It's ?50m guaranteed if you get promoted this year...

...scary when it was 'only' ?35m-ish when we went.

?30m guaranteed for finishing bottom (we got ?265,000 for finishing 3rd in the inaugral Premier League season) and then two lots of ?10m in parachute payments (we 'only' got ?7m per year).

And that's before the Champions League cash gets distributed to the top four in the league. It was estimated Arsenal's trip to the final generated a further ?25m in revenue for them, with just qualifying being worth ?10m-ish - whilst the top four in the Premiership remain there year on year, they'll keep qualifying and guaranteeing themselves that cash. That allows them to strengthen better than the other sixteen Premiership sides, giving themselves a better chance of finishing top four again and once again getting that cash in. It's a massive viscious circle!

The whole lot is set up so the rich get richer whilst those below have a choice. Amble along in mediocrity and hope for a glamour game at Stamford Bridge or Old Trafford every couple of years or take a gamble to reach the land of milk and honey. Only problem is, it's a hell of a gamble and if it all goes wrong...

Posted By: Declan, Jan 18, 10:50:43