Same again for Brown as Hull manager prepares his assault on Premier League

Brown's side face an opening day fixture at home to Fulham and also welcome champions Manchester United to the KC Stadium on the final day of the campaign on May 24 2009.  

The Tigers, who beat Bristol City 1-0 in the Championship play-off final at Wembley to seal promotion, will travel to Italy for a pre-season training campaign at the ski resort of Bormio.  

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Local hero: Dean Windass celebrates Hull's play-off win at Wembley

They will take part in a varied series of pre-season fixtures including an away game against Clydesdale Bank Premier League side Hearts before their final pre-season match at home to Spanish side Osasuna.  

"I think we will prepare in the same way as we did last year," Brown told Sky Sports News.   "We're taking the boys to a training camp so the preparation will be pretty similar.  

"I'm trying to improve the ranks in terms of the quality of the squad."  

Brown alluded to the pressure he will be under to keep Hull in the Premier League when he looked at the final day fixture at home to champions United.  

"It's a great fixture to have on the last day of the season, let's hope I'm still in a job," he said.  

Brown did not think winning the play-offs had handicapped his club with regards to the forthcoming season.  

"As far as we're concerned we're three weeks ahead of everybody, not three weeks behind, in terms of fitness," he said.  

"I think it's a fantastic way to get promoted and we're hopefully going to use that momentum at the start of the season."

Stoke director of football John Rudge believes the game Potters fans will most look forward to is the Boxing Day home fixture against Manchester United.  

Planning ahead: Boss Tony Pulis hopes to bolster his Stoke squad

"That will be a tough match for us but a really exciting adventure for everyone at the club," Rudge told Sky Sports News.  

Stoke open their season away to Bolton and Rudge described how it was important for a promoted side to make a good start.  

"I can remember Wigan playing Chelsea on the first day of the season and playing really well and only just getting beaten," he said.  

Rudge and Stoke manager Tony Pulis plan to be busy building the squad for the new season.  

"We know full well we need that little bit of extra strength and quality.  

"We will be searching high and low to get those extra couple of players to come here."

Defender Paul Robinson targeted Premier League survival for Championship winners West Brom who face a tough opener to their season away to Arsenal.  

"It's a great start for us to be playing against Arsenal," he told Sky Sports News.   "It's always going to be a difficult season for us coming back up."  

Robinson and his team-mates being pre-season training on July 3 when they will start the work aimed at keeping them in the Premier League.  

"We will go into pre-season and the manager will work really hard with us," said Robinson.  

"To stay in the Premier League, that's our main aim. If you stay in the Premier League you can just build on that year after year."