SlowerThanPlatt
Well-Known Member
Players tend to remember their roots, being particularly grateful to those who helped them first climb the ladder. As the hiatus caused by the coronavirus pandemic threatens the future of clubs outside the Premier League, never have those in the EFL and non-League needed the assistance of celebrated alumni more.
They were there for those reaching for the stars, clubs such as Coventry City with James Maddison, Callum Wilson and Jordan Henderson (on loan). Will the players be there for them now?
Simon Jordan, the former Crystal Palace owner, proposes a “fighting fund” to rescue EFL clubs, drawn from the wages of players in the Premier League, in which the Global Salary Survey disclosed that the average basic remuneration is £61,024 a week. If each player took a salary cut of 20 per cent for three months it would generate more than £170 million, Jordan argues, and could be swelled by contributions from the PFA’s substantial reserves. “That’s the football family being a football family,” Jordan told talkSPORT.
Jordan often speaks a lot of sense, and there is already plenty of support for his idea. It’s a nuanced debate. When this has been suggested in the past, players privately point to clubs down the League not being well run, or having questionable owners, so why bail those out? Coventry are a fine club with a loyal following, but does anybody really want to lend a hand to Sisu? How much do people really know about the new owners of Charlton Athletic to commit funds to them?
Premier League players can also legitimately point to the wealth of their employers, and to the money made from their skill and efforts by clubs, media, broadcasters and the gambling industry. The Premier League waits until there is greater clarity on when the season will finish, with £762 million in broadcasting revenue riding on it, before it will consider helping others out. The possibility is that, in return for increased solidarity payments to the EFL, there would be a renewed push for feeder clubs. That, in itself, threatens the pyramid.
So this is not to call out the players, many of whom do support their former clubs — and many are contributing to helping the nation in its present plight: whether it is Wilfried Zaha giving 50 flats for the use of NHS staff; Marcus Rashford providing hope and shelter for the homeless; Andrew Robertson with food banks in Liverpool and Glasgow; and Mark Noble with food banks in Newham. The list goes on.
But the pyramid, and the clubs who shaped many of the elite players, is under threat. There has to be a collective effort from the top end of the game; from the players, their rich union, their clubs and the Premier League. It certainly makes sense for leading players to contribute.
Zaha has offered his properties to NHS workers during the coronavirus crisis
Zaha has offered his properties to NHS workers during the coronavirus crisis
CHRISTOPHER LEE/GETTY IMAGES
“This is about footballers looking after football to make sure we have got an industry,” says the agent Colin Gordon, the former Birmingham City and Leicester City forward. “I do think the players would be willing. What do they lose out on? The money might go into their savings but they are saving football.”
Gordon is closely associated with Kidderminster Harriers and knows how important such non-League clubs can be as staging posts. “Liverpool have sent us their best youth defender, Rhys Williams, an England Under-18 international, who has grown beyond recognition, learning his trade,” Gordon says. “Liverpool can’t believe the difference in him.
“Where do the clubs send their players on loan to get the experience if we don’t have that pyramid any more?” And what of the dark legacy of being denied an opportunity. “These kids in the academies are convinced they are going to be footballers, and if they are not they are going to have all kinds of mental health problems,” Gordon adds.
It is also in the PFA’s interests to protect clubs down the pyramid, protecting their members. “The PFA should do more,” Gordon continues. “We have a chief executive (Gordon Taylor) who sits on an enormous salary who should lead the way. He should be saying, ‘I am the first one, there’s 20 per cent of my salary going into this fund straight away’ and then some of the big England players join in and everybody else, and let’s just generate this fund.’’ The PFA talked to the EFL and Premier League yesterday about the crisis.
England could easily field a strong starting XI from players indebted to experience at clubs who are, at present, outside the Premier League: Jordan Pickford (Sunderland, Darlington, Alfreton Town, Burton Albion, Carlisle United, Bradford City and Preston North End); Kyle Walker (Northampton Town, Queens Park Rangers), John Stones (Barnsley), Harry Maguire (Hull City), Ben Chilwell (Huddersfield Town); Henderson (Coventry), Dele Alli (MK Dons), Maddison (Coventry); Raheem Sterling (QPR), Harry Kane (Leyton Orient, Millwall) and Tammy Abraham (Bristol City, Swansea City).
