Jackett expects a wage cap as football adjusts
Pompey boss preparing for wage caps as football adjusts
KENNY JACKETT insisted football’s heading towards a monumental shake-up with the introduction of a wage cap.
The Pompey boss believes the system is likely to be introduced in the months ahead, with clubs staring into the financial abyss amid the coronavirus crisis.
English Football League (EFL) proposals have been tabled to be implemented in time for next season in what will be a revolutionary move for the game.
The plans are reported to include a £2.5m ceiling in League One and £1.25m limit for the fourth tier as well as limits on squad numbers.
Pompey’s playing budget far outweighs that total,
which means a huge overhaul would be needed to comply.
However, a season’s grace is expected to be given.
Jackett feels there are issues which would need to be looked at.
But the Blues manager has little doubt a seismic change is coming.
He said: ‘We have followed that (a wage-cap introduction) for next year and my own view is it will probably come in.
‘What they are set at in League Two, League One and the Champ we’ll see, but I do think clubs will take the opportunity to do that. It’s likely to come in.
‘It would change the emphasis and axis of your club.
‘You’d have to make sure you were good enough to get around that situation.
‘For the bigger clubs in League One it may be a little bit of a leveller.
‘It’s quite straightforward for the clubs in the division but we don’t want to come up with a system which creates yo-yo clubs as well.
‘Coming down from the Championship into League One, do you give people parachute money?
‘How do you deal with existing contracts you’re committed to?
‘They’re the things which have to be ironed out.’
The squad limits proposed by the EFL will see clubs restricted to a limit of 20 senior players, including a number home-grown talents.
Jackett doesn’t see such a restriction being particularly problematic to Pompey.
He added: ‘It was only discussed but that would be players of 21 and over.
‘You could then have unlimited younger players, so it would swing towards having some younger players coming through to back that up.
‘They are measures you have to react to quickly. It will be a certain amount of numbers on a total wage bill.
‘It’s one for the owners of the clubs and where they want to take it.’