ASHTON PLEA TO PL TO SAVE THE PYRAMID
THE Football League is facing a crisis – and the Premier League needs to stop sitting on its hands and do the right thing.
That’s the warning from Dean Ashton, who experienced life at both ends of the game during his playing career. A product of the fabled Crewe youth academy, Ashton went on to play for Norwich in the Championship and West Ham in the top flight.
He has watched on as clubs in the lower reaches of the Football League have struggled to make ends meet during the coronavirus pandemic.
Livelihoods
But while some clubs are left to wonder where their next penny is coming from, the likes of Chelsea have spent massively in the close season – and others will follow suit. Something, he argues, needs to change.
“Am I confident that we’ll see the same number of clubs finish the season as start it? No, I’m not, I’m very, very worried,” said Ashton ahead of the EFL on Quest highlights show.
“This is about ensuring the livelihoods of football clubs. To watch the amount of money being spent on players’ wages, agents’ fees and transfer fees, while some clubs are on the verge of going out of business – that does not sit well with me at all.
“They couldn’t complete League One or Two during lockdown. With the furlough scheme stopping as well, the worry is in six months’ time where are
all these clubs going to be? There are tax payments that need to be paid and other financial commitments. I worry that in six months’ time we’re going to see a lot of clubs in a lot of trouble.
“Without the EFL then the Premier League isn’t the product it is today.
“You only have to look at the captains of Manchester United and Liverpool – both Harry Maguire and Jordan Henderson came through the EFL and they’re just two examples.
“There are so many players who have come through and played for these clubs and for England because of the grounding they have had in the Football League. I think the Premier League has an obligation to feed certain monies down to ensure that our pyramid is kept intact.”
EFL on Quest will run on Saturdays at 9pm throughout the season and on Wednesdays at 10.30pm for midweek fixtures. Stream live and catch-up on dplay