SCUDAMORE IS GRANTED £5M GOODBYE

RICHARD Scudamore will receive his highly contentious £5million bonus when he steps down as Premier League chief, after his close friend Bruce Buck pushed it through without a vote. Despite opposition to the parting gift from at least three clubs — Watford, Fulham and Southampton — and strong disapproval from fans, he will receive the golden goodbye over a three-year period. It helped significantly that Chelsea chairman Buck — with whom he goes shooting — is chair of the remuneration committee which decided the sum and was able to sign it off without needing a vote when club chiefs met yesterday. It means Scudamore will earn more as a consultant in three years than he did from his basic £900,000 salary as executive chairman. The Premier League sought to justify the bonus yesterday by announcing that Scudamore will be retained as a consultant — to advise his successor, TV executive Susanna Dinnage. They also said that rather than each club being asked to fork out £250,000 — as proposed this week — the £5m would come from ‘central funds’. Yet beneath this poorly disguised ‘exit agreement’ lies the same controversial pay-off to Scudamore, already one of the most highly paid administrators in English football. Indeed, these ‘central funds’ would normally be distributed to the clubs, so although they will not have to write a cheque, the money will still in effect come from them. Since plans for the golden goodbye were revealed earlier this week, the outcry from fans has been considerable. The Football Supporters’ Federation and Liverpool fan group Spirit of Shankly condemned the package. The FSF said: ‘When we bring this issue up at the next Premier League fans’ meeting, does that mean Scudamore will be advising Susanna Dinnage on how to handle fan complaints about his £5m remuneration package?’ Spirit of Shankly said: ‘However the Premier League and clubs try to dress up this decision, most supporters will think only one thing — greed.’ A Premier League statement said: ‘It was agreed that it is crucial for the league’s ongoing success that Richard’s unique knowledge and experience remain available in an advisory capacity. The payments recognise the outstanding work Richard has carried out over the last 19 years.’ It may be claimed the clubs supported the move, but ultimately this bonus did not need their support. It was devised by Buck and signed off by Buck. It was also decided video assistant referees (VAR) will be used in England’s top flight from next season. Premier League clubs, who rejected plans in April to introduce VAR this season, voted unanimously in favour of it yesterday. They also voted not to change the deadline of the summer transfer window, which will remain the day before Premier League season starts.