MILLWALL chairman Theo Paphitis believes the re-branding of the Football League - which means Town will be playing in Division I next season! - will help bridge the gap to the Premiership.

Since the Premiership was introduced in 1992, the top flight has grown further and further away from the three divisions below in both playing standards and finances.

And while Paphitis admits that chasm will never be totally bridged, he believes the new Coca Cola Championship, announced at the Football League's summer meeting in Chester, added to growing attendances, will have a big effect on League clubs.

Having originally been League Divisions III and IV, the Third and Second Divisions now become I and II.

"The extra sponsorship money from Coca Cola will go directly to the clubs but the re-branding will allow us to market ourselves which will bring in more revenue," said Paphitis.

"The whole point is to close that gap between the Football League and the Premier League.

"We'll never be able to close that totally but we will be able to get a certain way. We're hopeful that this will bring new partners in the not too distant future.

"It's taken a long time to put together. We rejected various re-branding proposals and sent them back on so many occasions. We wanted to get it right."

Paphitis is adamant fans will get used to the new formats as well as a new logo.