Clubs call for salary cap

Last updated : 21 November 2002 By Tony Scholes

Agent Eric Hall celebrates winning a recent big deal for Dennis Wise
The working party was made up of Chairmen and Chief Executives and was itself chaired by QPR’s Chief Exec David Davies, not to be confused with the BBC North West reporter of the same name who wangled himself a good job at the FA.

The working party’s proposals were overwhelmingly accepted at a meeting of clubs today with the main proposal being a salary cap.

This would not mean any player having to take a cut in pay but the intention is to have a system in place where clubs reduce their wage bill initially to 60% of income and then eventually to no more than 50%. The working party along with the Football League will now consult with clubs to bring in an effective and robust capping system.

David Davies said, "This show of support for our work should be seen as a considerable leap forward by the Football League and its clubs in terms of ensuring the ongoing sustainability of professional football in Divisions One, Two and Three.

"The success of The FA Premier League, and the desire of our clubs to be part of it, has led to rampant wage inflation throughout the Football League, a problem compounded by the recent collapse of ITV Digital. Our aim is to ensure that clubs are limited to spending only what they can afford. It is essential that we take action, before it is too late, as spiralling player costs should not be allowed to threaten the viability of our clubs."

Mr. Davies’ comment about rampant wage inflation is without doubt a valid one and surely this is the main problem why our club is not in such a financial mess. In the last two or three years our own club’s Chief Executive has told shareholders that the way forward was to increase the wage bill. He has constantly referred to the wage bills of other successful First Division clubs and expressed our need to move ours closer to them. Ironically last season one of the promoted clubs was West Brom who boasted of having one of the smallest wage bills in the division.

There is no doubt that the collapse of ITV Digital has hit hard, some clubs clearly didn’t see it coming despite the fact that the company was on a loser even before the first live game between Manchester City and Watford was shown. In a recent television interview the Grimsby chairman admitted that player wages at Blundell Park are now 101% of income.

Today Burnley Chairman Barry Kilby has once again said that any squad strengthening will only be done if the situation is critical. Kilby said, "At the moment the manager is having to cope with what he has got and we know it is difficult. But everyone is aware of the financial situation and so we are not looking at bringing any players in at them moment.

"But that is not to say that we have ruled it out in the future if the position with regards to players was to worsen."

There is no doubt the crisis in football will continue for some time, and sadly it does look as though some clubs could be lost. But it will come out of this stronger with the power returned to the clubs. For too long the players and their agents have been in control taking just about all of the television money with them out of the game.

We will return to reality and some normality when Chief Executives don’ tell us that the way forward is to constantly increase the wage bill. In fact we could well return to the days when Chief Executives are not even required.

We just need to hang in there and we will come through all this stronger than when we went into it.