The FA Cup is now fourth in English football

In 1978 I was part of the Ipswich Town squad that won the FA Cup.

I didn’t play in the Final against Arsenal but I’ll never forget the excitement that surrounded the Wembley triumph. It was an absolutely massive occasion for the town, and is still very fondly remembered.

Sadly, times change and the FA Cup has now slipped down to fourth place in the list of importance for top-flight teams.

Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert has been getting some criticism for saying that Premier League survival is the priority.

In some ways I’d like to be able to disagree with him, but I understand that he was only being very honest. The massive influx of money into football has changed the landscape of the English game.

Getting to and staying in the Premier League is now the be-all and end-all for clubs. And once teams are on this massive gravy train, the consequences of falling off can be disastrous. Look how teams like Portsmouth, Wolves, Bolton and Birmingham City have suffered since being relegated.

It’s a simple formula more money means more to spend on players.

Five or six years ago, we all thought the bubble would eventually burst. However, there’s no sign of that happening. You did wonder if Sky TV would start to play hardball when it came to negotiating for broadcasting rights.

But along came BT Sport and outbid them.

As far as I see it, English football now has a defined list of priorities. Most important is success in the Premier League. Coming a close second is making it to the Champions League. Third place goes to England reaching the World Cup.

And fourth place now goes to the FA Cup.

It wasn’t helped back in 2000 when Manchester United were allowed to withdraw from the competition to play in the World Club Championship. That changed the way many people looked at the FA Cup.

I’m not saying the magic of the Cup has completely gone. You only have to look at the joy the competition brought to the people of Wigan last season when they beat Manchester City to lift the trophy.

But for managers like Paul Lambert, a run in the FA Cup is really just a bit of a bonus.

Going out of the competition to lower-league opposition will always get him criticism from the fans. Being relegated from the Premier League will get him the sack.