Football’s richest game has been billed as “one for the romantics” as Luton and Coventry clash for a place in the Premier League on Saturday after decades in the wilderness. Just five years ago, both clubs were languishing in fourth-tier obscurity. Luton last featured in the top flight in 1992, and their Kenilworth Road stadium, with a capacity of kist over 10,000, set among rows of terraced houses, would be the smallest in the Premier League era if they go up.Luton enjoyed three successive top-10 finishes in the top flight in the mid-1980s and won their first major trophy when they beat Arsenal in the 1988 League Cup final. But the Hatters’ decline was painfully steep as they plunged down the leagues. Hit by punishing points penalties after financial problems, cash-strapped Luton were in dire straits after suffering three successive relegations from 2007 to 2009. They spent five years in non-league purgatory before winning promotion from the Conference in 2014 to kick-start their renaissance. Successive promotions in 2018 and 2019 took them back to the second-tier Championship.##NAJAVA_MECA_7284285##Then their young coach Rob Edwards, hired in November after his sacking by Luton’s local rivals Watford, led the Hatters to a third-place finish this term before they beat Sunderland in the play-off semi-finals.Like Luton, Coventry’s golden era came in the 1980s. The Sky Blues spent 34 seasons in the top flight until relegation in 2001, with their most iconic moment coming in 1987 when they stunned Tottenham in the FA Cup final to earn their only major trophy. But those memories of Keith Houchen’s diving header and boss John Sillett dancing with the trophy on the Wembley pitch gave way to images of angry fans and empty seats during Coventry’s troubled 22-year spell outside the top tier. Their plight was worsened by the decision to sell their Highfield Road stadium — they subsequently moved into the Ricoh Arena in 2005. As their debts mounted, the club were saved from being wound up by London-based hedge fund Sisu Capital two years later.The most expensive match in football takes place today!Whatever you do, don’t miss it!#SkyBetChampionship #EFL pic.twitter.com/GdhAMOA8im— Ochieng’ Stephen (@soo_ochieng) May 27, 2023 But relegations in 2012 and 2017 sent Coventry into the fourth tier for the first time since 1959, while Sisu became embroiled in a damaging row over ground rent that twice forced the club into exile. Coventry were forced to share Northampton’s ground during the 2013/14 season and played at Birmingham from 2019 to 2021 before finally returning home. Their coach Mark Robins is already a hero for their fans, but if he drags them up to the EPL – he’ll surely become a legend.While the fans will look at the prospect of making it on the big stage and testing themselves against the best teams in the country, club directors and owners will be delighted by the worldwide exposure and the opportunity to get millions in their accounts. Even if the champions finish last in the Premier League the following season, victory today is still worth at least $210 million. The Premier League’s bottom-place team will get approximately $117 million in central revenue, albeit this amount is subject to alter depending on how frequently that team is broadcast live in the United Kingdom next season.##EDITORS_CHOICE##Clubs who spend one season in the Premier League are only entitled for two seasons’ worth of parachute payments, which equates to around $93.3 million spread over two years. If the play-off winners are relegated, they will get slightly under $94 million as a parachute payment. After two seasons, demoted teams receive an additional $18.5 million.Premier League survival for one season would see this figure rise to over $352 million – the side that finishes 17th will net around $123 million in central payments and also qualify for the extra $18.5 million in the third year of parachute payments.There is a lot to play for – and we’ll watch one of these teams every week next season. So let’s see who saved their best performance for Wembley Stadium. The Premier League is just a step away.EFL CHAMPIONSHIPPlay-off finalSaturday18.45: (3.15) Coventry (3.20) Luton (2.60)***odds are subject to change
