GEORGE Burley predicts Saints will have to overcome an even tougher challenge in 2007/08 if they are to reclaim their place in the promised land of the Premiership.

Last season saw possibly one of the tightest second tier promotion races in recent times with the Championship winners and three of the four play-off places not decided until the final day.

But 2007/08 season will be the first full campaign for the likes of Leicester and Cardiff under new regimes following take-overs last season.

Meanwhile, the likes of Wolves, Coventry and Hull are hopeful of finalising take-overs that will see new investment pumped in.

And with the three relegated teams - Charlton, Watford and Sheffield United - armed with Premiership parachute payments and last season's TV money, Burley feels it's impossible to say how next season will pan out.

"The division is going to be even stronger," he said.

"There are four or five clubs with new investors who are going to gamble to get back into the Premiership, so I'm looking forward to it.

"We had a terrific league last season so it's going to be very competitive.

"The three teams that are coming down are strong teams with the 11 million parachute money, so that gap is getting bigger between Premiership and Championship teams.

"But they have still got to produce the goods to get back up there.

"This season it's even harder to predict who will win the league or be up there in the top three.

"Every year you look at the three teams coming down, so that won't change - especially with the difference in the TV money.

"They have got to be favourites, but favourites don't always win it."