Thomas Frank says Brentford will not have to fear losing their star men if they win promotion to the Premier League for the first time tonight.
The Bees face London rivals Fulham at Wembley in the world’s richest game, the Championship play-off final.
Promotion would earn Brentford a boost of around £160million in revenue, which could rise to £265m over five years should they stay in the top flight after their first season.
For Scott Parker’s Fulham it would mean a £135m rise as they are currently receiving parachute payments after relegation to the Championship last year.
Frank has been open about the fact that another season in the Championship would likely see at least one star name sold this summer, as has been their model for a number of years.
Their ‘BMW’ forward line of Said Benrahma, Bryan Mbeumo and Ollie Watkins has produced 59 goals and will certainly be in demand.
However, the Dane believes that victory will give him every chance of holding onto his key men.
“I think if we go up, I can’t see a reason why we should sell any players,” Frank said. “There’s something we can provide to players by being in the Premier League so we don’t have to sell them, though I think there are only eight or 10 clubs in the world that aren’t selling clubs. But we’d potentially have a big opportunity to keep our best players.”
Brentford’s transfer model has meant they have made big profits on players such as Neal Maupay, Ezri Konsa and Chris Mepham in recent seasons, with some of those funds reinvested to help build the side that could now put the club back in the top flight after 73 years.
Reaching the Premier League would be Brentford’s greatest achievement and doing so by embarking on a successful play-off campaign at the ninth attempt.
Across west London at Craven Cottage, the picture is different.
Promotion has been the goal since they started this strangest of seasons a year ago yesterday at Barnsley, and while Parker is proud of how he has rebuilt a fragile club, he knows that one game tonight will define how his work is viewed.
“In this position I am in I understand that this is the way it is,” said Parker. “The only way it is going to be different is if we win and we go up to the Premier League, because that is how people see it and all of a sudden you’re being successful.
“You have won a big game at Wembley and got to the Premier League and that is defined as success, of course it is, and I understand that. However, sometimes there is a lot more that comes along the way.
“After tonight, when it is all said and done, we will dust ourselves down whatever way it goes. We know that what we have done here in a short space of time is very special, I see that everyday. I’ve seen it from the start to where we are now and how we are growing and developing as a team.”
Parker has been boosted by the return of Championship top goalscorer, Aleksandar Mitrovic, to fitness ahead of tonight’s clash.
The Serbia striker missed both legs of their semi-final against Cardiff due to a hamstring problem.