|
The gist of the argument was that Burnley achieved promotion and solvency only by being run badly, gambling with a wage bill greater than turnover, and only by being run in an uneconomic and irresponsible way. Thus was the promotion dream and cash jackpot achieved and 'doing a Burnley' became the dream for other clubs. In effect, this was a terrible example to all other clubs.
"That's why Burnley are the problem. It worked for them, and as long as it goes on working, at least some of the time, the sums involved will justify taking a punt on the future of a club…. the risk is justified by the reward."
"The risk is justified by the reward." Discuss. What a good first essay to set any new student at the future Football University of Turf Moor followed up by - "Doing a Burnley, is it morally wrong?"
On the surface you can't really argue against these sentiments. But to describe the current general football finance mess, as being Burnley's fault, is somewhat jaw-breaking. Burnley are the product of a flawed system, not the cause. Of course we all know now that promotion followed one last input of directors' money a month before Wembley. But I'd hazard a guess that each director that put more money in did it because their first consideration would have been: no money no wages, bloody hell here comes administration; rather than no money no promotion. And, by putting money in, those directors were only continuing a tradition that has existed since Noah put money into the Ark.
Here is a quiz.
What have these people got in common - Milan Mandaric, 'arry Redknapp, Peter Storrie, Sacha Gaydamak, Sulamain al Fahim, Ali al Faraj, Yoram Yusepov, Daniel Azougy, and Balram Chainrai? Answer - none of them come from Bacup but all have been, or still are, involved in the drama that is Portsmouth. Next: what are Falcondrome and Portpin? Answer: both are companies owned by two of the above, but God knows which ones. Next, which one of the above was convicted of fraud in Israel? Which was convicted of arms-trading in Angola? Which one was convicted of money laundering? Which one now lives in Moscow? Which one was merely trying to show his father that he could actually do something successful (ho ho) on his own? Which one has never actually set foot in Fratton Park? Which three of them were accused of tax evasion? The British Virgin Islands, (a place that usually equals dodgy business), is home to which one of the two companies? You couldn't make it up could you? How many did you get right?
I guess I was one of quite a few who sat by the TV on Feb 10th waiting to hear about Portsmouth, winding up, liquidation, administration or adjournments. Of course it was the latter and another few days were awarded for them to come up with more firm proposals and last-minute solutions. There was, in truth, something deeply touching about the players' huddle at the end of the dramatic Sunderland game. It was as if they were saying their final goodbyes to this traditional, grand old club (well it used to be way back in the days of Jimmy Dickinson when Jimmy Mac was clattered by Jimmy Scoular and in those days every footballer was called Jimmy), knowing that the High Court hearing was the day after.
It took me back to the feelings and emotions I had after the Orient game all those years ago. Sky Sports News do these occasions rather well don't they? Reporters everywhere, sombre faced, cranking up the tension. The adjournment was therefore actually something of an anti-climax, a bit like getting a letter from the Premium Bonds, but it's not for a million it's only for 25 quid and you just groan; though it must have been sweet relief for anybody connected with the club. All I could think was wind the stupid buggers up and let Burnley climb up out of the bottom three again where we were dumped after both West Ham and Wolves won. Thanetlee, a poster on Clarets Mad, likened it to dragging out a sick pet instead of having it put down. When Portsmouth ran out for the Cup game at Southampton, hundreds of Saints fans waved £5 notes at them and there were fans dressed up as Sheiks. Football fans - bless 'em. No doubt my nephew Tom, who lives down there, was one of the chief culprits and knowing him he'd have had a tenner in each hand and a tea-towel on his head. Throwing money around is a popular pastime down there. Remember how they threw money at us last season. Barry Kilby should have collected it all and put it towards the next month's wages.
It transpired later that Vantis, the firm handling Portsmouth's survival plans, were themselves in financial difficulties, with two executives accused of - guess what - tax evasion. New co-owner of West Ham, David Gold, was strongly in favour of the Premier League acting to bail out Portsmouth, in order to protect the "integrity" of the League; integrity my arse. By coincidence, if Portsmouth were liquidated West Ham would go straight to the bottom of the League; funny that. "That can't be right," said Gold. I nearly fell off the settee. Indeed yes; integrity must be protected. Owing £110million, Gold could be forgiven for thinking it would help to set a precedent by helping Portsmouth. The Premier League could hardly then refuse to help West Ham if ever they had an hour of need.
February 17th was the next deadline Portsmouth had to meet, having been informed they must produce their statement of affairs, evidence and plan that they could meet their payments, and would provide a full projected financial picture. I heard a rumour they asked Ocean Finance to present it. The day broke with the news that a warrant was out for the arrest of the chairman, but not owner, Sulaiman al Fahim. This was in connection with a dispute over money he allegedly owed to someone in Azerbaijan. It truly is a global game. He was unavailable, being in Moscow, "promoting the chess industry." Meanwhile Portsmouth met the 4 p.m. deadline for production of the necessary documents. The Burnley game versus Portsmouth on the 27th was thus secured, and the next High Court meeting booked for March 1st.
