There is an apocryphal tale that when Jim McLean was manager of Dundee United, a 12-year-old wrote to him to dispute team selection. McLean, so the legend goes, drove straight to the senders address and on being introduced to the boy on the doorstep, stated, “I pick the team”, before turning on his heels and leaving.
When Neil Lennon and his former mentor Gordon Strachan coordinated a Man of the Match nomination for Scott Brown yesterday, it struck me that this was the modern equivalent of a McLean door-stepping. Neil Lennon picks the team and his MotM quote was him letting you know where authority lies. It’s not a McLean-level anecdote but is no less a classic of the genre.
Today, 10 MPs, two former chairmen of the FA and others, wrote to the Government asking for a taxpayer handout for the English Football League (EFL). They note:
“Without any plans being made to rescue football clubs, many in the EFL and others in the National League as well, are now actively preparing to make all but essential staff redundant, cease playing, close down their youth academies and community foundations, and put their business into administration.
“This could lead not only to the failure of many historic community clubs, but the collapse of the national league structure that we have known for over one hundred years. These are decisions that will be made in the coming weeks, with many clubs unable to meet their payroll obligations for next month.”
The EFL still hope for a rescue package from the Premier League. They are also pushing the Professional Players Association, the players’ union, to make massive concessions on wages that were never affordable in normal times. But right now, football in England outside the top flight is unviable this season.
Since the start of the pandemic, I have noted the precarious position of the EFL. Chances of the existing structure surviving have never been slimmer and probably never will. This bubble is ready to pop!
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Happy Monday from a mild Louisville where the birds are busily chirping away about Turnbull debut I believe.
HH!
Never doubted him !!
Bubble bursting?
Is there a statute of limitations on this oft used phrase on CQN in respect of football in England?
Almost a decade or so on from the initial iteration.
JustaskingCSC
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HWGTIAR
If the EPL catches a cold or flu, will we catch a flu or covid in comparison?
Paul 67
Just like 1 bad performance doesn’t spell the end neither does 1 good performance mean a revival in form.
Still never really understand what Paul67 is alluding to (and Dermot was giving the same speil) recently which for a simple layman like me must mean an invite to the waste lands of England are on their way?
Too much of the TV money is concentrated in the EPL.
“And nothing ever happens, nothing happens at all
The needle returns to the start of the song
And we all sing along like before . . .”
Is Paul’s burst bubble referring to the chance for us to skip across the border? Something that DD also said a couple of weeks back.
I think we know that EPL, the EFL, the FA and the Govt will reach some kind of compromise. Whether any such deal will be mirrored for clubs in Scotland, who knows, but I doubt it will lead to us being sent an invitation to join the party.
Deniabhoy
Can’t see Nicola bailing out Scottish football
Paul67 et al
One possible at least part solution advocated by Simon Jordan, who really does know a bit about football finances, was that the “parachute payments” made by the EPL to relegated clubs, as in relegated clubs, might be better used supporting the EPL as a whole, or the Championship or whatever. I’ve mentioned on here before, and surprised that it did not merit either your or Auldheid’s attention, that both EFL 1 and EFL 2 agreed salary caps of both £2.5 and £1.5 mill respectively so obviously fully aware of the pitfalls that lay ahead. Not without opposition in the ranks it has to be said, Sunderland FC probably. With Bury FC and Macclesfield FC both gone and Bolton FC, an EPL club not so long ago, at the bottom of the old division 4 alarm bells must be ringing in every boardroom. Then again, even Spurs, with their NFL dreams now turning to dust, (if indeed dreams can) are now in hoc to the Treasury to the tune of £175 mill. The PFA insist contracts are sacrosanct, so what price a sanity clause? That is the £64 million dollar question.
There are far too many professional clubs in Scotland, 4 leagues 42 clubs 5.5million people, England 92 clubs 55 million people, if England is struggling and tales of administration are being talked about then it is inevitable clubs will disappear here, asking players to take a pay cut is maybe ok in the Premiership and prompt Westminster to help, but if they wont?
Chelsea has spent 200million in this window excluding wages, would any Government believe that a set up that affords such spending should be bailed out by the Government.
I also wonder how Sky TV are doing with their packages, they ultimately are to blame for these player salaries and fees, hope they disappear before any community club.
It is possible that this pandemic could lead to clubs in England being more prudent in the transfer fees and wages that they pay and more consideration given to fans who often make the game a spectacle worth watching…then again things may continue in a similar vein when this is over…who knows ?
From what I gather, most folk now recognise that it’s unlikely there will be paying fans at football matches this season, let alone large crowds. Gate income will be effectively nought this season, and might very well be the same next season. No amount of crowd ‘trials’ will change the arithmetic.
For clubs with significant season ticket sales and TV income, the adjustments to budgets – while considerable – are manageable in relatively ordinary course. There is still cloth to clothe and there are scissors to cut it. Crack on.
For clubs without these two sources of income, the options are severe: Hunker down, mothball and survive; or hope things change soon while the inevitable virus economics do what the club owners elected not to do.
It’s likely there will be a rethink of the planned season in Scotland for the lower leagues. Those clubs who are able to operate from their own reserves or shareholder funds will play, probably in a single division. Those others who cannot will surely mothball rather than fold mid-season.
In England, where detachment from reality has long been a prerequisite to running a non-EPL football club, the outlook is pretty bleak, like the outlook for the harvest as the tornado looms across the corn fields.
Requests for Government bailout money need to be set in the context of the economic and social value the public funding protects, set against the myriad other industries, sectors and employers in similar need of support.
I’d hate to have to create the ranking list of important sectors to support through this catastrophe, but even as a football fan I think I’d struggle to justify prioritising football above so many other calls for funding.
