Subdued Transfer Market Hits Clubs

An interesting report in The Times suggests that this could be a particularly subdued transfer window. For many years Premiership clubs have been turning increasingly to foreign players so that the ‘trickle down’ effect to clubs in the Football League has diminished. In the past there were even cases where clubs were able to build a new stand from the transfer of a player to the top flight. Leaving aside the plight of Portsmouth, it is Football League clubs which are in real danger.

An interesting report in The Times suggests that this could be a particularly subdued transfer window. For many years Premiership clubs have been turning increasingly to foreign players so that the ‘trickle down’ effect to clubs in the Football League has diminished. In the past there were even cases where clubs were able to build a new stand from the transfer of a player to the top flight. Leaving aside the plight of Portsmouth, it is Football League clubs which are in real danger. Many Championship clubs have a tendency to overspend in an effort to reach the Premiership. As we have discussed before, League 1 and League 2 clubs are very reliant on short-term cash flow like any smaller business. Former Premiership clubs relegated to League 1 have to maintain expensive infrastructures designed for the Premier League. Sooner or later a club is going to disappear altogether, as has happened in the non-league, not just go into administration and reappear free of debt. Some think that is the wake up call that football needs, but it would be devastating for the fans of the club involved, even if they formed a ‘phoenix’ club.