Oxford United boss Des Buckingham says his team “won’t shy away” from the challenges that come with Championship football.
The U’s play in England’s second tier for the first time in 25 years when they face Norwich City on Saturday.
Oxford were promoted from League One last season after they beat Bolton in May’s play-off final.
“Since that full-time whistle went at Wembley we’ve done as much as we can,” Buckingham told BBC Radio Oxford.
“On and off the field we’re as ready as we can be, there’s still things that we want to do off the field but I’m so excited for what is to come.
“Things have gone up a level in training, you get that when you bring in the quality that we have this window.”
The challenge that will come for Buckingham is keeping the club in a division renowned as one of the toughest and most unpredictable leagues in world football.
The U’s have been active in the transfer market after losing their Wembley hero Josh Murphy to Portsmouth, bringing in 11 players.
“It’s going to be an exciting season and plenty of challenges that will come our way.” Buckingham added.
“We’ve become used to being one of the better teams in League One, we’re now in a Championship full of ex-Premier League teams.
“We won’t shy away from that, we will try to play our game and do what we can. It’s fair to say we won’t win as many as we did last year but we will certainly give it a good go.”
Levelling up the squad
U’s chairman Grant Ferguson has been heavily involved in the process of recruitment and player sales this summer.
He was a guest on one of the recent episodes of BBC Radio Oxford’s “The Dub” podcast where he shared some insight to the work that has gone on already behind the scenes.
“The budget has had a very significant increase from the one we had in League One.” Ferguson said.
“It’s helping to build a competitive squad and I’m so excited about it, I watched training the other day and the level just feels different.
“The attitude of the players and the way they coach themselves is amazing and it feels like a different level.”