Off Topic To play fair or not to play fair, that is the question

Recently, Birmingham and more recently Derby and potentially Sheff Wed have “sold” their ground to “themselves” in order to get round the EFL’s financial fair play rules. The first two have been charged and Sheff Wed are likely to be charged as the EFL try and crack down on the financial “cheating” by Clubs.

Does the punishment fit the crime? Would it not simply be easier and a bigger deterrent to say if the rules are breached then the Club will be demoted instead of pussy foooting around and imposing fines and points deductions? That would be for any deliberate or knowing breach which would be assumed unless clear or proven not to be. And Clubs wouldn’t be allowed to simply “close” their eyes to the obvious.

Ashley’s bad but it has to be acknowledged but not excusing Ashley that there are worse owners out there.

 

**** playing fair...

 

The trouble with doing this, is it's one time only play. A bit like clubs went though a phase of floating on the stock market as a way to bring in big money quickley. Have any of these clubs used this one time play to step up an level and keep the club there in a self-sustaining way? Not that I can think of.

As painful as it is, clubs either have to be like ourselves, run a tight-ship and just about survive OR they need a loaded owner that isn't interested in return on investment (short term), that will gamble on their investment building the club's success which in turn builds it as a global brand that will deliver a long term return.

To answer the question, the rules are there to protect the clubs long term, so stick to them. No fans want to see their team relegated or forced out of existance due to the gamble (and ego) of the chap at the top of the club.

 

If they break financial rules they should be deducted ten points.

Poor Bolton are bottom of league one, despite their administration having nothing to do with their performance on the football pitch.

If you openly break rules then it should be one rule for all. Points gone.

 

Problem with points deductions is it doesn’t seem to be a deterrent. Have to be caught first and then might get away with just a points deduction.

 

I mean, the EFL can only do so much. If physically removing points, or levying fines doesn't do anything, then... it's really not an EFL matter.

But, how much difference does this little ploy make? Is it a staggering advantage?

 

The ploy meant that they didn’t “breach” the fair play rules. That meant they had been living beyond their means which they had all agreed not to do and were therefore taking an unfair advantage on the other teams by probably paying for players they couldn’t otherwise have afforded or paid bigger wages to entice players to join that otherwise wouldn’t.

The sanctions are quite wide ranging but usually in the first instance would be a fine or/and points deduction but clearly not sufficient to prevent Clubs chancing their arms.

Therefore why not just increase the initial sanction. That might work.

 

I think they need to scrap the FFP rules but they should put in place rules that:

1) all sales of grounds should be scrutinised and approved by the league before happening. There may be cases where clubs are moving to new stadiums where its Legit and the clubs future is not jeopardised but it could be a recipe for disaster where owners change etc as new owner could buy up club for land

2) An owner should not be able to lend money to a club. If they want to put money in to fund growth it should be a gift. If it leads to promotion etc the payback comes in the increased value of the club and the possibilty to take a dividend in the case of profits.

All this FFP is just bollocks designed to stop new clubs joining the elite. It has done Chelsea and Man City no harm at all - they have both massively grown their revenue and status under benevolent owners to the point where Chelsea are doing without Abramovich funding now and still doing well.

The rules are putting off serious investors whose money should be welcomed into the game.

 

Abramovic put in £247 million last year and Chelsea still recorded around £96 million in losses.

He is still their piggy bank, if they don't get Champo, they don't make a penny.

 

Yeh - you are right. I fell for the media view that Roman is not wanting to bankroll them anymore. They have seen a nice increase in revenue though and with the exception of last year. an increase in profitability.

 

sometimes it’s the comparison between different turd smells.. as the seagulls follow the trawler..

 

Is that French you’re speaking Friterie?