Tue May 15, 2012 5:42 pm
There is a reason for all the kerfuffle, ups downs and infighting at the club in the last week or so. The same reason Rangers went into administration and that clubs up and down the country are hovering on a knife edge.
Money of course - like it or not it is the driving force in the game today.
Not just money though, more specifically wage bills.
Advertising revenues at TV channels is falling, leaving less money that TV can put into the game. Supporter’s budgets are stretched; people are losing their jobs and having to think of family and children's security. Perhaps people will travel less to away games. Maybe they will think about just going to the big games at home and feel they can't justify a season ticket. They may think twice about buying this year's strip at 40 quid a throw.
Despite this, clubs are bleeding themselves dry to pay huge wages to young men.
Do they carry out life-saving operations? No.
Do they defend our country from our enemies? No.
Do they even help old ladies across the road? Who knows!
What they do is play a game that they love; that they would probably play for fun in their spare time if they were in another career.
There is no doubt that we are reaping the whirlwind sown by Jimmy Hill and co when they successfully lobbied for the abolition of the maximum wage for footballers in 1961.
Yes, the playing career is a short one, maybe a third the length of a "normal" career. Many, however, do go on into management, coaching, punditry or use their fame as a springboard into a second career.
Average wage in this country is about £26K per year three times that is £78K per year. Let’s assume we want our players not just averagely paid but well paid so let's about double it and call it £150K.
Is it not time all real fans started lobbying our MPs to re-introduce a maximum wage? I have come to the conclusion that it is the only way to secure the long term future of clubs at all levels, allowing them to trade in the black and be less at the mercy of the whims of any rich owner.