VIEW FROM THE GALLOWGATE

I DON’T have room to fully analyse the nuts and bolts of last season, but for now will concentrate on the elephant in the room, namely FFP LOL or whatever financial acronym it’s called this week.

I’m no conspiracy theorist (despite some of them being superb) – there is no Loch Ness monster, the Moon landing happened and Hitler didn’t escape the bunker to run a travel agents for genocidal maniacs in Argentina.

It does beggar belief, however, that people still think that FFP LOL is all about sustainability. It isn’t, it’s all about preventing aspirational clubs from joining the top table – the top table, let’s not forget, who tried to shaft the league and form their own, no-risk, free-money club.

The current elite have had years building up sponsorships, influence and enjoying free reign, and they aren’t minded to share it.

The Premier League are of a similar mind. The thought of a title race between Fulham and Nottingham Forest, say, is as unthinkable to them as it would have been to see a pole dancer at Queen Victoria’s 60th.

There must be checks and balances. Despite decades of inertia, even I’d get bored of the PIF being given financial carte blanche and it leading to us winning every game, every competition, every season. I prefer a bit of jeopardy, but not a millstone.

Until we are allowed to fairly compete it’s difficult to say whether our current level is last season or the one before. Which one was the aberration?

This links to the Oz trip. Because we’re ‘forced’ to travel to accrue provable income, this gives the Prem a dilemma.

Wearing one hat, they approve of the ‘product’ exposing itself to lucrative TV markets, but donning their virtuous, much-trumpeted carbon-free hats it’s not so good.

Maybe they imagined the club would travel on a Thor Heyerdahllike Kon-Tiki raft?

Surely there will come a tipping point and some like-minded clubs will band together and tell the Prem “See you in court”?

We have a ludicrous situation of potentially having to sell our best to strengthen clubs already safely golden, when in reality we could afford to buy their entire clubs lock stock and barrel!

No Europe then? Frankly, after losing 11 away games, I’d be embarrassed to enter. At least I won’t be exposed to Sunday public transport.