- Forty-One Years Ago Today: Gerry Francis vs Trevor Francis (Happy Ending!)
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ESPN - PL chiefs consider imposing Financial Fair Play
David Gill: 'A lot of clubs would be happy to have Financial Fair Play regulations as laid down by UEFA' © Getty Images
Premier League chairmen and chief executives are to hold talks over the financial future of the division at the quarterly shareholders' meeting on Thursday.
A significant number are keen to introduce self-imposed Financial Fair Play rules to ensure that spiralling wages and agent fees do not threaten the existence of clubs in the English top flight, with more than half currently running at a loss.
An insider told ESPN on Wednesday ahead of the landmark meeting: "The chairmen have been talking about this and have asked for it to be top of the agenda at the first shareholders' meeting of the new season.
"A report is sure to be presented to the chairmen of a detailed breakdown of how much the clubs pay for their footballing staff, and the possibility of a mean average being used as a limit for spending on players, managers, coaches and football staff is sure to be looked at very closely.
"The idea of bringing in Financial Fair Play to the Premier League is under consideration - it happens in Europe, it happens in the Football League, and now the chairmen have to decide whether to ensure that clubs no longer run at a loss and run at a risk."
Manchester City are concerned about introducing new rules and the scale of punishment for those that fail to abide by them, but Manchester United appear to be in support of the measures, with chief executive David Gill telling The Times last week: "It will be a very good debate. A lot of clubs would be happy to have Financial Fair Play regulations as laid down by UEFA.
"There has to be a consensus and the clubs have to agree on what is good for the Premier League. Without doubt, enough income is coming in to the Premier League to ensure that clubs don't lose money in my opinion."
Behind the new move is the new influx of TV cash coming into the game next season, with clubs determined that the extra funding does not simply serve to escalate payments to players and agents.
Several Premier League chairmen - including Stoke's Peter Coates, West Ham's David Sullivan and Wigan's Dave Whelan - have already spoken to ESPN to voice their support for the plans.
Phillip Beard, chief executive of QPR, also told ESPN: "We are always keen to listen to what the other clubs are trying to achieve, particularly those clubs who have been in the Premier League longer than we have.
"What I do like about the Premier League is that for any decisions to be ratified it requires 14 clubs to vote to agree to change, and that is sensible, although it does mean quite a few decisions can be short-circuited. However, it is clear that everybody wants to find a route to run football in a sensible business way." ESPN
David Gill: 'A lot of clubs would be happy to have Financial Fair Play regulations as laid down by UEFA' © Getty Images
Premier League chairmen and chief executives are to hold talks over the financial future of the division at the quarterly shareholders' meeting on Thursday.
A significant number are keen to introduce self-imposed Financial Fair Play rules to ensure that spiralling wages and agent fees do not threaten the existence of clubs in the English top flight, with more than half currently running at a loss.
An insider told ESPN on Wednesday ahead of the landmark meeting: "The chairmen have been talking about this and have asked for it to be top of the agenda at the first shareholders' meeting of the new season.
"A report is sure to be presented to the chairmen of a detailed breakdown of how much the clubs pay for their footballing staff, and the possibility of a mean average being used as a limit for spending on players, managers, coaches and football staff is sure to be looked at very closely.
"The idea of bringing in Financial Fair Play to the Premier League is under consideration - it happens in Europe, it happens in the Football League, and now the chairmen have to decide whether to ensure that clubs no longer run at a loss and run at a risk."
Manchester City are concerned about introducing new rules and the scale of punishment for those that fail to abide by them, but Manchester United appear to be in support of the measures, with chief executive David Gill telling The Times last week: "It will be a very good debate. A lot of clubs would be happy to have Financial Fair Play regulations as laid down by UEFA.
"There has to be a consensus and the clubs have to agree on what is good for the Premier League. Without doubt, enough income is coming in to the Premier League to ensure that clubs don't lose money in my opinion."
Behind the new move is the new influx of TV cash coming into the game next season, with clubs determined that the extra funding does not simply serve to escalate payments to players and agents.
Several Premier League chairmen - including Stoke's Peter Coates, West Ham's David Sullivan and Wigan's Dave Whelan - have already spoken to ESPN to voice their support for the plans.
