he is targetting a play-off spot.

Whilst many fans have questioned whether promotion to the top flight in the first season in the Championship would be beneficial to the club in the long run, Martinez has insisted that there is no such a thing as a premature promotion.

Speaking to the Evening Post, Martinez said:

‘Look at the benefits of reaching the Premier League,’ said Martinez, speaking of the £60 million windfall the club would earn from playing in the top flight.

‘You have to be very sensible, but there are many positives about getting there and you can never have too many positives.’

‘What I would say is that you cannot go overboard and you must not overspend.’

‘The short-term plan would obviously be to compete in the Premier League, but you have to plan long term to make sure you end up with a stronger football club, even if you don’t get enough points to stay in the division.’

‘It’s not about bringing in names from the Premier League, and that’s probably where a lot of clubs have gone wrong.’

‘They have invested heavily in names who, 12 months down the line, are not good enough to keep progressing with the club and then financially things catch up.
‘I think we’ve showed as a club ? the chairman, the board and myself ? that we will not put ourselves in a tricky position.’

‘Any club getting to the Premier League should build on the positives and that means using the huge financial boost to improve facilities and to bring in players for the future who will be good assets.’