Despite the relegation of three established Premiership sides last season, Crystal Palace manager Trevor Francis does not expect this season to be tougher than last if he can strengthen his squad.

Ipswich, Derby and Leicester were all relegated last year after lengthy spells in the top flight but Francis thinks they will find winning instant promotion difficult.

Francis told the Guardian: "You always put the three teams that have come down amongst the favourites to go back up but it never seems to work out that way. Last season Bradford struggled and Coventry also found it difficult.

"If you look at the personnel they have, obviously they're favourites but it depends how they acclimatise to the new division, because it is very different. I think you have to respect them but their presence doesn't make the league any harder for Palace.

"I think our chances will depend on the squad I have when we actually start the league campaign. I really don't know how strong the squad is going to be."

Last week Francis told the Guardian the Eagles would have to sell before making any purchases and the free-transfer signing of Danny Butterfield from Grimsby and Francis' failed pursuit of Brentford's Lloyd Owusu bears that out. Out-of-contract Owusu was in talks with Palace but opted to join cash-strapped Sheffield Wednesday.

Francis said: "Owusu is a player we have spoken to but he had a number of choices and he chose Wednesday."

Francis' chances of making any cash transfers look slim unless he is willing to sell one of his valuable assets like Clinton Morrison.

Palace have had no enquiries for transfer-listed players Gregg Berhalter and Dean Austin and the only glimmer of financial hope is Dunfermline's reported interest in David Hopkin, who resigned from Bradford for £1.5million in March 2001 but has made only 21 league starts since.

July 10, 2002 10:30