Fleetwood Town manager Joey Barton believes he would have Sunderland promoted already if he had their budget at his disposal.
The outspoken former Newcastle midfielder took his first step into management in the summer when he was appointed Fleetwood boss on a three-year deal.
Barton's side are currently tenth in the League One table, eight points adrift of the play-off places - albeit with a game in hand.
But he feels he would already have guided the Cod Army to promotion had he had similar financial firepower to some of his League One rivals, citing Sunderland as an example.
“We have not been able to recruit everybody we would want in the building,” Barton told Fleetwood Today.
“But we have a chance to shuffle the pack on that in the summer.
“We have some really key components already here with us. I think that is what has emerged this season whether or not we are successful and get promoted.
“That is for a select few. There are only so many that can do that.
“It is two (up) automatic and one by the play-offs. Everyone judges those sides as being successful but, let’s be honest, if I had Sunderland’s budget I’d have them up by this point.
“Look at Portsmouth, who played at Wembley on Sunday with 85,000 in the stadium. It says a lot about what the clubs we are playing against have got on us.
“They have 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 years tradition, huge supporter bases and huge financial powers compared to clubs like us."
Although promotion seems unlikely this year, Barton is confident his side will be more competitive next season.
“Yeah, I think we will compete next year with whoever does not go up this year and whoever comes down. It looks like Ipswich and Bolton and another.
“I guarantee we will be a lot closer next year than we were this year.”
Given Barton's comments. Sunderland's April 30 meeting with Fleetwood is a date to put in your diary.
