PREM POT STOPS ROT

TEN years ago this month, Thierry Henry was transferred from Arsenal to Barcelona for £16million.

This week, Harry Maguire, a player relegated from the Premier League, who has spent only one season in the top flight, moved from Hull City to Leicester City for £17m. And no one even blinks. Likewise with Jordan Pickford – one campaign and he’s the next Gianluigi Buffon. From what I have seen, he has prospects. But £30m-worth?

We all know the reason for the price hikes, but cash from TV deals isn’t used for the common good – like keeping clubs such as Accrington Stanley from folding. It’s just being wasted.

A 10 per cent levy on transfer fees, paid into a pot administered by the Premier League and shared out at the end of the season on a sliding scale between Football League clubs would enable each one to pay running costs.

Twelve months ago, Premier League transfers totalled £1.2bn. The cut would be £120m. A share of that would keep the Accrington Stanleys of this world afloat. Not too much to ask, is it?