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Chris West of Insight Public Affairs blogs for PR Week
Football still governed by self interest
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Imagine in a time of economic hardship, a Government introducing a policy specifically to benefit the richest 10%, whilst also drastically reducing social mobility, protecting the “haves” and placing a glass ceiling on the “have nots”. Such a ridiculous scheme wouldn’t even get discussed in the political world (God bless democracy) but in the progressively more business centred Premiership, such standards of common sense and fairness are minor inconveniences, easily swept aside.
The proposal to restructure the top division of English football is supposed to more fairly distribute income between Premiership teams. You know, the 20 teams in England who benefit from the world’s most lucrative TV deal. Anything in the plans for the lower sides, many of whom worry daily about their very survival? No. Oh, except the restriction of promotion and relegation in and out of the new Premiership – that should stop those small teams barging their way into the elite, just because they dare to win a few games.
What makes the scheme even more unappealing is its sponsor, Phil Gartside, Chairman of Bolton Wanderers. Currently sitting 1 point above relegation after two years of struggling, one could speculate on his motivation to close off the unpleasant possibility of relegation from the Premiership.
The Premiership is the financially second most powerful league in world behind Spain. Plans to look after the top clubs totally ignore the needs of teams lower down the system. Furthermore, plans to restrict promotion into and relegation out of the top league kills off any hope for smaller clubs hoping to emulate Wimbledon and Oxford’s rise in the 1980s, or the more recent efforts of Reading, Wigan and Hull.
The continued existence of these teams is essential in supporting the national game at the grassroots level, as well as protecting the valuable role such clubs play in their local communities. A fairer division of resources between the entire professional game, not just the top 20, would give those at the bottom much needed security. By focusing his financial plan solely on the richest clubs, Gartside’s scheme is another step on the march towards the Premiership’s global domination, totally ignoring the rest. No-one could disagree with his statement that the gap between the top two divisions is increasing, but his solution to protect the bottom of the Premiership from the “fear factor” of relegation rather than establishing a more level playing field for those trying to get into it, simply exacerbates the division.
The first part of his plan, to introduce Rangers and Celtic into the top division, was rejected by Premiership Chairman today. It can only be hoped that the rest of the proposals are also promptly hoofed into row Z.
