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Wanderers would welcome plans to introduce a salary cap next season.
Although Bolton is not one of 34 clubs reported to have backed a letter from Mansfield Town chairman John Radford to the EFL demanding measures are introduced in time for the 2020/21 campaign, chief executive Emma Beaugeard says they would see it as a positive step.
It has been estimated that income for football clubs in the bottom two divisions could be up to 50 per cent down on expected levels because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wanderers – who are still locked in talks with their own players in an effort to negotiate wage deferrals for next month’s salary and beyond – have added their voice to the many who feel salary capping is the only way forward.
“We are aware of the conversations but not directly involved,” said chief executive Emma Beaugeard. “We will support the player wage cap thinking as it will be more important than ever that clubs are sustainable going forward.”
It has been reported that the consensus among clubs in the breakaway group are keen to see the season completed by July 31, one way or another.
Wanderers are sticking to their guns, however, and say they will bide by what the EFL decide after taking government advice on how early competitive football can be resumed.
“We will comply with their decision,” Beaugeard added.
Wanderers' views were echoed by Forest Green chairman Dale Vince, who believes League One and League Two salary caps can be agreed right away to bring an end to the player wages “arms race” in the lower two tiers.
Vince favours the introduction of a salary cap, and mentioned fixed amounts of £3.6million for League One clubs and £2m for teams in League Two.
The suspension of the professional game due to the coronavirus pandemic has brought the issue of football’s financial sustainability, particularly in the EFL, into sharp relief and Vince believes it is vital to use the downtime productively so that sensible measures are in place for the 2020-21 season.
“I have seen the email traffic from clubs and club chairmen and I think it has got strong support and has got a good chance of going through,” he told the PA news agency.
“We can all see the problems every year, there are a couple of clubs that just about make it to the end of the season – or don’t – and go into administration.
“A player wage cap would be a way to control that. The amount of money that gets spent by some clubs would then relieve the pressure on other clubs to match it – it becomes an arms race.
“You get the odd individual who just operates on the very edge of insolvency and legality. With a wage cap, people like that would be more constrained and less able to do real harm.
“It’s something that can be agreed now. We’ve got this downtime to work on the details, and put it in place ready (for the new season).”
Vince was less receptive to the suggestion of the EFL being regionalised below Championship level.
“I don’t think it would be beneficial to anybody,” he said. “My understanding is it was suggested as a way to lower overheads, but I don’t think that stacks up.
“The cost of travel is a marginal part of a playing team budget. What we would gain would be a few thousand pounds but what we’d lose is a truly national competition, and that would be wrong, so I’m against it.”
Source
Although Bolton is not one of 34 clubs reported to have backed a letter from Mansfield Town chairman John Radford to the EFL demanding measures are introduced in time for the 2020/21 campaign, chief executive Emma Beaugeard says they would see it as a positive step.
It has been estimated that income for football clubs in the bottom two divisions could be up to 50 per cent down on expected levels because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wanderers – who are still locked in talks with their own players in an effort to negotiate wage deferrals for next month’s salary and beyond – have added their voice to the many who feel salary capping is the only way forward.
“We are aware of the conversations but not directly involved,” said chief executive Emma Beaugeard. “We will support the player wage cap thinking as it will be more important than ever that clubs are sustainable going forward.”
It has been reported that the consensus among clubs in the breakaway group are keen to see the season completed by July 31, one way or another.
Wanderers are sticking to their guns, however, and say they will bide by what the EFL decide after taking government advice on how early competitive football can be resumed.
“We will comply with their decision,” Beaugeard added.
Wanderers' views were echoed by Forest Green chairman Dale Vince, who believes League One and League Two salary caps can be agreed right away to bring an end to the player wages “arms race” in the lower two tiers.
Vince favours the introduction of a salary cap, and mentioned fixed amounts of £3.6million for League One clubs and £2m for teams in League Two.
The suspension of the professional game due to the coronavirus pandemic has brought the issue of football’s financial sustainability, particularly in the EFL, into sharp relief and Vince believes it is vital to use the downtime productively so that sensible measures are in place for the 2020-21 season.
“I have seen the email traffic from clubs and club chairmen and I think it has got strong support and has got a good chance of going through,” he told the PA news agency.
“We can all see the problems every year, there are a couple of clubs that just about make it to the end of the season – or don’t – and go into administration.
“A player wage cap would be a way to control that. The amount of money that gets spent by some clubs would then relieve the pressure on other clubs to match it – it becomes an arms race.
“You get the odd individual who just operates on the very edge of insolvency and legality. With a wage cap, people like that would be more constrained and less able to do real harm.
“It’s something that can be agreed now. We’ve got this downtime to work on the details, and put it in place ready (for the new season).”
Vince was less receptive to the suggestion of the EFL being regionalised below Championship level.
“I don’t think it would be beneficial to anybody,” he said. “My understanding is it was suggested as a way to lower overheads, but I don’t think that stacks up.
“The cost of travel is a marginal part of a playing team budget. What we would gain would be a few thousand pounds but what we’d lose is a truly national competition, and that would be wrong, so I’m against it.”
Source