Worldwide impact Premier League chief’s legacy for English game

The Premier League is the story of a great British export. The top flight made £25million from foreign rights the year when Scudamore took over. Now it is £1.1billion, while UK rights are worth £5.14 billion.

Critics say Scudamore helped to destroy the soul of English football by shifting matches around TV schedules, diluting the importance of the traditional 3pm kick-off, accepting extortionately high ticket prices and pulling the game away from its working-class roots.

The growth of broadcast revenues has transformed the game, funding vastly improved facilities and rebuilt stadiums, which has helped to banish hooliganism and improve the quality of football. But it has also made the game extremely expensive to watch, both live and on TV. Scudamore’s biggest success. He has proved a shrewd auctioneer, but also a consummate diplomat in keeping the 20 clubs together, strengthening their collective bargaining power. Now he is going, that job will become even harder as the big six flex their muscle.

The amount of money paid to agents has spiralled out of control – £211million in 2016-17 alone. That is money leaving the sport. The Premier League is well aware of this and the bad publicity that comes with it, and has tried to push through means of limiting it.

Most Premier League clubs are now in foreign ownership. Some owners are better than others, but it has led to the belief that a disconnect has grown between clubs and their hierarchy. There is also concern over their long-term commitment and motives.