PAUL Robinson insists Blackburn Rovers are the Premier League financial blueprint as he predicts the club’s ‘sensible’ approach will ensure “a solid top flight team for years to come”.

The Rovers goalkeeper experienced the highs of Champions League football with Leeds United but also witnessed the dramatic plunge into the lower leagues that soon followed at Elland Road.

Ahead of this afternoon’s visit of Everton, Robinson insists Rovers can still break into the top 10 this season but believes their more patient methods will guarantee a brighter long-term future.

Robinson said: “Reverting back to the Leeds days, it was a team that was grossly mis-managed. Whereas here it is a club that is run on such a sound financial footing.

“It has been soundly run for a lot of years now. You have the young players coming through and the future is looking good for this football club.

“Without a doubt it is better to build slowly and sensibly. We would rather have this football club in the Premier League for as long as the Premier League exists rather than having one or two seasons where we spend everything we have got and end up in Division Three.”

Speculation has already started regarding the summer transfer market throughout the country, with many of their rivals again expected to splash the cash in pursuit of rich rewards.

Rovers though will not be setting any transfer fee records, with boss Sam Allardyce well aware of their financial limitations, but Robinson insists prudence is the best policy.

He said: “As we said it is built on a sound basis and we have got a very clever manager in the transfer market who will not over spend. He will wheel and deal and as well as rejuvenating old players he has brought in younger players.

“Without a doubt we could be the blueprint. There are more and more clubs getting into financial trouble, overspend and borrow against things they can’t afford to pay off.

“But to be at a club that is not surround by those problems we don’t have those distractions. Everton are similar. They have spent on good players but they are run solidly.

“I think we can achieve a solid Premier League football team for many years to come. With the addition of a couple of players there is no reason we can’t again push into the top half and maybe have a shot at the European places.”

Everton travel to East Lancashire this afternoon hoping for a boost in their Europa League chase, while Rovers will look to continue their formidable home form as they bid to finish in the top 10.

Robinson said: “We have made Ewood Park a bit of a fortress this year. We have enjoyed playing there this season and long may it continue.

“Everton are playing very well and we know what to expect, but we have proved we can do it at home. We will be confident and there is no reason we can’t go unbeaten between now and the end of the season.

“I remember it well, we were poor at Everton. We got beat 3-0 and it could have been a lot more. Our away form has not been what it should be but at home we are more than a match for anyone.

“It was a different team back then. The manager was still trying to find out what formation to play and what worked for us and what personnel he wanted to play.

“We have found a formation we are happy with, a consistent side and we have been getting results.”