Romance trumps hard cash in battle for top-tier status

Coventry and Luton vie for glory today after years in the wilderness. Lawrence Ostlere on a special play-off final

For Coventry City and Luton Town, how do you even begin to quantify the enormity of today’s Championship play-off final?

Financially, of course, the prize is seismic. The winner can expect additional revenues between £170-285m over the next three seasons, depending how long they stay in the top flight.

When you consider that both clubs' annual income is around £17-18m right now, those are transformative, lottery-ticket numbers.

That money will go to good use. Luton are preparing to move from the rickety old shed that is Kenilworth Road to a new home at Power Court in the centre of town. The club have been looking to expand from the confines of the 10,000-capacity ground for more than half a century, with each new plan coming up against planning or finance restrictions, but a new start is finally coming.

At least they've had a steady home - Coventry fans have spent far too much time recently trekking to Birmingham and Northampton to groundshare amid disputes over their on-andoff stadium, the CBS Arena. The club's new owner, local businessman Doug King, is still working on a long-term agreement to secure their future at the stadium. At both clubs, facilities need upgrading; thin squads and stretched staff need investment.