Tony Mowbray admits he has been told ‘be careful what you wish for’ in relation to Premier League promotion – adding it would take £200million to survive.
Albion boss Mowbray was discussing the prospect of promotion following his side’s deserved point in the 1-1 draw at Championship leaders Leeds – who he believes are certs to climb to the top flight with 11 games remaining.
He suggested it would take a significant late drop-off for the Whites to miss out on automatic promotion but queried what the West Yorkshire club planned to invest to ensure they are competitive and could potentially survive in the Premier League.
The experienced boss added the top flight’s current bottom three sides Southampton, Leicester and Ipswich – all promotion-winners last term – show that significant investment is required to have even a remote chance.
“I think for this great football club, it’s about what do they do in the summer?” Mowbray said.
“I had a chat with Daniel (Farke) earlier, asking what are they doing this summer? How much are they going to spend? How are they going to survive?
“Because obviously, Southampton and Leicester were amazing teams last year in this league, and can’t win a game. So is that going to be Leeds next year? It’d be sad, almost, for the city and for the team.”
Daniel Farke’s Leeds made it 17 league games unbeaten with the draw against the Baggies, who are only the second side to deny Leeds all three points at Elland Road since September.
Mowbray reinforced Albion’s target for the final 11 matches is to maintain their current position in the play-offs. The Baggies have won three of Mowbray’s eight games back at the helm, taking 11 points from a possible 24.
Mowbray added: “But, you know, somebody said to me, talking about can we make the playoffs? And can we win the play-offs? Be careful what you wish for. Because you could be out of a job at 10 games in the Premier League where you haven’t won, you haven’t scored a goal, you haven’t won a game.
“You want to get there, that’s what your job is. So for Leeds United, a club that should be trying to get to the Premier League, and West Bromwich, a team with the history that we’ve got, should be trying to get to the Premier League.
“That is our only goal try and win enough football matches and pick up enough points to get to the play-offs this year, and then try and win them, obviously, and have a great day with the supporters at Wembley.
“But then there’s always this thing at the back of your mind of, what do you do this summer?”
The Baggies boss said: “If you were Leeds… what are Leeds going to do this summer? Are they going to spend £200million, to give themselves half a chance? Or are they going to go with this team and probably get relegated by February. You tell me, I don’t know the answer, but that’s modern-day football I think.”
This season’s Premier League strugglers have managed just nine wins between them this season. Basement boys Southampton have just nine points are there is still a possibility they finish with a poorer record than Derby’s all-time lowest Premier League points haul.
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