SAM Allardyce has issued another of his reality checks by warning that Wanderers could self-destruct if they qualify for the Champions League.

Two days after seeing his dream of Carling Cup glory shattered by local rivals, Wigan Athletic, the Reebok boss has turned his attention to stepping up the Whites challenge for a top four Premiership finish.

But that, he admits, could be perilous for a club with such limited financial resources. "I think it would be very dangerous for a club like ours to enter the Champions League," Allardyce said.

"It could have a self-destruct effect."

Despite his reservations, Allardyce is as determined as ever to keep Wanderers riding high in the Premiership.

Currently fifth on 30 points, they kick off a hectic festive programme of four games in eight days at Sunderland, on Boxing Day, knowing a decent return of points could take them into the second half of the season as serious candidates for one of the four Champions League places.

For Allardyce, the problem is balancing ambition against the realisation that, without significantly more cash, Wanderers would be unable to cope with the demands of Europe's premier competition as they have, up to now, with the UEFA Cup. And he has highlighted the case of Everton, whose early Champions League exit had a shattering impact on their Premiership form.

"If you said I'd get into the Champions League now, I would accept it," he added. "But I also would know the huge dangers that the competition brings about for a club like ours, that goes into a season against the sort of clubs who have crushingly better finances and traditions than we have.

"It could be of massive detriment to our team to get heavily defeated in the early stages of the season, and would then have a knock-on effect in the Premiership.

"You have to look at Everton's season from that point of view. They have much more resources and spending power than we have ever had and everything was looking very promising, but David (Moyes) had some really bad luck and they haven't recovered going into the Premiership.

"Ipswich was another case a few years ago. When you go into Europe you have to be ready to go there."

Nevertheless, Allardyce is determined to keep the momentum going.

"We just want to take as many competitions seriously as possible and progress as far as we can," he added. "If, after that, we peter out, then we will hold our hands up and say we didn't have enough. But what a magnificent season we would have had."