Peterborough United won’t be frightened of the biggest clubs in League One

Ten of the teams who will compete in the third tier of English football in the 2020-21 season have played in the Premier League and potential big hitters Charlton, Hull, Ipswich, Portsmouth and Sunderland are among them.

Subject to an appeal against a points deduction, Wigan, League One champions in 2015-16 & 2017-18, will also be involved.

But MacAnthony points to recent history and to the changing face of football as reasons why Posh should remain optimistic their ‘Vengeance Tour’ will be successful.

“You just have to deal with those clubs,” MacAnthony stated. “And we have done it before. We have have been promoted from League One in the past after playing against the likes of Leeds, Leicester, Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday and we had great results against all of them.

“You’d think Wigan would walk the league if they keep the bulk of their squad together. There are plenty of players in that squad who have dominated League One in the past, but I don’t expect them to win their appeal and if they stay in administration for too long anything could happen.

“Charlton must have a chance if they can keep Lee Bowyer as manager and Hull will be strong if they re-build quickly. I’m gutted for my ex-manager (Grant McCann) after what went on there. Portsmouth are a superbly-run club, but who knows how the new normal will affect every club?

“We certainly won’t be approaching the new season any differently just because there are some big clubs to play.

“It looks like the salary cap rules are to be amended slightly, but the days of massive player wages are over in League One. No club is going to want to spend £5k-6k a week on players with a salary cap on the horizon.

“Players and agents have to wake up to that fact. Indeed I’d love players to start thinking for themselves and not just say ‘talk to my agent’ when contracts are up for negotiation.”

League One clubs look set to vote for a £2.5 million per season salary cap on August 6.

Any players signed before that date would not count towards the cap leading to speculation there will be a rush of signings in the next few days to beat the new deadline.

Posh are expected to vote in favour of the salary cap.