Phillip Beard, chief executive of QPR, also told ESPN: "We are always keen to listen to what the other clubs are trying to achieve, particularly those clubs who have been in the Premier League longer than we have.
"What I do like about the Premier League is that for any decisions to be ratified it requires 14 clubs to vote to agree to change, and that is sensible, although it does mean quite a few decisions can be short-circuited. However, it is clear that everybody wants to find a route to run football in a sensible business way." ESPN
- David Conn/The Guardian - Premier League ponders salary cap or financial fair play as new cash looms
DAILY MAIL/Sami Mokbel
EXCLUSIVE: QPR ace Diakite returns home in fight against depression
By Sami MokbelQueens Park Rangers midfielder Samba Diakite has returned home to France to battle depression.
It is unclear what has triggered the problem, but Rangers will give the 23-year-old as much time he needs to recover.
The Mali man started QPR's first two Premier League matches but missed last weekend's clash against Manchester City without any explanation.
It is thought Diakite was given 10 days leave after the 1-1 draw at Norwich on August 25. However, 13 days after going to France, he is yet to return.
It is unclear whether Diakite will be available for the clash against Chelsea a week on Saturday.
Hughes made Diakite one of his first signings as manager in January - and he played a key role in the club's top-flight survival last season while on loan. QPR paid £3.5million for Diakite in the summer.
His case further highlights the problem of depression among footballers. The Professional Footballers' Association sent a booklet on how to handle the illness to their members last season. MAIL
EXPRESS - QPR'S SAMBA DIAKITE SUFFERING FROM DEPRESSION
QUEENS PARK RANGERS midfielder Samba Diakite has flown home to France and is being treated for depression.
Mali international Diakite has been missing from the QPR team since the second game of the season and has been absent for the last two.
The
club have given the former Nancy defender time off to deal with the
problem and he is training in France to keep his fitness.
Club
officials have confirmed that QPR medical staff are monitoring
Diakite’s condition, have visited him four or five times over the past
fortnight and will be continuing their treatment. Diakite, 23, signed
permanently in June for a £3.5million fee after a successful loan spell
in the second half of last season.
He
was sent off on his debut against Fulham but went on to score a winning
goal against Arsenal as Mark Hughes’ side pulled off their dramatic
escape from relegation. Depression in football has become a major issue
following the death of Wales boss Gary Speed.
He was sent off on his debut against Fulham but went on to score a winning goal against Arsena
|
Several
former players, including radio pundit and former Liverpool star Stan
Collymore, ex-Hull striker Dean Windass, former Norwich player Leon
McKenzie and Celtic manager Neil Lennon revealed they suffered from the
illness and have advocated help for players. Express
Joey Barton Ban
Joey Barton is set to miss nine Olympique de Marseille
domestic fixtures as the Disciplinary Committee of the Professional
League Football France has applied his ban picked up at the end of the
2011-12 Premier League season to his new surroundings.
Barton's 12-game ban to be upheld while at Marseille
By Michael Lightfoot | Goal.com –The English Football Federation forwarded the suspension to its French equivalent and they used Article 12 of the Regulations for the Status and Transfer of Players from FIFA, which means that the ban is applicable in a differing country.
Having already served three games of the ban while waiting for the loan move to go through, the new ruling will see Barton miss nine games in either Ligue 1 or the Coupe de la Ligue; however, he could still play in the Europa League.
The ban was initially imposed by the FA after the
midfielder was found guilty of two counts of violent conduct for the
incident surrounding his sending off against Manchester City during the
final game of last season.
The 30-year-old could now make his debut for his new club on September 20, when the French outfit faces Fenerbache in its Europa League opener. Goal
The 30-year-old could now make his debut for his new club on September 20, when the French outfit faces Fenerbache in its Europa League opener. Goal
CourtNews - LOPES: QPR TEENAGER 'DELIBERATELY MISSED' WHEN HURLING BOTTLES AT POLICE
CROYDON
A
promising footballer who was scouted by QPR has been jailed for 16
months for throwing bottles at police during the London riots.
Jethro Lopes, 18, laughed with his friends shortly after hurling the
bottles towards rushing police in Croydon.
Lopes was due to hold talks with officials of the west London club next
week and he had arranged to join a French football club if those talks
fell through. CourtNews
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