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Matty Hewitt

Championship rival admits Leeds United relegation leaves him 'scared' of division next season

Queen's Park Rangers boss Gareth Ainsworth says he's scared ahead of next season's Championship campaign. The second tier of English football is full to the brim of big clubs and is arguably the most competitive division in Europe.

Leeds United, Leicester City and Southampton will drop into the Championship next season, while they'll also be joined by the likes of Plymouth Argyle, Sheffield Wednesday and Ipswich Town - who won promotion from League One.

The Whites' three-year tenure in the top flight came to an end after defeat against Tottenham Hotspur at Elland Road on the final day of the season. While former Premier League and FA Cup winners Leicester City have had quite the fall from grace.

The Foxes spent nine years in the top flight, but their relegation made them just the second Premier League title-winning team to be relegated after Blackburn Rovers. Southampton's 11-year tenure in the top flight boats the longest out of the recently relegated sides, only adding to the strength of the Championship next season.

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Ainsworth told talkSPORT: "You're always thinking, you're always looking, the transfer market, the agents are super active this time of year. I'm getting ten, 12, 15 phone calls a day and they've all got three players each and you multiply that. How many players have you got to try and keep up with?

"We've got a recruitment group, we're nailing them all on. I think there'll be some outgoings at QPR without a shadow of a doubt.

"Over the past few seasons, they've kept hold of players to try and have success and it's not gone the way that they've thought. We're really looking forward to the season, we've got a new training ground a new building.

"It's going to be tough. Have you seen that Championship? Where's the small teams now? Where have they gone? No disrespect - Rotherham you're still in there and you could be a smaller team than everyone else.

"Where's your Wigans? Where's your Blackpools, your Wycombes? There is none anymore. Sheffield Wednesday have come up, Ipswich have come up.

"Leicester have come down. Leeds have come down. Southampton have come down. I am scared."

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