Football and Big Business: Is Another Way Possible?
Article published: Tuesday, August 11th 2009
So another Premier League season is about to start. Last year yet again the top four was made up of the same four clubs who generate the highest revenue. Is the virtual monopolisation of English football by wealthy businesses inevitable, or are alternatives possible?
Ideas abound for reform of the world’s most lucrative football league. The latest, which is actually a rehash of old suggestions, comes from Bolton chairman Phil Gartside, who wants a Premier League One and Two. This would consist of 18 teams in each division, including the two top Scottish clubs, Celtic and Rangers. This would effectively end promotion through the pyramid of English football to the ‘top flight’ and would also seriously damage Scottish football. The idea is flawed and leaves many questioned unanswered. On what basis would the 36 teams be decided? But why stop at top Scottish clubs being invited into the Premier League – why not invite top Dutch sides in?
Those who run English football would say it’s as good as it gets. But at what cost? Stadiums have been rebuilt, comfortable and safe. Standing areas were destroyed and replaced by very expensive all seating areas. In the 1990/91 season, 20,000 people stood on the Stretford End at Old Trafford and paid £4 to watch a game. At Arsenal thousands stood on the North Bank and paid £6. Nowadays the most expensive cinema ticket in central London is around £12, whereas a Premier League match will cost £30-50.
Due to the money the Premier League receives from television rights, even the side finishing bottom is guaranteed £60 million. Many clubs could allow supporters into games for free and still make a handsome profit. Yet working class fans, especially younger ones, are being priced out of football. The low earner for whom football is an escape from harsh working life, has been cleansed from the game, especially at Premier League clubs. Not only is there a cruel irony here – it was such fans who made clubs what they are – but it smacks of disloyalty.
In the 17 years of the Premier League over a third of clubs in the Football League have gone into administration. Notts County, the oldest professional club in the world, almost ceased to exist. Wrexham, the oldest club in Wales, fell out of the League because of serious mismanagement and debt. Leeds United, once a top three side and one of the top teams in Europe, have twice gone into administration and have sunk to the third tier of English football. Luton Town were docked 30 points at the start of this season for going into administration and effectively relegated to the Conference. Once again, fans were made to suffer for the mistakes of the rich owners.
This chaos caused by big business in football has led to fans rallying to save their beloved clubs. The first independent supporters club, the Queens Park Rangers Loyal Supporters Association, of which I have the honour of being the elected Secretary, was formed in 1987 to fight a merger between QPR and Fulham. Since then independent fans’ organisations, fanzines, supporters’ trusts, the Football Supporters’ Federation (representing over 100,000 fans) and the Professional Footballers Association have all helped save clubs which are integral to working class communities and culture. Supporters’ Trusts have representatives on the boards of over 25% of clubs in the third and fourth tier of English football and almost 50% own part of their clubs, although control is still limited.
AFC Wimbledon was set up when Wimbledon was moved against the wishes of the fans, 50 miles away to Milton Keynes and became MK Dons. Fans raised money and formed AFC, which attracts crowds of around 3,000 and has worked its way back up to the Conference. FC United was formed by fans angry at the takeover of Manchester United by the Glazer family. In their first season they had the second highest attendances in non-league football and won successive promotion in their first three years. The AFC movement represents a massive opposition to franchise and corporate football with a return of football clubs to their supporter-based roots.
The money coming into football is concentrated in the hands of the Premier League clubs; little trickles down to the lower leagues and grassroots which harms the national game on many levels, whether it be the formation of young talent or accessibility for poorer communities. There are concrete means of regulation which could work, for example by limiting club spending to 20% of yearly income on transfer fees. Wage bills could be limited to a maximum of 60% of club income. Donations from benefactors and sponsors could be limited to £20 million per season. UEFA rules would of course also have to be changed to curb the spending of all European clubs, but it is possible.
Ideally clubs would be owned, controlled and run by supporters as non-profit making sporting institutions. The controlling bodies of clubs would be democratically elected and fans would become members for a nominal annual fee. Supporters would be involved in day to day running of their clubs. It would be a sports club, with fans, if they wanted, playing in leagues based on their ability. People of all ages, men and women, the able-bodied and disabled, could play for their club at some level. Players and club staff would be well paid. Players, however, would receive wages tied to the average wage of skilled workers, with differentials based on the division they play in and appearances. This would mean an end to some of the astronomical wages we now see at the highest point of the football pyramid.
We must fight to reclaim our game.
John Reid (author of Reclaim the Game)
Comments
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Anyway, footy season starts on Sat – come on Stoke.
Comment by Dave on August 12, 2009 at 1:34 pm
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