A prominent financial analyst has warned of the possible "dramatic consequences" of falling short in the Coca-Cola Championship play-off final.

Henk Potts of Barclays Stockbrokers believes the gulf between the Championship and Premiership is wider than ever and likely to increase, piling further pressure on clubs aiming to reach the top flight.

West Brom and Saints' play-off semi-final conquerors Derby face off at Wembley on Monday for the right to join Sunderland and Birmingham in the elite, in what Potts describes as a "£60million" match.

He said: "I think it's fair to say it is simply the biggest money game in football.

"It could be worth as much as £60million to the winner in terms of the increase in television money, which is obviously one of the big prizes, and also the benefit in terms of increases in sponsorship, merchandising and ticket sales.

"People talk about how important the Champions League is and the fact it is the showcase of European football.

"The Champions League is for show; the play-off is the big-money game - the dough, so to speak.

"There is a big gulf between the Champions League and UEFA Cup but there is a massive difference between the Championship and the Barclays Premiership.

"One would suspect that gulf is going to get bigger and bigger as time moves on and we see the effects of the international investment that has gone into a number of Premiership clubs.

"And if that continues to become more powerful on the global stage one would suspect the gulf between the Premiership and the other clubs is just going to get bigger."

Potts added: "It shows if you fall at the final hurdle it has dramatic consequences for your club.

"It's just going to become harder and harder to get back into it, and more money will be required to bridge that gap.

"It clearly is a very big game".

Leeds reached the final last season after banking on a swift return to the Premiership but defeat by Watford sparked an alarming collapse culminating in relegation to League One and administration.

"The message for clubs seems to be 'cut your cloth accordingly'," said Potts.

"Have realistic expectations about what financial firepower you have got and how far that can actually take you.

"The reality is that clubs can take a huge financial gamble and decide they want to be in the Premiership, but of course if they fail to meet that target the amount they have invested simply goes to waste.

"In order to run for promotion you have to spend an awful lot of money and there's no guarantees you're going to get payback on that money".

Saints know that to be true. They took "a calculated risk" in chief executive Jim Hone's words last summer by spending over £7m on new players to help a promotion push.

"It just shows you that football continues to be one of the biggest financial risks across the business spectrum," Potts concluded.