Portsmouth sat 9th in the February Premier Debt league owing £60million in total. Manchester United were top with a debt of £716million, their fans absolutely pig sick of debt and the Glazers. Arsenal and Liverpool owed £297million and £237million respectively. West Ham owed £110million with co-owner Sullivan reported as saying that every time he opened a drawer he found a new unpaid bill or another over-paid employee grinning but serving no useful purpose. Eleven clubs owed over £50million each. Two clubs Chelsea and Man City had seen their debts written off by their wealthy owners. Little Burnley had £0 of debt. With that in mind the plans outlined by the Chief Exec Paul Fletcher and Operational Director Brendan Flood for multi-million pound ground developments begged the question; just how did they fit in with the chairman's steadfast philosophy of not betting the ranch. Neither the club nor Chairman owns Turf Moor. A serious issue therefore is when the club will buy it back from the current owners, believed to be Lionbridge Properties, jointly owned at the last count by Anthony Parmiter and Richard Hull. The situation is said by Barry Kilby to be secure. Does the club go for the expensive Stadiarena or the more economical single tier with corporate boxes, hotel, business centre, gymnasium, and cricket pavilion? We're pretty much losing track of all these plans and amendments, they come and go, but the Cricket Field Stand is rapidly approaching its sell-by date.
|
Oh, so much it's incredible; the money, the speed, the fitness, everything really. When I first started out, all we cared about was winning trophies. We never gave a second thought to money, cars or houses. We had no idea what the top players earned. Now the profile of players, even in the lower leagues has exploded because Sky covers every single game. They used to show only the top games on TV so it's made a big difference. Our goals at Scunthorpe were on the local news if we were lucky so if you missed that you never saw your goal at all. But although it's made the game more professional, it's made it less fun, too … Young players always used to clean senior players' boots. It wouldn't hurt young players to do it now but they are more interested in the new Ferrari.
By the way how on earth does a thief walk out of the Turf Moor Gym with a flat-screen TV he nicked. This geezer walked out with a £500 TV, so it must have been a bit on-the-big and conspicuous size, and then sold it for £80. Astonishing: I have this image of a bloke whistling, trying to look casual; sauntering out the door, whilst carrying a huge telly on his head. It's a fair bet the guy was wearing Reebok Classics, the preferred 'trainer' of the burglar fraternity. A study by the University of Leicester showed that 52% of people who can't keep their fingers to themselves wear these shoes. Apparently thieves like them because of their softness, comfort and quietness. Do burglars buy them like we normal folk or sneak them out the shop? Do they claim expenses on their tax forms if they actually buy them? Imagine a Reebok (HQ at Bolton Wanderers) promotion campaign: 50% of sticky-fingered crooks prefer the Reebok Classic trainer.
Meanwhile a left-wing think tank suggested that the working week should be cut to 21 hours. That sounded good to me. Look at footballers. They already only work 21 hours a week, and look how much they earn.
Reports of a spat between Brian Laws and in-and-out player Gudjonsson about did he have a future at Turf Moor, may or not have been true, but there was one comment on a message board that caught the eye. "If our midfield was the Marx brothers we've lost Zeppo." Good one son. Gudjonsson allegedly made a few disparaging remarks in an Icelandic journal about the new manager. Not the brightest thing to do if true. Apparently he fell out with Steve Cotterill as well who banished him to the land of the 'not selected again'.
The Portsmouth home game assumed a massive significance. Pundits by now were forecasting certain Burnley relegation. But with a win over Portsmouth, optimism, if not confidence, would remain. Into the final third of the season and most if not all of us were scanning the fixture lists and wondering if just four more wins and a final tally of 35 points might mean survival. The unlikely miracle of five wins and 38 points would surely mean another Prem season. Apprehension rose, however, in direct proportion to the speed at which Portsmouth broke from defence to slam four goals past Southampton in the Cup. With just a few days to go before the game, they were still in business. Bugger; sod their fans and the integrity of the Premier brand, I wanted them liquidated, wound up, expunged, terminated, not even a twitch just like that Monty Python parrot.
"This parrot is no more, it has ceased to be. It has expired. It's a stiff, bereft of life. He's off the twig, he's kicked the bucket. He rests in peace."
Sod Gold and Sullivan as well. I wanted West Ham bottom of a re-arranged table along with Bolton. Don't forget how West Ham should have been demoted over the Tevez affair as well.
"Integrity," said Gold. What did Ken Bates once say? "I haven't laughed so much since grandma caught her tits in the mangle."