The Premier League has been accused of heavy-handedness with Football League clubs in the tortuous negotiations about how much of its forthcoming TV billions it will share with the rest of football. In a stormy Football League meeting at Walsall on Wednesday, some clubs accused the Premier League's chief executive, Richard Scudamore, of unjust interference with the Football League's freedom to run itself.
The row broke out over the Football League's proposals to close the financial gap in the Championship. With the Premier League's 2013-16 TV deals expected to reap £5.5bn, clubs relegated to the Championship will be paid substantially increased parachute payments to £59m over four years.
That vastly exceeds the money paid to other Championship clubs competing with them, from the league's own TV deal, which is £195m a year from 2012-15, just 3.5% of the Premier League's deal. Each championship club receives £2m a year from that Football League TV deal. Three years ago, the Premier League began to make a payment to the Football League in an attempt to narrow the gap slightly, so the clubs who do not receive parachute payments receive £2m in "solidarity".
Because parachute payments are due to go up by around 45% from the last deal, the Football League proposed two ways in which the financial gap with clubs in the championship might be eased. The first was that relegated Premier League clubs would no longer receive their £2m a year share of the Football League's own TV money, and instead that would be redistributed to the other clubs in the Championship. The second was a proposed salary cap, limiting spending on wages to £16m for relegated clubs in the first year, then reducing to £10m in 2014-15, and £8m in 2015-16.
Greg Clarke, the Football League chairman, had informed Scudamore of these proposals and asked for his view of them. At 9:30am, before the meeting was due to start at 11am, Scudamore emailed Clarke to say that if either proposal was implemented he would withdraw the current offer of "solidarity" money and review it – Scudamore was saying he would pull the money the Premier League pays to the Football League if the Championship clubs voted for the proposals.
Several clubs are understood to have objected to this, arguing that Scudamore was unduly interfering with their right to decide how to share money. A majority of clubs voted in favour of a motion that they would have passed the two proposals had Scudamore not threatened to withdraw the offer. However, as they faced losing the "solidarity" money, they withdrew the proposals.
The Football League declined to comment when asked about the meeting. A Premier League spokesman said of Scudamore's position: "A generous solidarity offer has been made to the Football League; however if the basis on which that original offer was made materially changes, then it is reasonable to review it."
Scudamore is just as affected by Premier League greed as the clubs he represents. Unfortunately, it looks like the Championship clubs are so beholden to the handouts from the big table that, just as with the EPP, they will back down and try and come up with something that the "gods" of the Premier League find acceptable.
Someone mentioned on another thread that Championship clubs should close the door on taking prem players on loan. Leave them twiddling their thumbs at their own clubs and see how long the bloated squads they have been building last.
A good idea as far as I am concerned, but I suspect another that they will not have the will to consider.
for anyone who is interested there is also a meeting tonight in SE1 about ticket prices and the football #Footballwithoutfansisnothing see the trust website http://www.castrust.org for details.
cut off promotion to and relegation from the PL and then sit back and wait until Sky deal is renewed and see how much they will pay when the only interest each season is who gets the CL places. Who will watch 19th place v 18th place if neither can get relegated?
Not taking loanees won't work. Firstly, some championship team will break ranks if they think it gives them an advantage. Secondly I'm sure there are plenty of Serie B, La Liga 2 or Belgian, Dutch, French, etc. teams who would be delighted to take players on loan.
The championship and FL in general has very few bargaining chips and the Premiership knows this.
Comments
The row broke out over the Football League's proposals to close the financial gap in the Championship. With the Premier League's 2013-16 TV deals expected to reap £5.5bn, clubs relegated to the Championship will be paid substantially increased parachute payments to £59m over four years.
That vastly exceeds the money paid to other Championship clubs competing with them, from the league's own TV deal, which is £195m a year from 2012-15, just 3.5% of the Premier League's deal. Each championship club receives £2m a year from that Football League TV deal. Three years ago, the Premier League began to make a payment to the Football League in an attempt to narrow the gap slightly, so the clubs who do not receive parachute payments receive £2m in "solidarity".
Because parachute payments are due to go up by around 45% from the last deal, the Football League proposed two ways in which the financial gap with clubs in the championship might be eased. The first was that relegated Premier League clubs would no longer receive their £2m a year share of the Football League's own TV money, and instead that would be redistributed to the other clubs in the Championship. The second was a proposed salary cap, limiting spending on wages to £16m for relegated clubs in the first year, then reducing to £10m in 2014-15, and £8m in 2015-16.
Greg Clarke, the Football League chairman, had informed Scudamore of these proposals and asked for his view of them. At 9:30am, before the meeting was due to start at 11am, Scudamore emailed Clarke to say that if either proposal was implemented he would withdraw the current offer of "solidarity" money and review it – Scudamore was saying he would pull the money the Premier League pays to the Football League if the Championship clubs voted for the proposals.
Several clubs are understood to have objected to this, arguing that Scudamore was unduly interfering with their right to decide how to share money. A majority of clubs voted in favour of a motion that they would have passed the two proposals had Scudamore not threatened to withdraw the offer. However, as they faced losing the "solidarity" money, they withdrew the proposals.
The Football League declined to comment when asked about the meeting. A Premier League spokesman said of Scudamore's position: "A generous solidarity offer has been made to the Football League; however if the basis on which that original offer was made materially changes, then it is reasonable to review it."
Someone mentioned on another thread that Championship clubs should close the door on taking prem players on loan. Leave them twiddling their thumbs at their own clubs and see how long the bloated squads they have been building last.
A good idea as far as I am concerned, but I suspect another that they will not have the will to consider.
I would go down the route already mentioned of not taking loanees
The championship and FL in general has very few bargaining chips and the Premiership knows this.
Plus it would only be for a couple of years until the PL realise that they actually need us to survive and prosper.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-4349452/Premier-League-parachute-payments-review.html