West Ham United vice-chair Karren Brady has revealed that she 'hates' the Championship because its presence is a reminder of "the abyss beneath the Premier League".
The Hammers are one of 10 sides currently embroiled in a top-tier relegation battle, with 11th-placed Watford only three points clear of the bottom three.
Bournemouth and Everton sit ninth and 10th respectively but even they are looking over their shoulders, sitting just a further four points ahead of the Hornets.
Brady insists that her dislike of the second tier is not due to its organisation or competitiveness, highlighting its stature as the third most attended league in Europe.
However, the former Birmingham City managing director gives a number of reasons why she would like the Hammers - currently 12th in the table - "to stay where we are".
In a column for The Sun, Brady wrote: "I hate the Championship. Not because it's a bad competition or poorly run. No, what I hate is, its presence reminds me of the abyss beneath the Premier League.
"And the spectre haunts every club among the nine or ten who consider themselves — excuse my shivers — possible victims of the dreadful fall to the land inhabited by current A.N. Others.
"Because the Premier League is so special for footballers and accountants, even the rest of the world is in awe of it. The richest, most watched, most televised, it stands above every other league. And statistics from UEFA now show it.
"These stats on total attendances also show which league is third — the Championship. It totalled 11,086,368 to the Prem's 13,607,420 last season, with the Bundesliga taking second spot.
"So why should the Championship cause such extreme feelings among bottom-half Prem clubs? The fear of long decline is one reason. Appearing in Hollyoaks when you could be in Hollywood is another. Money from TV and the likelihood of lower attendances is a third.
"However you look at it, the Championship is a vibrantly thrilling competition. However, with respect, I'd like my team to stay where we are."
West Ham were last in the second tier in the 2011-12 season, coming back up as playoff winners.
