Norwich City is chasing the Premier League pot of gold
Norwich manager Alex Neil knows what is at stake in the bid for Premier League promotion. Picture by Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd - Credit: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd
Alex Neil insists the ever-expanding pot of gold on offer in the Premier League is not an extra spur for him to guide Norwich back to the top flight.
The Canaries' host Championship promotion rivals Wolves on Saturday at Carrow Road striving to maintain their bid for an instant return, just days after the Premier League announced a new £5.1bn domestic broadcast rights deal from 2016 onwards.
City, along with Fulham and Cardiff, came down with parachute payments following last season's relegation but the battle to get back amongst the elite will only intensify with a 70% increase in the riches on offer as part of the new deal.
'Regardless of what figures are getting bandied about we want to be as successful as we can,' said Neil, pictured. 'Success for us is either being in the play-offs at the end of this season or getting into the Premier League automatically. It is as simple as that.
'We want to be in the mix. At the moment we are seventh so really that is the only goal for me. Further down the line and what is at stake or what you can get financially is not what we need to focus on.
'I have seen a huge difference in these last few games and probably the biggest thing is the work-rate.
'The team has worked its socks off and I have told the players the fans will get behind you if they see you giving everything you have got. That is all you can do.
Most Read
- 1 Norfolk beach named among UK's most contaminated
- 2 Revealed: Buyer of Norwich Airport Industrial Estate - and what they paid
- 3 New reservoir could secure region's water supply - but will cost over £1bn
- 4 Overnight works on stretch of A47 prompt 50-mile diversion for two weeks
- 5 Neighbours describe axe brawl in Norfolk village
- 6 A-levels 2022: All the results from Norfolk and Waveney
- 7 Man in his 20s dies after hit-and-run
- 8 Crews battle overnight house fire in north Norfolk
- 9 Several roads closed in King's Lynn due to crash and police incident
- 10 Man in 20s killed and another seriously injured in motorbike crash
'Your talent and your natural ability is there but that work ethic and the structure of working for each other bleeds into the team. The fans see that and get behind you and that is what we need keep doing.'