True worth of Championship play-off final as Brentford meet Swansea at Wembley

Brentford and Swansea will contest the Championship play-off final at Wembley this afternoon with dreams of playing in the Premier League – and huge financial gain on the table.

The biggest one-off clash in the Football League will see either the Bees or the Swans join Norwich and Watford in the top flight, having both failed in play-off campaigns last season.

Having lost to rivals Fulham last summer, Brentford go into the game after turned around a first-leg deficit against Bournemouth as Swansea saw off a spirited Barnsley.

As well as the obvious honour of competing against some of the best players and managers on the planet, the club will be boosted by a string of lucrative payments.

Deloitte reported last year that an increase in revenue for the winning club can be between £135million to £265million, depending on whether instant relegation is avoided.

Official figures for the 2018/19 campaign showed that £2.4billion of broadcast revenue which was split equally between the 20 clubs, a rough total of £82.5m, wherever they finished.

Then comes merit payments for the final league position, with Huddersfield Town getting £1.9m and champions Manchester City taking home an extra £38.3m.

In addition, should relegation follow the promotion, clubs are handed parachute payments to ease any financial worry, which drop over three years before ending.

Thomas Frank has said of his side's chances: "I think we will go into it with a good belief, calm, and actually it was tough last year of course it was. But we found out the next day that the sun rises again and life goes on. So I think that's a part of it but of course, we will give it a massive go.

"Honestly, I don't think there are any favourites in the game.

"We played Swansea twice this season, two 1-1 draws, two tight games. Swansea have done fantastically and Steve Cooper is one of the most promising managers in this country.

"They have improved this year and it will be down to the finest margins which will decide this game."

With Swansea box Steve Cooper adding: "I’ll be no different to anybody else.

"But I haven't thought about it being my biggest game in management, I just think about what it means to the football club and the supporters.

"I think all big experiences help you and give you something to reflect on.

"I’m just very much focused on what's in hand."

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