by Z175 »
08 Feb 2013 14:37
The main driver of this is the new tv deal and the FFP introduced by UEFA and the football league..
Clearly theres no point in the increased tv money if it jsut doubles players salaries. Therefore having a cap on increasing the wagebill means clubs will have a balancing act, rather than just an unlimited pot.
Secondly, with the CL clubs abiding by FFP, Southampton and QPR, if they stay up, could easily spend say £100m each this summer, whereas Man City, Chelsea and Liverpool will have to make money if anything.
This could make the league look ridiculous where clubs spend big sums to get in the top 10, but would be banned from Europe if finishing top 4. Similarly, clubs coming up have to abide by fair play, so the wagebill gap between the PL and Championship, already massive, would become an unbridgable chasm where any promoted team would have to not just treble its wagebill like at present, but probably increase it by a factor of 6 or 7 times to compete, which would be impractible in 1 summer, and also unsustainable, with every relegated club being a firesale or being banned from the FL.
So they had to do something, and this miserable little comprimise is it. I agree with the comments re our abstention, but its intriguing to think we could have had the casting vote. Unless we were confident it would go through anyway, which would be unlikely given the number of clubs agasint and the 2/3rds majority required, it seems odd to abstain. Even if we dont like the detail, isn't it better than nothing? Or are we intending a £105m spending spree over the next 3 years?!