And now for a decent subs’ bench, starting with Nick Pope (and a deep breath . . . Ipswich Town, Bury Town, Charlton, Harrow Borough, Welling United, Cambridge United, Aldershot Town and York City). Outfield subs would include: Joe Gomez (Charlton Athletic), Tyrone Mings (Bristol Rovers, Yate Town, Chippenham Town, Ipswich), Jamie Vardy, if available (Sheffield Wednesday, Stocksbridge Park Steels, Halifax Town, Fleetwood Town) and Wilson (Coventry, Kettering Town, Tamworth).
The England team that reached the semi-finals of the World Cup was full of players who learnt their trade down the pyramid
The England team that reached the semi-finals of the World Cup was full of players who learnt their trade down the pyramid
TIM GOODE/PA
Many helped clubs win promotion from the EFL to the Premier League, such as Kieran Trippier at Burnley. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain found his feet with Southampton in League One. Dean Henderson started out at Carlisle United prior to signing for Manchester United, learning on loan at Stockport County, Grimsby Town and Shrewsbury Town before his safe hands guided Sheffield United into the Premier League. Championship experience with Derby County accelerated the development of Chelsea’s Mason Mount and Fikayo Tomori. The EFL and non-League matter. Some players, legs slowing but minds and technique still sharp, may want to continue down the pyramid towards the end of their career. Wayne Rooney, 34, is enjoying life at Derby, and the Championship club is also providing him with a platform for his first steps as a coach, as it did for Frank Lampard.
“A lot of these players will be needing the pyramid for their first jobs as coaches and managers,” Gordon says. “If we don’t have that, where do they start? A lot of the best ones work their way up from much, much lower down. Look at Chris Wilder and where’s he come from?” Alfreton, Halifax Town, Oxford United and Northampton Town before Sheffield United. “Where do we find a Chris Wilder from if we haven’t got a pyramid?” Gordon asks.
The pledge by Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, to pay 80 per cent of wages of employees not working is being examined by clubs but football should be taking responsibility. “Footballers should look after football, then football doesn’t need to rely on government [to bail it out], and then the government can focus its resources for more needy things, like the NHS, absolutely.”
They were there for those reaching for the stars, clubs such as Coventry City with James Maddison, Callum Wilson and Jordan Henderson (on loan). Will the players be there for them now?
Simon Jordan, the former Crystal Palace owner, proposes a “fighting fund” to rescue EFL clubs, drawn from the wages of players in the Premier League, in which the Global Salary Survey disclosed that the average basic remuneration is £61,024 a week. If each player took a salary cut of 20 per cent for three months it would generate more than £170 million, Jordan argues, and could be swelled by contributions from the PFA’s substantial reserves. “That’s the football family being a football family,” Jordan told talkSPORT.
Jordan often speaks a lot of sense, and there is already plenty of support for his idea. It’s a nuanced debate. When this has been suggested in the past, players privately point to clubs down the League not being well run, or having questionable owners, so why bail those out? Coventry are a fine club with a loyal following, but does anybody really want to lend a hand to Sisu? How much do people really know about the new owners of Charlton Athletic to commit funds to them?
Premier League players can also legitimately point to the wealth of their employers, and to the money made from their skill and efforts by clubs, media, broadcasters and the gambling industry. The Premier League waits until there is greater clarity on when the season will finish, with £762 million in broadcasting revenue riding on it, before it will consider helping others out. The possibility is that, in return for increased solidarity payments to the EFL, there would be a renewed push for feeder clubs. That, in itself, threatens the pyramid.
So this is not to call out the players, many of whom do support their former clubs — and many are contributing to helping the nation in its present plight: whether it is Wilfried Zaha giving 50 flats for the use of NHS staff; Marcus Rashford providing hope and shelter for the homeless; Andrew Robertson with food banks in Liverpool and Glasgow; and Mark Noble with food banks in Newham. The list goes on.
But the pyramid, and the clubs who shaped many of the elite players, is under threat. There has to be a collective effort from the top end of the game; from the players, their rich union, their clubs and the Premier League. It certainly makes sense for leading players to contribute.
