Bristol City calling for salary cap (1 Viewer)

[better days]

Interesting Henry Winter article from The Times today




FOOTBALL | HENRY WINTER
Championship needs a salary cap just like rugby, says Bristol City owner Steve Lansdown
Henry Winter hears about the problems of trying to keep a club afloat amid a pandemic and why the game deserves its ‘Wild West’ image

Henry Winter, Chief Football Correspondent
Thursday February 17 2022, 7.00pm, The Times

Lansdown is battling to steer Bristol City through troubled financial waters caused by the pandemic
SIMON GALLOWAY/EMPICS

In an act of selfless sacrifice 40 years ago, eight Bristol City players ripped up their contracts to save the club from financial ruin. City celebrate the Ashton Gate Eight at Saturday’s Championship game with Middlesbrough and it will be a poignant occasion for Steve Lansdown, the club’s owner who is battling to steer them through troubled financial waters whipped up by the pandemic.

Working with his son, Jon, now chairman, and the chief executive, Richard Gould, Lansdown draws on his 26 years’ involvement at City to tackle the present predicament which could see a well-run club deducted points next season unless the EFL shows some leniency in the age of Covid.

City’s situation is echoed across the country and Lansdown argues that the Championship needs a salary cap, to become “a Premier League 2” and the game needs the appointment of an independent regulator.

Webster was sold by Bristol City to Brighton for £22.5 million in the continuing battle to balance the books
MICHAEL REGAN/EPA
His club are trying to do the right thing, including moving from a shirt sponsorship deal with betting company MansionBet to an ecommerce fulfilment company, Huboo, which will also sponsor the other teams in Lansdown’s Bristol Sport group, the Bears rugby team and the Flyers basketball team.
City have always had a model of balancing books through developing and selling players, a plan ruined by the pandemic. They have already announced a £38.4 million pre-tax loss for 2020-21.


Over the past six years, City have sold Lloyd Kelly to Bournemouth for £13 million, Adam Webster to Brighton & Hove Albion for £22.5 million, Josh Brownhill to Burnley for £9 million, Bobby Decordova-Reid to Cardiff City for £10 million, Joe Bryan to Fulham for £6 million, Aden Flint to Middlesbrough for £7 million and Jonathan Kodija to Aston Villa for £15 million. Kelly, Decordova-Reid and Bryan were all home-grown.
City are at risk of failing the EFL’s profit & sustainability rules for next season, a situation they believe may afflict five other Championship clubs. The fans’ concern is that they will have to sell such talents as the 20-year-old midfield player Han-Noah Massengo, 22-year-old striker Antoine Semenyo or midfield player Alex Scott, 18.

Bristol City fans are hoping the club can hang on to their promising young striker Semenyo, left
DAVID DAVIES/PA
“We have issues following on from Covid,” Lansdown says. “Having had no income for a while and the transfer market being completely scuppered, so balancing our books is difficult. I am having to fork out more and more money to keep the club afloat.
“If you don’t balance the books you don’t have a club. We’ve seen instances of that already [such as Bury]. One thing that is close to my heart and I’m very proud of is Bristol City Football Club has always paid its bills, always paid its staff, and it has always looked after its community as best it can. Football generally is still spending money on contracts and agents which it shouldn’t do. A cap scenario needs to come in because we need some control in that area.”



He agrees that the game deserves its “Wild West” image to a degree. “I think it’s fair in certain places. I’ve been in football for 26 years and somebody’s always prepared to pay more, somebody’s always prepared to push the boundaries, somebody’s always prepared to perhaps do an underhanded deal somewhere. Football is its own worst enemy in a way.”
Lansdown, who built up a successful financial services company, looks at the way Derby County overstretched themselves under Mel Morris attempting to get into the Premier League. “Derby was a prime example of where the numbers run have away from the club,” he says. “You’re always going to get a Derby because there will always be somebody [not playing by the sustainability rules], like you had with Saracens in rugby who were successful because they overstepped the mark.

Lansdown points to the way Derby overstretched themselves under Morris
MICHAEL REGAN/GETTY IMAGES
“We have to have some form of salary cap. I’ve always been a free marketeer but having been in rugby a lot, I’ve seen how the cap works there. It’s not perfect but it gives you control over those salaries and it makes your managers and other people work within a budget. It makes coaches better. I remember having a conversation with [manager] Lee Johnson a few years ago saying in this [belt-tightened] scenario it doesn’t mean going out and looking for this better player, it means you coach what you’ve got better.
“Our plan is developing the younger players so we’ve invested into our Academy, we have great training facilities now with the Robins High Performance Centre and our recruitment is looking to have younger players that have development value.

