Squeezing players wages

[The Large One]

We have all been made very aware of the club's debt and the consequences of FFP. We also know that Mr. Barber is attempting to squeeze every penny he can out of supporters whilst cutting expenses and "restructuring" club staffing levels.

However the largest (by far) cost to the club is players wages. I've seen no reference to trying to reduce these. I'd have thought this would have been a priority for us (and all championship clubs).

After every penny has been gouged and cost slashed, players wages will be all thats left to reduce. Are our club (and others) addressing this and if so how?

To be fair, no reference is ever made about players' salaries by the club.

However, of course the club knows that it must cut wage bills and so on, but are hamstrung by the point of trying to remain competitive; something that's very difficult when parachute payments don't so much un-level the playing field as ending laying mines across it.

It has become a ludicrous situation that has spiralled out of control. FFP is an attempt to stop the silliness, but all the while some clubs rarely look beyond the end of one season, and mortgage the club's existence on trying to get to the Premiership, it's going to remain an arms race that's never going to be reined in. Having the rules in place is one thing; changing the culture of getting people's noses out of the trough is another thing altogether.

It needs a holistic (that word again) approach from across all of football for this to work. But all the while some clubs are alright Jack, the others will just have to suffer trying to play catch-up.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

They've offered him the lowest salary that it was possible to offer by Football League rules. I can see why he might be hesitant to sign again, although I understand why the club has done it (tightening the purse strings).

I thought this minimum terms things was done away with under Bosman ie when a contract now expires it expires period. I thought the "same terms" legislation was in place to protect players when clubs were able to retain a players registration once a contract had expired. As I say, thought this was done away with.

 

[Mellotron]

I think we could have a smaller squad next season though - at one point this was our list of senior squad midfielders:

Bridcutt
Crofts
Hammond
Buckley
Lua Lua
Orlandi
Lopez

Vicente
Forster-Caskey
Harley
Dobbie

11. With the bottom 4 barely being used.

 

[Dave the OAP]

This is what confuses me.

man City have just posted a stonking loss, BUT have just signed a couple of players for shed loads of money and are looking to buy loads more.

Does the FPP only apply to those clubs who don't have rich people bankrolling them ( we know Tony wont bankroll the playing side) so in that case, there is no way anyone will be able to compete with teh Premier clubs owned by arabs and russians etc.

 

[Black Rod]

I think reducing costs to agents is a must and would surely be easier? I am still shocked that the Albion paid £65k to an agent for the free agent Darren Curries all those years back.

That was peanuts considering what was paid to Turienzo's agent - who, rumour has it of course, McGhee didn't even want.

It can't help that we have a load of dead wood who shouldn't be anywhere near a team pushing for the Premier League but who were given long contracts - Ryan Harley being the prime example. Thankfully, some of that appears to have been shifted in terms of those who were rewarded for winning League One with contract extensions such as Painter, Dicker etc.

 

[Mackenzie]

This is what confuses me.

man City have just posted a stonking loss, BUT have just signed a couple of players for shed loads of money and are looking to buy loads more.

Does the FPP only apply to those clubs who don't have rich people bankrolling them ( we know Tony wont bankroll the playing side) so in that case, there is no way anyone will be able to compete with teh Premier clubs owned by arabs and russians etc.

No FFP in the PL.

 

[Mellotron]

No FFP in the PL.

Yet.

 

[Dave the OAP]

No FFP in the PL.

Ahhh didnt know that. What about teams that have been relegated and are on Parashoot Payments?

 

[KZNSeagull]

This is what confuses me.

man City have just posted a stonking loss, BUT have just signed a couple of players for shed loads of money and are looking to buy loads more.

Does the FPP only apply to those clubs who don't have rich people bankrolling them ( we know Tony wont bankroll the playing side) so in that case, there is no way anyone will be able to compete with teh Premier clubs owned by arabs and russians etc.

At the moment yes, because the Premier League have not implemented FFP yet. But they will have to soon as it is a UEFA directive.

 

[Mackenzie]

I thought this minimum terms things was done away with under Bosman ie when a contract now expires it expires period. I thought the "same terms" legislation was in place to protect players when clubs were able to retain a players registration once a contract had expired. As I say, thought this was done away with.

Ah OK that makes sense, so once AEA's contract expires on June 30th we can offer him a contract below his present one.

 

[KZNSeagull]

Ahhh didnt know that. What about teams that have been relegated and are on Parashoot Payments?

They get 1 years grace in the Championship, but thereafter must comply with the Championship FFP rules.

Edit: When I say grace, they must still comply with the Premier League's FFP rules in that first year (which don't exist yet)

 

[Bwian]

Ahhh didnt know that. What about teams that have been relegated and are on Parashoot Payments?

Parachute payments are excluded from FFP rules-considered to be part of a club's legitimate income

 

[Mackenzie]

Ahhh didnt know that. What about teams that have been relegated and are on Parashoot Payments?

They have to comply by FFP, but the parachute payments will give them an extra £20m income which is why they will be at such an advantage. That, to me, is the biggest pisser about losing to Palace.

 

[Dave the OAP]

so if they go out and sign players on big wages and a big contract to help them get back up straight away, fail to get back up...that will be carnage then as they will have to get rid of people just to pay for these players...like Pompey had to do!

So what is the premis of the FFP? That you have to stay within a budget? Wages mustn't exceed gate receipts?

 

[The Large One]

so if they go out and sign players on big wages and a big contract to help them get back up straight away, fail to get back up...that will be carnage then as they will have to get rid of people just to pay for these players...like Pompey had to do!

So what is the premis of the FFP? That you have to stay within a budget? Wages mustn't exceed gate receipts?

Expenditure mustn't exceed income by more than £5m p.a.

 

[KZNSeagull]

so if they go out and sign players on big wages and a big contract to help them get back up straight away, fail to get back up...that will be carnage then as they will have to get rid of people just to pay for these players...like Pompey had to do!

So what is the premis of the FFP? That you have to stay within a budget? Wages mustn't exceed gate receipts?

Clubs can make an "acceptable" loss per year of 6m in 2014/15 and 5m from 2015/16 and thereafter. If they get promoted but fail to comply to this, they will get taxed and the tax is distributed amongst Championship clubs who have complied. If they do not comply and do not get promoted, they will have a transfer embargo placed on them.

http://www.football-league.co.uk/page/FLExplainedDetail/0,,10794~2748246,00.html

 

[drew]

At the moment yes, because the Premier League have not implemented FFP yet. But they will have to soon as it is a UEFA directive.

Think it might be by 2015!

 

[KZNSeagull]

Think it might be by 2015!

The Championship sanctions come into effect in season 2014/15 so would assume that the Premier League would have to implement it by then as well.

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

Nothing fair about FFP. Having parachute payments as legitimate income for clubs being relegated will mean that clubs who have not yet got top the Prem will never be able to compete. Parachute payments + FFP = inevitable creation of a mini Premier League feeder league nailed at the top of the Championship for ever more.

Very depressing - and makes not going up this year all the more galling.

 

[HastingsSeagull]

The reason for lowering every other cost, is so that player wage budget/total can go UP

I know it's not fair but there you go. Modern Football