Source: Daily_Mail
Football League sign up to UEFA's financial fair play system
ShareFootball League clubs have voted to adopt UEFA's financial fair play system where teams can only spend what they earn.[LNB]Increasing levels of debt and a drop in television income has seen the 72 clubs agree to the system 'in principle' at the league's annual meeting in Cyprus.[LNB]Football League chairman Greg Clarke said: 'This is a very important step forward for professional football as it will help our clubs exert greater control over their finances.[LNB] Cash cow: The Premier League is the Holy Grail for clubs in the lower divisions[LNB]'Much more work needs to be done, but I am hugely encouraged and impressed by the energy and focus of our clubs on this issue.[LNB]'They have been the catalyst for change and have shown a real desire to self-regulate in this area. I congratulate them on taking this bold step.'[LNB]The Championship clubs aim to have the UEFA model taking effect next year in time for the start of the 2012/13 season.[LNB]The clubs in all three divisions voted in favour of developing the 'rigorous new measures' following a presentation by Andrea Traverso, UEFA's head of club licensing and financial fair play.[LNB] No deal: Blackpool are the only club from last season's top-flight who haven't signed up for a UEFA license[LNB]League One clubs also agreed to introduce a 'salary cap' from the start of the coming season where teams will only be allowed to spend a fixed proportion of their total turnover on player wages.[LNB]The system, called the Salary Cost Management Protocol (SCMP), currently operates in League Two at a 60 per cent threshold, and this will be reduced to 55 per cent next season.UEFA's financial fair play system for clubs in European competition will come into effect from 2014 and the Football League's announcement means almost all teams in the four divisions will be covered by spending constraints.[LNB]Although the Premier League have not adopted the measures, 19 of the 20 top-flight clubs - all apart from Blackpool - applied for a UEFA licence last season and so would have to pass the financial fair play criteria.[LNB] Joining the big time: Revenues in the top flight dwarf those in lower leagues[LNB]The Football League's move reflects concern over income - the their new ?195million domestic TV deal is a 26 per cent drop on the previous one.Debt in Football League clubs now totals ?700million and a report this week by analysts Deloitte found that more than one third of clubs are paying out more in wages than they received in revenue.[LNB]FA chairman David Bernstein said the Football League's announcement was 'encouraging'.[LNB]Bernstein said: 'I welcome the Football League's new cost control measures. The FA supports these regulations and they are a welcome step in the right direction.[LNB]'While giving evidence at the Select Committee in March, [FA general secretary] Alex Horne and I called for such measures.[LNB]'These new FL regulations are very encouraging, and I would like to congratulate Greg Clarke and all at the Football League for their continued progress in this area.'[LNB] Portsmouth striker Kanu ready to switch his attention to charity workKing turns his back on Coventry and joins Birmingham despite talk of new dealCameron brands Blatter's FIFA re-election 'a farce' and calls for FA to lead reformWhy top clubs like Liverpool and Manchester United are chasing the best of British [LNB] Explore more:People: Alex Horne Places: Cyprus Organisations: Football League
