x

McCarthy: Not Such Fair Play - Ipswich Town News

Town boss Mick McCarthy says Financial Fair Play needs a new name as he believes it has contributed towards creating a less than even playing field in the Championship.

The break-even model adopted by the Championship means clubs are limited to losses of £3 million - plus a further £3 million via owner equity investment - during 2014/15.

But, with Premier League parachute payments having increased to £60 million over four years, the relegated former top flight clubs now have spending power well beyond that of established Championship sides such as the Blues.

"I think they should change the name ‘Financial Fair Play’ - £11 million spent on one player [Fulham’s Ross McCormack]? The parachute payments that they get for coming down out of the Premier League don’t render a fair playing field at all,” McCarthy said.

"But, it makes it more of a challenge and it makes it more interesting and certainly more rewarding when you get results through doing it [while adhering to] Financial Fair Play. And that’s where we’re at.

"Is it possible for us to win promotion? Burnley, I don’t know exactly what they did in terms of their finances, but what a result they had last season.

"Nobody would have sat here a year ago and tipped them to get promoted, so why not? I don’t know if it’s going to be us or somebody else but that’s what we’re trying for.”

A number of clubs appear to have been ignoring the Financial Fair Play rules and will face transfer embargoes in January if their accounts for 2013/14 - which will be published in December - show that to be the case. Sides transgressing the rules who have already been promoted to the Premier League will be hit with hefty fines.

McCarthy hopes that will be the case, although he's not 100 per cent convinced: "I’m waiting to see what happens. Excuse me for being an old cynic. I’ll wait and see what happens to them all.

"If they’re the rules and we’re adhering to them, then I would expect that others do get punished.

"I’ll just wait and see. It remains to be seen with me. I’m wondering how they’re going to do it, what they’re going to do and what sanctions are going to be in place, transfer embargoes and fines. Let’s wait and see what happens.

"But in the meantime, because that doesn’t really bother me, I’ll just crack on and keep doing what I do and we do here and try and get results for Ipswich.”

What to read next:

McKenna: Hull Have Shown They Can Win in Different Ways
Town boss Kieran McKenna says Tuesday’s opponents Hull City have shown they can win games in different ways this season with the Tigers very much in the promotion hunt, currently level on points with the Blues, behind them on goal difference alone.
[Podcast] Blue Monday - New Podcast Now Online
A new podcast from the Blue Monday team is now available.
Duo Start For England U20s in Defeat
Town Women’s duo Ava Baker and Princess Ademiluyi were in the England U20s side which were beaten 3-1 by Spain in the first of three friendlies in Alicante yesterday.
Shabazz-Edwards Wins Second Cap as CONCACAF U20 Championship Qualifier Ended Early By Brawl
Town youngster Walker Shabazz-Edwards’s second cap for Guyana’s U20s ended in chaos last night as their CONCACAF U20 Championship qualifier against Anguilla was curtailed by a mass brawl in the 85th minute with his side 5-0 in front.
U18s Beaten By Spurs
Town’s U18s were beaten 2-1 by top-of-the-table Tottenham Hotspur at Playford Road on Saturday morning.
Ipswich Town 3-0 Swansea City - Extended Highlights
Extended highlights of this afternoon’s 3-0 home victory over Swansea City.
Mehmeti: I Put Pressure On Myself to Deliver
Town forward Anis Mehmeti says he is always looking to improve after his man-of-the-match performance in the Blues’ 3-0 victory over Swansea City at Portman Road.
Matos: Ipswich Were Better, That's the Assessment
Swansea City head coach Vitor Matos had no complaints regarding his side’s 3-0 defeat to the Blues at Portman Road, admitting that Town were simply better than his team.
McKenna: As Efficient As It Could Have Been
Blues boss Kieran McKenna felt the manner in which his side approached their 3-0 home victory over Swansea City meant the performance was “as efficient as it could have been”.
Ipswich Town 3-0 Swansea City - Player Ratings and Reports
If you saw the match, please give us your player ratings and a mini match report.