June 2010 Archives

AS the England team made thier way home after an inept World Cup campaign I was left with an uncomfortable feeling.It was just like some of the dreadful performances produced at the Ricoh last season

The same poor delivery from the wings.The same endless passing without penetrating in the final third of the pitch. The same diet of long shots instead of forcing the keeper to save

And perhaps the most depressing the same cases of schoolboy defending. The way our centre halves parted for Klose's first goal against Germany reminded me of a comical goal we conceded away to Scunthorpe

With Chris Coleman's sacking and the speculation surrounding a new manger, another news story slipped by without much comment, yet it is one that arguably will have more effect on City's chances of promotion than the choice of the new manager will.

On May 11th, the Football League voted to accept a 'Gift' from the Premier League of £ 2.3 Million per Championship Club per season in exchange for allowing the 'Parachute Payment' for clubs relegated from the Premiership to be extended to £ 48 Million per club across four seasons.

At present relegated Premiership Clubs get £ 8 million for two seasons. The new proposal means that the relegated clubs will now receive £16 million for the first two with the remaining monies spread across the following two seasons.

I can understand the logic of Championship Clubs accepting the 'Gift'. The addition £1 Million will go a long way to plugging the shortfall in revenue at City and many other Championship clubs.

However with three clubs Championship clubs getting nearly £14 million each more than the rest of the clubs in the same Division, there will be a huge gulf developing. The same kind of gulf that exists at the top of the Premiership.

We saw last season how competitive WBA 11 points clear of third and Newcastle 23 points clear of third, were having managed to retain a lot of their quality players following relegation.

Yes Middlesbrough didn't get promoted but if there Parachute payment was double, i think they would have at least made the play-offs.

So have City and the rest of the Championship put short term financial gain over long term ambition?