Change The Record: A Premier League Parity Plan

Ben Sharpe by Correspondent Written on August 21, 2008
Premier_league_feature

Well, the Premier League season is underway again. Cosmic! It's early doors yet, but soon it will pan-out to be the usual top four ruling the roost.

The Premier League is not a fair competition. It's not about football, coaching or ownership. It's simply about money. Whoever spends the most, does the best, and gets the most rewards. Well done for being rich.

Things wont change this year, next year or ever. The only chance of anyone rubbing shoulders with the top four would be if Joe Millionaire steps in, buys a club and throws a shed load of money into it.

How can fans be proud of their team being rich? That's not what the game should be about. It should be about beautiful football games, great players, fantastic competition.

In light of this, I have devised a radical plan for the future of the League. It will NEVER be implemented, because it's fair. The Premier League does not like fairness. However, if I was in charge, this is what I would do with the league. Just imagine if this were to be the future.

Firstly, I would salary cap a team on what they can play the players in wages. Each club would have the same set limit and would be punished in points if they went above it. Imagine Chelsea on the same wage budget as Stoke City? Wouldn't that be interesting.

Speaking of the players and budgets, I would also banish players transfer fees. I'm not saying that a player wouldn't be able to move clubs, but just that no money would change hands between the clubs. Instead, the clubs would have to work out a trade. Player for player(s). A contract would obviously be worked out with the player himself, as long as it falls within the salary cap.

This ruling may also encourage players to honour their contracts more and would promote more Club/Player loyalty.

My next change would be a call for shared revenue between the Premier League clubs. The League would own all the rights to the teams logo's. The proceeds from all Premier League shirts and merchandise would be shared equally between all the clubs. Yes, those billion Manchester United shirts sold in China last week would benefit the League as a whole. Not just United. Pre-season tour money will also be shared out. The League will organise the tours, not the teams.

While I'm at it, I'd ban shirt sponsors. It should be that a club is recognisable for their badge and their colours, not for having "Fly Emirates" emblazoned across their chests.

Getting more controversial, I would put an end to promotion and relegation

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written on August 21, 2008 Opinion

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