Trevor On Football Finances

Trevor Brooking says that players' contracts across football are becoming more realistic - and are starting to have clauses inserted that adjust payments if the club they play for is relegated.

With the Hammers taking on Crystal Palace this week - a club that has had its own financial problems in recent years - Trevor is only too aware that a lot of clubs in the first division are walking something of a monetary tightrope.

Trevor is uniquely placed to understand the problems, having worked in sports administration as well as being a club director and currently caretaker manager, and earlier in the month he was invited to speak at the All Party Football Group Inquiry into Football Finances - which heard evidence at Upton Park.

"The All Party Football Group do look in to different issues in football and write a report up and this was looking at football finances," he explains.

"They focused on broadcasting rights, the ITV Digital problems and what that means - as well as the problems if you get relegated.

"I was giving some evidence over both issues really and what the problems financially with wages generally are, and how you can reduce that.

"And they were looking at the government's contribution to sport and football which I have always thought is under-resourced.

"I was explaining why, because football and sport contributes to so many areas of trying to distract so many youngsters from crime.

"And there are the health issues with obesity and bullying which sport used to reduce, because you can't play sport without behaving and adhering to rules and regulations and whatever.

"So there were a whole range of issues and it was quite interesting."

Regarding wages in the Premiership, he says: "Every Premiership club has a little cluster of players signed who are not good enough.

"You can't move them on because clubs can get someone else of the same ability without those wages - but you have to flush them out.

"I don't think most clubs begrudge what the top players are getting because they are producing the goods but it's the middle tier who jog along picking up good money without playing regularly.

"I do believe the wages situation is going to improve. A lot of the dead wood will get thinned out."

As for transfer fees, he adds: "The transfer market has gone. The Roman Abramovich situation is unbelievable but it's a one-off because football is not awash with money, and my club was lucky enough to have two players taken into that situation.

"We were fortunate because two of our players were bought by Chelsea, who had unprecedented amounts of money, but that probably won't happen again.

"I know lots of players who have come out of the Premiership to play in the first division and are earning 20% of what they were on.

"But other clubs have players they can't get rid of because they are on a Premiership wage. There is a transition taking place."

As for television revenue and the difference between the Premiership and the first division, he explains: "We were £20million down on where we were last year. In the Premiership you get £600,000 for each game televised on satellite and for our first game this season at Preston we got £10,000 - the home payment is £60,000.

"There's a reality check and all clubs are putting in clauses now so wages do drop if you get relegated."