yes they should in this crisis and not only that but when we are over this the days of big transfer fees and huge contracts are over. why?
because football is an upfront speculative business and hence needs stability to generate return. The prospect of pandemics removes that stability. Hence the risk of investment increases dramatically
Changing times ahead we may see more home grown players
I agree with the principles of what you say Stanley but I don't see it happening although I truly hope you are right. The amount that these players pay in tax is phenomenal. In many cases what they pay weekly in tax will be much more than many people take home in a year. That has always been bonkers.
I have just finished watching the second series of Sunderland Til I Die and the money that is needed to run a club of that size is incredible compared to what it is capable of bringing in at League One level. The upfront speculative business you cite is absolutely spot on. There were some clear examples of cost cutting they went through but you will see if you watch it closely around the transfer window the way that impulse takes over and can clearly wipe out some of those savings. Speculative business indeed.
Very few clubs are run well despite the millions they generate. I really hope as a result of this our clubs start looking at the money being drained out of the game especially by agents. The money paid to these leeches comes out of all our pockets and straight into their fat bank accounts.
Put a cap on salaries, agents fees and wages. Level the playing field and give the game back to the fans with cheaper tickets and free to watch games on TV.
Within 2 weeks of the first games being postponed we had clubs reporting that they could not survive long without the revenue from the remaining games this season. That is how fragile they all are.
To ask the government to pay staff 80% of wages when you are paying out millions each week to your first team players is a fukking disgrace. Worthy of bringing the game into disrepute and an immediate points deduction in my view as it is a truly despicable act. This looks like some clubs are either not living within their means of are just looking to feather their own nests. The government should not pay any of their staff on their behalf until ALL their players and officials are forced to cough up.
Perhaps the PL and EFL could withhold end of season prize money and parachute payments until such time that clubs fall into line and pay up.
Football in this country is a massive industry. The money the government gets from it in taxes could run a small country.