Whelan: Tighten up financial rules

01 May 2010 21:16
Wigan chairman Dave Whelan wants the Premier League to get tougher on clubs he sees as being financially negligent.[LNB] Whelan is alarmed at the way Portsmouth and Hull have managed their businesses.[LNB]Portsmouth have debts totalling a staggering £119million while Hull, who visit the DW Stadium on Monday, have some major cash issues to address ahead of next season.[LNB]"When clubs get into financial difficulties, it is so sad and depressing," said Whelan.[LNB]"It is up to the directors like myself to keep the clubs afloat, keep them in reasonable order.[LNB]"Wigan are not going to slip down the path of Portsmouth or Hull, who seem to be in trouble. We have a debt, we will keep it and not increase it.[LNB]"The financial rules for Premier League clubs should be much stiffer. But they can be done quite simply, by limiting what each club can borrow to 25% of their turnover.[LNB]"You cannot borrow any more than it. If you do, you get a points deduction. It is easy to look at your turnover, it is easy to look at your borrowing.[LNB]"Twice a year the Premier League should look at each club's accounts. If your turnover is £45million, you can borrow £10million, no more."[LNB]Whelan is proud both of the way Wigan are run and of the fact they have secured their top-flight status for a sixth successive season.[LNB]He admits selling Antonio Valencia to Manchester United for £16million and Wilson Palacios to Tottenham for £11million in the space of six months last year were huge bonuses for the club.[LNB]Whelan said: "We have a good scouting system that works. We have brought some quality young players in and sold them. We are in business because of that.[LNB]"We have to look for youngsters, bring them on, play them in the Premier League and give them experience.[LNB]"If they have the ability, the bigger teams will bite and buy them. That has happened and saved us from all kinds of trouble.[LNB]"When you get £16million for one player and £11million for another in one season that is fantastic scouting and fantastic business on behalf of the club.[LNB]"We have to balance the books. We have to compete. Our most popular season ticket is £250, which is a third of the price of Manchester United and Chelsea.[LNB]"We have to manage things in a different way."[LNB]Meanwhile, manager Roberto Martinez is expecting a tough encounter against Hull on Monday.[LNB]He said: "From the outside you never really know what is going on at other football clubs and facing relegation is always a tough period.[LNB]"It is something you don't want to see anyone going through, but in football, and especially in the Premier League, you don't get any easy games.[LNB]"I think it will be a real focused performance from Hull and we will have to be ready."

Source: Team_Talk