Changes afoot within the Football League

Last updated : 29 November 2002 By Tony Scholes

A committee was set up under the name of The Football League Restructuring Committee and their work seems set to come to an end very soon. The committee, which includes Burnley Chief Executive Andrew Watson, have been in discussion with consultants KPMG and have said that excellent progress has been made.

So good is the progress that involvement with KPMG is not at an end and the committee will be able to finalise its plans at a meeting on Wednesday 11th December with these plans being discussed by the Football League Board the following day.

All clubs will be notified at the earliest convenient opportunity after this date but this will not necessarily rubber stamp any changes. The committee has been made up of representatives from the First Division so it remains to be seen whether the plans will be accepted by clubs in the lower two divisions although their views were sought during the period the committee have been in place.

The League’s Head of Communications John Nagle said, "Having taken on board the views of all three Divisions the Restructuring Committee has been able to make considerable progress in developing a strategic plan for The Football League that will help it to meet the requirements of its member clubs and successfully face the challenges of the future.

"Added to the confirmation last week, that League clubs intend to move towards the introduction of salary capping, this progress by the Restructuring Committee confirms that the League has now made significant strides towards securing a more stable financial future for all its member clubs."

This follows on from the good news this week that Barnsley’s future looks secure after fears that this could have been its last week in business coupled with the news that Gary Lineker’s consortium could be successful in bringing Leicester City out of administration.

Quite what the restructuring will involve is anyone’s guess at the moment but once agreed it should end all the speculation (recently touted by Gillingham Chairman Paul Scally) of First Division clubs ready to walk away.

Finally, and on a less enthusiastic note, it has just emerged that Bradford City have failed to pay their players this month. They are apparently suggesting it is because of falling attendances. I think Bradford City need to be aware that they are not the only club to suffer this and that having escaped the executioner once this year they really do need to get their house in order or at the very least pay their employees.