It increasingly looks as if Newcastle United are opting for a cut-price route to survival with the objective of retaining top flight status for the smallest possible outlay. When Newcastle were relegated in 2009 they had the sixth highest wage bill in the Premier League. Now it looks as if their staff costs will fall for the third consecutive season.
It increasingly looks as if Newcastle United are opting for a cut-price route to survival with the objective of retaining top flight status for the smallest possible outlay. When Newcastle were relegated in 2009 they had the sixth highest wage bill in the Premier League. Now it looks as if their staff costs will fall for the third consecutive season.
Since their relegation the emphasis in the boardroom has been on a move towards financial self-sufficiency. It is the case that in the past that the squad was bloated, had grown too strong in relation to the management and was earning wages that were often out of kilter with the results achieved. One would not want to go back to Freddy Shepherd’s scheme of awarding Obafemi Martins £10,000 for every goal he scored.
Offloading Joey Barton, leaving aside the other issues that have been raised, can be seen as part of the drive to cut costs in terms of the £3m he would have earned in the last year of his contract. But the club is now cash rich having earnt £30m from Liverpool for the sale of Andy Carroll. The question now is how that money will be spent.