Part 2 follows as article was too large

 

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[better days]

“Fans always like to see a name coming in but we can’t really afford that. If you’ve been in the Championship for a long time like we have, without ever having featured in the promised land, the problem is you don’t have those parachute payments. The Championship has effectively got to become Premier League 2 and a better distribution of the monies down through the pyramid would improve things.
“The parachute payments don’t really help. Stoke is a good example, a very well-run club. They’ve had the parachute payments, they spent it and haven’t made it [back up], so they’re having to readjust quite a lot. You’ve had the Boltons in the past that have got it wrong and gone all the way down. It’s more controlling expenditure when you come down. Parachute payments create an unfair playing field.”
Lansdown can see the former sports minister Tracey Crouch’s proposal for an independent regulator happening. “I think it’s inevitable,” Lansdown says. “Personally, I don’t really feel we should have one for any sport, you should be responsible enough to stand on your own two feet.” But because of the financial woes in English football, a regulator would control excess.
“The one thing any report that comes out doesn’t say is the problem being faced by anyone running a club which is fan expectation and the desire to succeed. It is difficult sometimes to balance those books.”
So it was a significant step when City moved on from a lucrative betting sponsorship, although they may prove ahead of the curve given pending government legislation banning it. “Supporters are making their voices heard that they would rather not see it,” Lansdown says. “From a business perspective clubs are in a difficult position because they have to maximise their income but we have to listen to public opinion. We have a responsibility to our communities and our supporters.”
City did so much for the community during the pandemic. “Ashton Gate was used as a vaccination centre for the NHS, the first one in a stadium,” Lansdown says. “Hundreds of thousands of people were vaccinated there. It showed what the stadium could be used for and everybody appreciated that.”
City also worked with FareShare, which helped feed hungry schoolchildren and adults during the pandemic. “We provided them a warehousing facility to store their food and help distribute it,” he says. “Our chefs and everyone at the stadium produced food packages to go out to the community.


“It does shock me [the food poverty] but I suppose nothing surprises you in this day and age. It’s sad. The counter [side] to that is the willingness of people to put themselves at risk themselves to help others. I’m very, very proud of that.
“The club is the hub of the community. Since the pandemic, I’ve had more people saying ‘thank you’ and being appreciative, which is nice. I’ve also had a few people saying I should be spending a lot more! So nothing changes there.
“Bristol is a great city but it probably doesn’t know it. I’ve always felt that Bristol is successful in spite of itself. It puts itself down too much. It doesn’t push itself forward enough. But there is a buzz here, lots of great industries like Huboo, a local business in a growing industry, e-commerce fulfilment, and a partner we are glad to be associated with.
“Bristol still runs in the same old way with the same council problems and sometimes I feel exasperated. But Bristol’s a great place to live. Students love it, there’s a great night life. What we’re doing with Ashton Gate is creating a destination for people to come and enjoy sports and other events.”
And salute the Ashton Gate Eight on Saturday, the closest home fixture to the 40th anniversary of February 3, 1982. The eight players who ripped up their contracts that day — Peter Aitken, Chris Garland, Jimmy Mann, Julian Marshall, Geoff Merrick, David Rodgers, Gerry Sweeney and Trevor Tainton — and their families have been invited to the game. There will be a pre-match parade and applause in the eighth minute.
“The club nearly went bust and we had to ask players to rip up their contracts and we are very grateful they did,” Lansdown says. “It says a lot about the heart of the club and the heart of the community.”

 

[Skyblueweeman]

They've received a hell of a lot in transfer fees in the last few years. How much of that goes towards the running of the other Bristol clubs in their group, rather than into the FC itself.

Just seems strange that they've received so much in transfer fees only to be calling for a salary cap.

Granted, I skim read the article so might have missed something salient to that point.

 

[Sky Blue Harry H]

They've received a hell of a lot in transfer fees in the last few years. How much of that goes towards the running of the other Bristol clubs in their group, rather than into the FC itself.

Just seems strange that they've received so much in transfer fees only to be calling for a salary cap.

Granted, I skim read the article so might have missed something salient to that point.