Great stuff from Celtic yesterday.
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A bit of personal cheer in a losing team for our young loanee in Iceland yesterday. Kieran McGrath, going on with ten minutes to play, scored the last goal in a 2-4 defeat. Eleven times on the pitch now.
C’mon the Knattspyrnudeild Grottu .
Only downside was Ajeti getting injured, was getting fitter by the game, he will score 30+this season, Elyounoussi much better yesterday too.
Seems Sarajevo game is not live on TV…
Met an old friend recently and we got talking about the AC Milan game in ’69 when Prati scored the only goal.I had feigned illness late in the game to escape the massive crowd which was in the west terracing.Up went the hankies,a split in the large assembled throng,onto the track wheeled past the dug-out,Mr.Stein shouting at his players ( encouragement,I hasten to add ) into the ambulance room,where my ‘ injuries’ was akin to many fans,
says the ambulance guy,just escaping from the crowd,no damage done.I apologised,but was met with a smile and enjoy your trip home.Anyone else do similar? Oh,and every time I hear the Stevie Wonder hit,’Once in my life’
I remember the classic played over the tannoy at half time.My mate Jackie,on memories going to the games in the 60s,wonderful Celtic side,wonderful memories.
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Hi Bhoys
I really don’t think to much about football club finances but if a bailout is required by any football clubs how do you think it would be calculated. Can you imagine the uproar if our club got more than the new club or vice versa. If it is required then I hope it’s done on merit ie what you have won in the history of your club,or the size of your stadium, or even how many season tickets you sell. All of these ways see our club top of the ladder. If they went by history the new club would be at the bottom of the ladder as they are only 8 years old. But I think this being Scotland it would be done new club gets everything and all other clubs have to pay for it.😜
Anyone any other ideas please post them.
KEEP THE FAITH
The Battered Bunnet – good post. Outwith gate money, TV money, season ticket money etc. should a question also be asked about the club’s shareholders and their ability to keep their clubs afloat?
We know the public would balk at bailing out Virgin Airlines due to Branson’s wealth, and the same would apply to any football clubs that are run by billionaires.
Do our shalreholders, in particular DD, have a duty to look after us? As opposed to the shareholders of clubs like St Mirren, Hearts or Partick Thistle that are largely owned by the fans.
DD could comfortably tide us through 1-2 seasons by covering any lost revenue. Should he do so? Would the laws of the game allow him to do so?
Or should the fact that we have a billionaire owner not prejudice our entitlement to any aid going?
Neil picks the team. That’s why he must bear the brunt of responsibility for two disastrous CL qualifier exits. That’s why he should mutually consented after this season.
Think!
MasketAll?
There are so many more worthwhile causes in desperate need of Government help & payouts and football, rightly so, should be way down, or not even on, a list of priorities. How can the government be expected to bail out companies who pay their employees an abhorrent amount of money in comparison to essential workers in the Scotland & the UK. It is immoral to even attempt to wrestle money from the empty public purse to prop up these candy floss structures, por cierto.
I would have thought that the first question to be asked before anyone gets a handout is whether you can cut costs i.e reduce wages.
DD doesn’t “own” Celtic and has no obligation to commit funding. The option for Celtic to raise funds through a share issue is always there – just not sure there will be much appetite for individuals to pump money into football clubs under current circumstances.
Big Jimmy from previous thread, thank you.
I hope you are feeling better now.
MM – good news.
Now to read this articles….well article.
D :)
sevco will try to get any bailout amount given to be pro-rata with the number of penalties awarded to each club
that will allow them to buy messi ronaldo and lewandovski for the 2nd half of the season to scupper the 10
PETEC on 28TH SEPTEMBER 2020 1:29 PM
Think!
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………… or Thwim!
Lmfao TOSB.
When Samaras made that Pass.
No movement. Hun slayed.
!!BADA BING!! on 28TH SEPTEMBER 2020 1:08 PM
Seems Sarajevo game is not live on TV…
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I thought Premier Sports had taken up all the rights?
Por Cierto on 28th September 2020 1:29 pm
There are so many more worthwhile causes in desperate need of Government help & payouts and football, rightly so, should be way down, or not even on, a list of priorities. How can the government be expected to bail out companies who pay their employees an abhorrent amount of money in comparison to essential workers in the Scotland & the UK. It is immoral to even attempt to wrestle money from the empty public purse to prop up these candy floss structures, por cierto.
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My post about bailout was written tongue in cheek. But this is how it should be discussed.
So very well said POR CIERTO
KEEP THE FAITH
https://mobile.twitter.com/Oldfirmfacts1/status/1309434501085491200
Everyone should read. Can YOU criticise Lenny?
TONYROME on 28TH SEPTEMBER 2020 1:51 PM
Cheers bud, por cierto.
Fantastic performance and result yesterday for Leicester.
Well done Brendan.
Outstanding manager.
Big W- a guy tweeted PS,and they said they are not covering the game,the Club needs to step in and put it on VST and CTV Worldwide
WESTCRAIGS on 28TH SEPTEMBER 2020 1:57 PM
Fantastic performance and result yesterday for Leicester.
Well done Brendan.
Outstanding manager.
##
And always very smartly turned out.
Unlike some we could mention………….
Problem is, you’d never want to send him for more ammunition
So, Boris Johnson wants Baron Moore of Etchingham (Daily Telegraph) and Paul Dacre (Dail Mail) to head up the bbc and ofcom respectivley…hmmm! Not good news….
So are we to pray for the EFL to implode in order to create a path for The Old Firm to get into England?
Or have I misunderstood the article?