Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert fears the financial gap with the Premier League's giants is widening.
Lambert, who recently signed a new four-year contract, fears his side are further away than ever from the Premier League's elite.
He said: "The way the Premier League is with finances and Champions League, it is big money and you need to be able to compete. At the moment we're not there yet.
"They have big players with lots of money but we're not in that bracket yet.
"You're never sure how long you are here but I'd love to be here long term. But I also know I need to get results.
"I'm not naïve enough to think it does not matter. It does not matter about contracts any more."