Salary cap means that other teams with more money can't offer more wages, and helps all clubs keep their costs down. One bit that he argues, which I think is nonsense, is that they have sold players for a lot of money previously, and now (he cites) the market has crashed, they are disadvantaged in the future. Poor argument, as clubs cannot rely on selling a Jude Bellingham, Adam Armstrong every season, and have this as 'expected' income, Yes it may happen, but will be the exception, rather than the rule. It's a bit like me planning to win £10k every year with a lottery ticket.

 

[oldskyblue58]

Raises some important points. Not read it properly yet

They were already on the road to financial problems pre pandemic

However I might have more sympathy if as a club under his leadership hadn't paid out more wages than turnover every year since 2014 (couldn't be bothered to check back further). That's before overheads etc Accumulated losses 150m only mitigated by shares being issued. Recent years they had some big player sales but that can't and doesn't happen every year, didn't cover the losses either.

I think he is saying he hasn't got more money to put in and no major player sales in sight so can't compete. Bit harsh but perhaps he should have thought of that when living beyond means and accumulating huge losses year after year. Pot and kettle

 

[Liquid Gold]

I sort of don't have any sympathy with them. They chucked loads of money at the issue now are frustrated that it didn't work they want to reign it in.

It would be understandable if they were cost neutral and complaining about it being uncompetitive but when they're spunking way over what they earn surely they could have foresaw this happening.

 

[Terry Gibson's perm]

The start of trying to level the playing field should be the parachute payments being abolished, teams have to overstretch to compete with Fulham paying 100k for Mitrovic.

Teams like Norwich that are relegated should have to sell to survive or put in relegation wages cuts.

 

[Somerset Sky Blue]

Raises some important points. Not read it properly yet

They were already on the road to financial problems pre pandemic

However I might have more sympathy if as a club under his leadership hadn't paid out more wages than turnover every year since 2014 (couldn't be bothered to check back further). That's before overheads etc Accumulated losses 150m only mitigated by shares being issued. Recent years they had some big player sales but that can't and doesn't happen every year, didn't cover the losses either.

I think he is saying he hasn't got more money to put in and no major player sales in sight so can't compete. Bit harsh but perhaps he should have thought of that when living beyond means and accumulating huge losses year after year. Pot and kettle

Must say I was thinking similar - didn't they spend a lot (contract wise) on Matty James to get him last summer. They have made choices, players were available for less (see our spending), but they chose to spend more.
Likewise, if they had gone up and down in last few years, he wouldn't be moaning about the parachute payments!

 

[ccfcricoh]

Spunk money - didnt work - ran out of money - now wants to lower the playing field to their level?

Is that the gist of it?

 

[shmmeee]

Cap it at TV/solidarity money plus last years average gate. And parachute payments should only apply to contracts signed in the Prem over the top non Prem earner if that makes sense.

 

[Liquid Gold]

Make it so that every contract has to have a relegation clause in it.

40% Prem to Champ
30% Champ to L1
Etc.

Can balance it with similar increases.

 

[David O'Day]

If you are going throw loads of cash at shit managers don't cry when it fails and you have to cut costs

 

[Marty]

Spent a hell of a lot of money on players. 8 mill each on Kalas & Massengo. They keep spunking huge sums of money on players but always seem to appoint the wrong managers. Maybe the owner should look closer to home as why they always fail.

 

[NorthernWisdom]

Cap it at TV/solidarity money plus last years average gate. And parachute payments should only apply to contracts signed in the Prem over the top non Prem earner if that makes sense.

Back in the day... and I'm only talking 1980s and early 1990s, there was a time when players could earn more playing for a division two side than division one, so ambitious teams like Leeds could get players to come in and progress.

Once you factor wage caps linked to TV money in, and the already gaping chasm would mean just about every team that went up would plunge straight back down again.

 

[oldskyblue58]

have lived well beyond means for over a decade. Enough said really

		2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015	2014	2013	2012
Turnover		11.9m	16.2m	17.6m	17.1m	14.2m	10.3m	7.1m	4.5m	8m	8.5m
Staff Costs		30.2m	27.3m	24.6m	23.1m	17.8m	15.4m	8.7m	8.3m	15.2m	16.5m
Player sales profit		6.2m	25.6m	38.1m	0.3m	13.6m	0.1m	1.4m	1.1m	0.6m	1.6m
losses		34.8m	5.9m		23.5m	3.5m	13.3m	8.2m	8m	11.3m	12.1m
profit				12.7m
accumulated loss		148m	113m	108m	119m	95.5m	92.2m	78.7m	70.5m	62.5m	51.2m
shares		156m	130m	58.5m	58.5m	58.5m	58.5m	58.5m	58.5m	58.5m	1
Balance sheet Net assets		7.7m	16.2m
Balance sheet net deficit				49.2m	60.4m	37.0m	33.7m	20.2m	12.0m	4.0m	51.3m