Zaha has offered his properties to NHS workers during the coronavirus crisis
Zaha has offered his properties to NHS workers during the coronavirus crisis
CHRISTOPHER LEE/GETTY IMAGES
“This is about footballers looking after football to make sure we have got an industry,” says the agent Colin Gordon, the former Birmingham City and Leicester City forward. “I do think the players would be willing. What do they lose out on? The money might go into their savings but they are saving football.”
Gordon is closely associated with Kidderminster Harriers and knows how important such non-League clubs can be as staging posts. “Liverpool have sent us their best youth defender, Rhys Williams, an England Under-18 international, who has grown beyond recognition, learning his trade,” Gordon says. “Liverpool can’t believe the difference in him.
“Where do the clubs send their players on loan to get the experience if we don’t have that pyramid any more?” And what of the dark legacy of being denied an opportunity. “These kids in the academies are convinced they are going to be footballers, and if they are not they are going to have all kinds of mental health problems,” Gordon adds.
It is also in the PFA’s interests to protect clubs down the pyramid, protecting their members. “The PFA should do more,” Gordon continues. “We have a chief executive (Gordon Taylor) who sits on an enormous salary who should lead the way. He should be saying, ‘I am the first one, there’s 20 per cent of my salary going into this fund straight away’ and then some of the big England players join in and everybody else, and let’s just generate this fund.’’ The PFA talked to the EFL and Premier League yesterday about the crisis.
England could easily field a strong starting XI from players indebted to experience at clubs who are, at present, outside the Premier League: Jordan Pickford (Sunderland, Darlington, Alfreton Town, Burton Albion, Carlisle United, Bradford City and Preston North End); Kyle Walker (Northampton Town, Queens Park Rangers), John Stones (Barnsley), Harry Maguire (Hull City), Ben Chilwell (Huddersfield Town); Henderson (Coventry), Dele Alli (MK Dons), Maddison (Coventry); Raheem Sterling (QPR), Harry Kane (Leyton Orient, Millwall) and Tammy Abraham (Bristol City, Swansea City).
And now for a decent subs’ bench, starting with Nick Pope (and a deep breath . . . Ipswich Town, Bury Town, Charlton, Harrow Borough, Welling United, Cambridge United, Aldershot Town and York City). Outfield subs would include: Joe Gomez (Charlton Athletic), Tyrone Mings (Bristol Rovers, Yate Town, Chippenham Town, Ipswich), Jamie Vardy, if available (Sheffield Wednesday, Stocksbridge Park Steels, Halifax Town, Fleetwood Town) and Wilson (Coventry, Kettering Town, Tamworth).
The England team that reached the semi-finals of the World Cup was full of players who learnt their trade down the pyramid
The England team that reached the semi-finals of the World Cup was full of players who learnt their trade down the pyramid
TIM GOODE/PA
Many helped clubs win promotion from the EFL to the Premier League, such as Kieran Trippier at Burnley. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain found his feet with Southampton in League One. Dean Henderson started out at Carlisle United prior to signing for Manchester United, learning on loan at Stockport County, Grimsby Town and Shrewsbury Town before his safe hands guided Sheffield United into the Premier League. Championship experience with Derby County accelerated the development of Chelsea’s Mason Mount and Fikayo Tomori. The EFL and non-League matter. Some players, legs slowing but minds and technique still sharp, may want to continue down the pyramid towards the end of their career. Wayne Rooney, 34, is enjoying life at Derby, and the Championship club is also providing him with a platform for his first steps as a coach, as it did for Frank Lampard.
“A lot of these players will be needing the pyramid for their first jobs as coaches and managers,” Gordon says. “If we don’t have that, where do they start? A lot of the best ones work their way up from much, much lower down. Look at Chris Wilder and where’s he come from?” Alfreton, Halifax Town, Oxford United and Northampton Town before Sheffield United. “Where do we find a Chris Wilder from if we haven’t got a pyramid?” Gordon asks.
The pledge by Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, to pay 80 per cent of wages of employees not working is being examined by clubs but football should be taking responsibility. “Footballers should look after football, then football doesn’t need to rely on government [to bail it out], and then the government can focus its resources for more needy things, like the NHS, absolutely.”
