BIG budgets will not guarantee promotion from Sky Bet League One this season, warns Karl Robinson.

The Oxford United head coach has more to spend for 2022/23 and saw a bid accepted for an overseas transfer target last week. It is hoped the deal will be completed in the coming days.

READ MORE: Oxford United have bid accepted for transfer target

It looks set to be another competitive third-tier promotion race, particularly with the U’s opening-day opponents Derby County leaving administration after last week’s club-saving takeover.

The Rams quickly announced the signings of former Preston North End forward Tom Barkhuizen and ex-Sheffield Wednesday duo Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Joe Wildsmith.

And Robinson expects more high-quality additions at Pride Park - and across League One - before July 30.

He said: “There are some top players they’re looking to sign.

“There’s going to be a team this year with millions of pounds that aren’t going to go up, because that’s how strong this league has become.

“We’ve got to find different ways of being up there. We’ve increased our budget, but that’s to compete with these.

“It’s an amazing league and I’m really excited to start this season.”

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Robinson said a similar thing last summer, when he claimed the U’s increased their budget just to stay 'anywhere near’ their rivals in 2021/22.

United finished eighth in League One on 76 points, seven short of the play-off places.