		2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015	2014	2013	2012
Player purchases		2.0m	26.3m	10.1m	12.0m	13.6m	4.6m	2.2m	0.7m	2.3m	1.0m

i dont have much sympathy for their situation. Its largely self inflicted, Covid only added and highlighted an unsustainable situation that they have for years chosen to ignore

Am puzzled as to why they reference balancing the books given the above figures. Doesnt seem very balanced to me, and has relied on the owner to cover the losses each year then capitalise on the balance sheet. Yes they pay their bills because of the owner but in terms of trading they dont balance.

 

[chiefdave]

I think a salary cap should be looked at in detail just in terms of levelling the playing field and giving all clubs a chance to compete.

Would also look at fixed squad sizes, a limit on the number of players the club has on its books at every age group and look at the loan rules to stop the top clubs scooping up players and using loans as a money making exercise.

The added bonus would be it should stop clubs running at a loss and make the whole thing self sustianable.

Having said that given how many clubs in the championship overspend if the response when any club brings it up is 'well you overspent in the past' then there's zero chance of it happening.

 

[NorthernWisdom]

I think a salary cap should be looked at in detail just in terms of levelling the playing field and giving all clubs a chance to compete.

Would also look at fixed squad sizes, a limit on the number of players the club has on its books at every age group and look at the loan rules to stop the top clubs scooping up players and using loans as a money making exercise.

The added bonus would be it should stop clubs running at a loss and make the whole thing self sustianable.

Having said that given how many clubs in the championship overspend if the response when any club brings it up is 'well you overspent in the past' then there's zero chance of it happening.

The problem is it needs to be run across the entire competition, not just one division of it.

Anyway, owners should always have the right to put in whatever they want, really. The governance issue should be more stopping it being loans, should be grants, and there should always be provision to cover the length of players' contracts - although that's the Bristol City owner's issue with the transfer market collapsing really.

Overall, given the current parameters, Bristol City's owner has been very good for the club, has supported them well, and developed them and their foundations too. It's worth noting he's not one of the bad guys around really.

 

[Sky_Blue_Dreamer]

Cap it at TV/solidarity money plus last years average gate. And parachute payments should only apply to contracts signed in the Prem over the top non Prem earner if that makes sense.

I agree that a flat salary cap for all isn't fair. If you earn more you should be able to spend more. just not so much that it jeopardises the future of the club.
This is why I've little sympathy for those making the point. They tried to succeed by overpaying and failed, so now they can't do it anymore they want everyone hamstrung.

It should be based on 'guaranteed' income like you say. I wouldn't be averse to allowing end of season bonuses IF their income was higher than expected. I'd use in conjunction with:

Would also look at fixed squad sizes, a limit on the number of players the club has on its books at every age group and look at the loan rules to stop the top clubs scooping up players and using loans as a money making exercise.

I think those teams that are successful/have good followings have the right to use the extra income that generates for their own benefit, but I also firmly believe they shouldn't be able to stack the deck in their favour because of it.

 

[chiefdave]

The problem is it needs to be run across the entire competition, not just one division of it.

Completely agree, I'd put a salary floor in place as well and if you can't / won't meet the floor then you don't get promoted. There's already similar things in place relating to facilities so the existing framework is there for having certain criteria clubs have to meet to be eligible for promotion.

I think those teams that are successful/have good followings have the right to use the extra income that generates for their own benefit, but I also firmly believe they shouldn't be able to stack the deck in their favour because of it.

And therein lies the problem. We had a working system in place for decades but greed then took over and now you have clubs with huge numbers of players on their books that aren't getting game time and will never have a chance of making the grade.

You can't really blame the players, when someone like Bassala Sambou gets offered big money by a club like Everton they will move but at what cost to his career? When he was offered a contact here the manager said he would be in and around the first team. Has 3 years at Everton not playing moved his career forward?

 

[NorthernWisdom]

We had a working system in place for decades but greed then took over

Worse, we voted for that new way of working!

 

[skyblue1991]

How much is Matty James on I wonder?

