"The Financial Trickle down from the Premier League to the EFL is...."
Posted: Tue Mar 21, 2023 8:44 pm
Kevin Hand article for BBC Sport....
Burnley, Sheffield United, Huddersfield and Wigan have all faced EFL
sanctions relating to finances this season
Queen's Park Rangers manager Gareth Ainsworth says the financial trickle
down from the Premier League to the EFL is being "killed" by foreign players.
On Monday, Wigan became the fourth Championship club this season to be
sanctioned for financial problems.
"It's just getting harder and harder with the influx of foreigners in the Premier
League," said Ainsworth.
"They seem to be going elsewhere for their players now and the money isn't
coming to the Championship anymore."
He added: "It really is killing it - the pyramid is tough to keep going and
teams seem to be getting punished for it."
A winter of discontent
Championship bottom side Wigan, who were previously given a suspended penalty
for a similar breach, were deducted three points for failing to meet terms of
contracts in June, July and October 2022.
At the other end of the table, promotion-chasing Sheffield United were placed\
under a transfer embargo in January due to a breach of rules concerning the
default of payments to another club.
Third-bottom Huddersfield Town and top of the table Burnley were both placed
under a transfer embargo within two days of each other for submitting their
annual accounts late.
Meantime the English Football League is reviewing Reading's finances amid reports
the club is about to receive a six-point deduction.
The Royals, who are one place above QPR in 18th, were deducted six points for
breaching financial rules in 2021.
A further six-point deduction was suspended until the end of 2022-23 provided
they hit targets outlined in a business plan agreed with the EFL.
"There's all sorts of rumours about teams breaking the rules and are there going
o be points deductions here there and everywhere," Ainsworth told
BBC Radio London.
"The reason I mention it is because it shows the intensity of the Championship,
I think there were only four teams who spent money in January.
"I'm really hoping we can do it on our own back and get enough points to be a
Championship side next season. I don't want to rely on that - if we have to then
I'll take it."
"A lot of building and change"
QPR, who are six points above the relegation zone, had a claim, dismissed by an
arbitration panel in 2018, that Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules are unlawful.
The Loftus Road club subsequently agreed a settlement of almost £42m with
the English Football League relating to a case that the West London club broke
spending limits on their way to winning promotion to the Premier League in 2014,
with QPR's wages of more than £75m making up 195% of their turnover of £38.6m.
"We've historically come a cropper of FFP in the Premier League years,"
Ainsworth concluded.
"We are definitely going to try to do things properly and make sure that on
the pitch we earn the right to be in the Championship next year.
"We have some great players here, great fans, who love this place, and we
will try to keep it secure here. There's a lot that needs doing here, a lot of
building and a lot to change, hopefully I get the summer to do that."
Burnley, Sheffield United, Huddersfield and Wigan have all faced EFL
sanctions relating to finances this season
Queen's Park Rangers manager Gareth Ainsworth says the financial trickle
down from the Premier League to the EFL is being "killed" by foreign players.
On Monday, Wigan became the fourth Championship club this season to be
sanctioned for financial problems.
"It's just getting harder and harder with the influx of foreigners in the Premier
League," said Ainsworth.
"They seem to be going elsewhere for their players now and the money isn't
coming to the Championship anymore."
He added: "It really is killing it - the pyramid is tough to keep going and
teams seem to be getting punished for it."
A winter of discontent
Championship bottom side Wigan, who were previously given a suspended penalty
for a similar breach, were deducted three points for failing to meet terms of
contracts in June, July and October 2022.
At the other end of the table, promotion-chasing Sheffield United were placed\
under a transfer embargo in January due to a breach of rules concerning the
default of payments to another club.
Third-bottom Huddersfield Town and top of the table Burnley were both placed
under a transfer embargo within two days of each other for submitting their
annual accounts late.
Meantime the English Football League is reviewing Reading's finances amid reports
the club is about to receive a six-point deduction.
The Royals, who are one place above QPR in 18th, were deducted six points for
breaching financial rules in 2021.
A further six-point deduction was suspended until the end of 2022-23 provided
they hit targets outlined in a business plan agreed with the EFL.
"There's all sorts of rumours about teams breaking the rules and are there going
o be points deductions here there and everywhere," Ainsworth told
BBC Radio London.
"The reason I mention it is because it shows the intensity of the Championship,
I think there were only four teams who spent money in January.
"I'm really hoping we can do it on our own back and get enough points to be a
Championship side next season. I don't want to rely on that - if we have to then
I'll take it."
"A lot of building and change"
QPR, who are six points above the relegation zone, had a claim, dismissed by an
arbitration panel in 2018, that Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules are unlawful.
The Loftus Road club subsequently agreed a settlement of almost £42m with
the English Football League relating to a case that the West London club broke
spending limits on their way to winning promotion to the Premier League in 2014,
with QPR's wages of more than £75m making up 195% of their turnover of £38.6m.
"We've historically come a cropper of FFP in the Premier League years,"
Ainsworth concluded.
"We are definitely going to try to do things properly and make sure that on
the pitch we earn the right to be in the Championship next year.
"We have some great players here, great fans, who love this place, and we
will try to keep it secure here. There's a lot that needs doing here, a lot of
building and a lot to change, hopefully I get the summer to do that."