Tony Mowbray heads out to India today and this is where the preparations really start for life in the Championship, writes Simon Garner.

I think Tony will want to get his business done as quickly as possible. He will take confidence from last summer and his dealings with the owners so far.

When they gave him what he wanted last season he produced the goods. Going out there he has to say he needs X amount of money for X amount of players in these positions and then hopefully they back him and I can’t see why they won’t.

The Championship to me is the toughest division. There’s a lot of teams who spend a lot of money to try and get out of there to get their hands on the Premier League money.

I think Tony is sensible enough to know he won’t get the same budgets as the top clubs but I think in the Championship your budget determines where you’re going to finish in the league.

You get the odd team who shock you, Millwall had a good season but still didn’t get in the play-offs, but I think Tony realises that.

He needs to convince the owners that if they want to stay in the division and do well then they will have to invest some money.

The first thing you do after winning promotion is thinking about survival, whatever league you go up from. It’s very tough to do anything else.

Tony will be happy to consolidate in the Championship next season and try and get in the top half.

His goal will be to get established once again, get in the top half and then the season after have a bit of a go to get in that top six.

With the play-offs now in full swing it is great to know Rovers aren’t having to negotiate them! While it’s the best way to go up it’s also the worst way to miss out.

I’m a bit anti-play-offs in a way.

If you lose and only get a month off then it’s still on your mind when you come back.

You have to come back and it is a tough one to take.