He was on a rumoured £35k a week at Leicester

Sent from my Pixel 6 using Tapatalk

 

[slowpoke]

Bristol City owner has put in millions trying to get into the prem and think about where Bristol is & the size of the city it could be a huge club even including Rovers being there, it hasn’t worked the wheels were coming off before covid but that has put a real spanner in the works, he knows his only chance is to attempt to get on a level playing field.

Talking a wage cap, sounds good and sensible but let’s say for arguments sake it’s £10k a week the whole first team squad will be pushing to be on that our wage budget could go through the roof and what happens to those relegated from the Premiership can you really see a club like Everton currently in the bottom five as an example putting all their players on £10k a week.
What needs to happen is these parachute payments ending and let market forces dictate. Thats business

 

[SlowerThanPlatt]

Bristol City owner has put in millions trying to get into the prem and think about where Bristol is & the size of the city it could be a huge club even including Rovers being there, it hasn’t worked the wheels were coming off before covid but that has put a real spanner in the works, he knows his only chance is to attempt to get on a level playing field.

Talking a wage cap, sounds good and sensible but let’s say for arguments sake it’s £10k a week the whole first team squad will be pushing to be on that our wage budget could go through the roof and what happens to those relegated from the Premiership can you really see a club like Everton currently in the bottom five as an example putting all their players on £10k a week.
What needs to happen is these parachute payments ending and let market forces dictate. Thats business

A relegated club would obviously be given leeway

 

[Ian1779]

Derby have been deducted 21 points to far for financial irregularities, at one point we’re at risk of seriously going bust, yet still paying players 20/30K a week.

The whole thing is a mess.

 

[slowpoke]

A relegated club would obviously be given leeway

And that’s why there will never be a salary cap, can’t have rules then don’t apply them.

 

[Sky_Blue_Dreamer]

Bristol City owner has put in millions trying to get into the prem and think about where Bristol is & the size of the city it could be a huge club even including Rovers being there, it hasn’t worked the wheels were coming off before covid but that has put a real spanner in the works, he knows his only chance is to attempt to get on a level playing field.

Talking a wage cap, sounds good and sensible but let’s say for arguments sake it’s £10k a week the whole first team squad will be pushing to be on that our wage budget could go through the roof and what happens to those relegated from the Premiership can you really see a club like Everton currently in the bottom five as an example putting all their players on £10k a week.
What needs to happen is these parachute payments ending and let market forces dictate. Thats business

Ending parachute payments could almost make getting relegated from the PL immediate financial problems.

If your income could drastically reduce due to one bad season, you can't commit to offering players multi-year contracts on those type of wages because it would be far too dangerous financially but players want more security. Having huge wage reductions based on relegation is another option, but will prove unpopular and put players off signing, making relegation more likely. So you have to take a risk somewhere. Then if you do get relegated you either have a fire sale at the fraction of the value of the players because they're unaffordable. Promotion to the PL would become a massive risk and burden to many clubs and at best they've have to settle for the fact next season they'll almost certainly get relegated because they'll have to go into with a Championship level squad.

If you're going to remove them, it has to be alongside regulations giving wage caps for individual players across the leagues

 

[Sky Blue Harry H]

Ending parachute payments could almost make getting relegated from the PL immediate financial problems.

If your income could drastically reduce due to one bad season, you can't commit to offering players multi-year contracts on those type of wages because it would be far too dangerous financially but players want more security. Having huge wage reductions based on relegation is another option, but will prove unpopular and put players off signing, making relegation more likely. So you have to take a risk somewhere. Then if you do get relegated you either have a fire sale at the fraction of the value of the players because they're unaffordable. Promotion to the PL would become a massive risk and burden to many clubs and at best they've have to settle for the fact next season they'll almost certainly get relegated because they'll have to go into with a Championship level squad.

If you're going to remove them, it has to be alongside regulations giving wage caps for individual players across the leagues

If the players are unable to get themselves transferred to PL clubs (having been relegated) and therefore earning reduced salaries (hardly peanuts) then that shows they are not 'worth it; in the first place. Contracts can (as others have said) have a revised salary (based on relegation) clause built into it. Players can't/shouldn't have it al their own way, otherwise they will kill the gravy train that they're already on (hence the likes of Jack Wilshere etc struggling to find a taker when clubs came under financial pressure during BCD).

