Burnley boss Steve Cotterill again expects to be outgunned this summer as the Championship's big hitters gear up for another spending frenzy.

Cotterill has stolen a march by dipping into the Akinbiyi fund' to pay Sunderland £750,000 for striker Andy Gray, who has already begun to repay the first instalment with two goals in his first three games.

Wigan midfielder Alan Mahon soon followed Gray to Turf Moor after costing £200,000 from Wigan Athletic.

But those fees will again be dwarfed this summer as the bigger clubs splash out in a desperate big to make the top flight.

Cotterill said: "I don't know too much about other clubs and their wage bills and all of that.

"I try not to get into it too much because if you look elsewhere you will be green with envy in our league.

"Because of the scenario we're in, this is a difficult club to manage at this level because of the money situation.

"If we were down a level, it might be easier because we would be one of the bigger clubs.

"But we just get on with it and try and do our best. If you look at it, I suppose we are quite pleased where we are, knowing we're still going to be in the Championship, with a few bigger clubs below us still fighting.

"They would probably like to be where we are."