x

Sheepy on Finance - Ipswich Town News

Town chairman David Sheepshanks has written about the general financial crisis which has hit football in an article in the Daily Telegraph.

In the piece Sheepshanks reiterated that the clubs relegated from the Premiership last season are in the worst position of any clubs previously relegated.

With fellow demoted clubs Leicester and Derby both in the news at present due to their financial problems, Sheepshanks has been outlining the major differences between the First Division and the Premiership: "Any relegated Premiership club will lose around £15 million of their revenue, some up to £20 million. There is a parachute payment of approximately £5.5 million but that still leaves a large gap.

"Without a benefactor or an extraordinary depth of financial resources, the only way most clubs can administer that difference is by selling players, and that has long been the case.

"European football is in recession and English football is feeling the pinch the most. We also have to cope, for the first time, with the transfer deadline compressing and depressing the market. We could not have been relegated at a worse time."

Player wages inevitable also comes into the equation with Sheepshanks citing the massive difference in pay between the two divisions these days: "The average Premiership wage for a regular first-team player is, I venture to say, about £500,000 to £700,000.

"The average rate in the First Division is now between £100,000 and £200,000 and in most cases closer to the lower figure. If you are relegated you are carrying the legacy of Premiership wages."

He feels that the structure of wages in football will change over the next few years: "Over the next couple of years the game will suffer intense pain but eventually clubs will have a much stronger hand in negotiations with players and agents.

"Inevitably, status payments will be introduced, along with a much higher proportion based on performance.

"This means adding clauses which will affect wages if clubs are relegated. Some would say we should have already been inserting such clauses, but until now agents and players have had the upper hand."

Sheepshanks says Town must come out of this difficult season having learnt from the experience: "At Ipswich, we must ensure that we come through our year of pain all the stronger and the salutary experience will, hopefully, help other clubs to do likewise."

What to read next:

[Podcast] Blue Monday - New Podcast Now Online
A new podcast from the Blue Monday team is now available.
Klug Joins Norwich as Academy Head of Coaching
Veteran former Town academy director and assistant manager Bryan Klug has been appointed head of coaching at Norwich City’s academy, TWTD having revealed that the 65-year-old was set to join the Canaries’ youth set-up back in May.
Ames: Wark Book an Autobiography, Anthology, Encyclopaedia, Visual Celebration and Love Letter
Town supporter and The Guardian’s European sport correspondent Nick Ames says He’s Here, He’s There, the new book about Blues legend John Wark, is “an autobiography, an anthology, an encyclopaedia, a visual celebration and a love letter”.
Ipswich Town v Charlton Athletic - Predictions
Have you predicted the Charlton score yet? Ninety four per cent of TWTD members are predicting a Town win this evening, five per cent a draw and one per cent an away win. The most commonly predicted result is a 3-0 win to Town with Philogene the first scorer but what do you think?
McKenna: Awkward Charlton Will Be a Tricky Opponent
Town host Charlton Athletic at Portman Road on Tuesday for the first of two back-to-back home matches and looking to put Friday’s 2-1 defeat at Middlesbrough behind them.
McKenna: Hirst Still Has My Trust From the Spot
Town boss Kieran McKenna says George Hirst retains his trust from the penalty spot despite the Scotland international missing his last two kicks.
McKenna: Feels More Like Game Five Than Game Ten
Town boss Kieran McKenna says he doesn’t see the 10th game of a season as a particular milestone and this season feels it’s still very early in the Blues’ campaign given the late transfer window business.
McKenna: Matusiwa's a Loss But We've Other Players Who Have Played the Deeper Midfield Role
Blues manager Kieran McKenna admits Azor Matusiwa’s absence through suspension when Charlton visit on Tuesday is a loss but says there are a number of players in his squad capable of playing the deeper midfield role, even if not quite like-for-like replacements for the Dutchman.
McKenna: No New Injuries But It Won't Be the Same Team
Town boss Kieran McKenna has no new injuries but confirmed there would be changes to his team for Tuesday’s home game against Charlton Athletic, one forced with midfielder Azor Matusiwa suspended after reaching five bookings.
[Podcast] Blue Monday - New Podcast Now Online
A new podcast from the Blue Monday team is now available.