 

[Sky_Blue_Dreamer]

If the players are unable to get themselves transferred to PL clubs (having been relegated) and therefore earning reduced salaries (hardly peanuts) then that shows they are not 'worth it; in the first place. Contracts can (as others have said) have a revised salary (based on relegation) clause built into it. Players can't/shouldn't have it al their own way, otherwise they will kill the gravy train that they're already on (hence the likes of Jack Wilshere etc struggling to find a taker when clubs came under financial pressure during BCD).

I agree with all your points and think the players/agents are killing the golden goose, but that's what happens. Greed happens and they all bet the bubble doesn't burst while they're in it, or at least they get enough from it before they do.

So it's all very well saying clubs should put in relegation clauses, but sadly player power means they'll likely have other options that will take the risk of not putting them in to get them. it needs to be set down in the league regulations as standard to prevent it, but then one league won't do it because they'll lose a competitive advantage to a foreign league, so then you're talking about UEFA/FIFA regulations.

About the players getting transferred, it's not about them failing to get a transfer. It's about how much the club will lose out on having to let them go because their wages are no longer affordable. If PL clubs know you've got a player on a huge contract that you just cannot afford after relegation, why would they pay market value? They are in the strong position knowing you HAVE to sell. Even if you get a bit of a bidding war chances are it'll be relatively low. If that is for a player you paid a high transfer fee for to get them to join, it's a massive cost financially.

 

[Terry Gibson's perm]

I agree with all your points and think the players/agents are killing the golden goose, but that's what happens. Greed happens and they all bet the bubble doesn't burst while they're in it, or at least they get enough from it before they do.

So it's all very well saying clubs should put in relegation clauses, but sadly player power means they'll likely have other options that will take the risk of not putting them in to get them. it needs to be set down in the league regulations as standard to prevent it, but then one league won't do it because they'll lose a competitive advantage to a foreign league, so then you're talking about UEFA/FIFA regulations.

About the players getting transferred, it's not about them failing to get a transfer. It's about how much the club will lose out on having to let them go because their wages are no longer affordable. If PL clubs know you've got a player on a huge contract that you just cannot afford after relegation, why would they pay market value? They are in the strong position knowing you HAVE to sell. Even if you get a bit of a bidding war chances are it'll be relatively low. If that is for a player you paid a high transfer fee for to get them to join, it's a massive cost financially.

The solution is don’t get relegated as things stand it hardly matters to Norwich as they are up and down.

Bournemouth getting parachute payments and then in January spending a fortune on players is crazy.

 

[MalcSB]

I doubt the Premier League clubs would agree to an end to parachute payments, if that was put as a serious proposition it may be the end to relegation from the Prem and hence promotion fromthe Championship.

 

[olderskyblue]

“Over the past six years, City have sold Lloyd Kelly to Bournemouth for £13 million, Adam Webster to Brighton & Hove Albion for £22.5 million, Josh Brownhill to Burnley for £9 million, Bobby Decordova-Reid to Cardiff City for £10 million, Joe Bryan to Fulham for £6 million, Aden Flint to Middlesbrough for £7 million and Jonathan Kodija to Aston Villa for £15 million. Kelly, Decordova-Reid and Bryan were all home-grown.”

blimey

 

[Sky_Blue_Dreamer]

The solution is don’t get relegated as things stand it hardly matters to Norwich as they are up and down.

Don't get relegated! Of course! Why does no-one think of that!

Whether they like it or not three of them are coming down.

 

[Terry Gibson's perm]

Don't get relegated! Of course! Why does no-one think of that!

Whether they like it or not three of them are coming down.

Some don’t seem to Norwich go up thinking about how they will get back up soon after never to stay there. Burnley are in for a hell of a shock when they come down massive debt and a big rebuild.

 

[Terry Gibson's perm]

I doubt the Premier League clubs would agree to an end to parachute payments, if that was put as a serious proposition it may be the end to relegation from the Prem and hence promotion fromthe Championship.

The top teams won’t care about parachute payments if they can get their grubby hands on a bit more cash.

 

[Sky_Blue_Dreamer]

Some don’t seem to Norwich go up thinking about how they will get back up soon after never to stay there. Burnley are in for a hell of a shock when they come down massive debt and a big rebuild.

That's it though. Norwich go up with a reasonable expectation they would come back down again. Is that really something to look forward to? Having a great season then knowing you're going to get battered the next?

Burnley have been PL for years and so used to that level and now paying higher fees and wages . Coming down would need a massive change in their costs, even with parachute payments. Which just goes to show how ridiculous the financial situation is and the problems just getting rid of the payments without other measures in place would cause.