FC Halifax Town chairman calls for fairer distribution of wealth

Earlier this month, reports circulated that preliminary discussions have been held about a radical restructuring of the divisions that would merge League Two and the National League on a regional basis and turn them into League Two North and League Two South.

The theory behind the proposal is that the move would cut travel costs and expenses and boost attendances by enabling more games to be staged against local rivals and enable clubs to be more sustainable in parlous times.

But for FC Halifax Town chairman David Bosomworth, the much bigger issue surrounds the implementation of key changes to the distribution of funds to lower-division clubs.

Specifically, in his view, that means changing the distorted system of parachute payments and ensuring that money that flows down from the Premier League to the EFL and National League benefits the many and not the few.

Bosomworth told The Yorkshire Post: “I think there is a bigger subject and I think it is the distribution of funds.

“Rick Parry (EFL chairman) brought it out and spoke about the parachute payments. He is absolutely right.

“In the early days, when parachute payments were provided, it was because clubs were tied into contracts at that point and it was the route of transition.

“Of course, not only has it maintained its place in the game, it has increased to such volumes that it gives such a distorted element of wealth to clubs coming down – getting paid for failure – and is having an impact on the other clubs within that.

“It again fuels people chasing figures and financial pressures. In actual fact, those monies should have a fairer distribution down the leagues and actually make everything more sustainable.

“My argument is that we are a 44-week and not a 52-week club. At least two-thirds are 52-week payers in the National League.

“The reason for 44 weeks is due to prudence and we have one of the tightest budgets in the league and punch above our weight and are just managing.”

As for the specific concept of regionalising divisions, Bosomworth is not so sure.

He continued: “The National League does what League Two does. We travel 9,000 miles and while some say it would be better to regionalise it, personally I don’t think so as it takes away the variety of the matches.

“It is only better being regionalised if they don’t sort the finances out.

“If you are a League Two club, you get a million pounds in crude terms. We get a £58,000 solidarity payment which may be topped up from central distributions from sponsorship. At the end of the day, its £70,000.

“It is about sorting the distribution of funds and making it equitable.

“There should be some corporate and social responsibility within Sky and the Government saying: ‘well, five or ten per cent of what Sky provides to the Premier League has to go down to the rest of the leagues and the distribution gets better.’

“That is the only way we will sort football out.

“Some of the money we need is for the infrastructure and the travelling or whatever.

“Rules may also be needed for how much goes to your playing budget and infrastructure.”

Editor’s note: first and foremost - and rarely have I written down these words with more sincerity - I hope this finds you well.

Almost certainly you are here because you value the quality and the integrity of the journalism produced by The Yorkshire Post’s journalists - almost all of which live alongside you in Yorkshire, spending the wages they earn with Yorkshire businesses - who last year took this title to the industry watchdog’s Most Trusted Newspaper in Britain accolade.

And that is why I must make an urgent request of you: as advertising revenue declines, your support becomes evermore crucial to the maintenance of the journalistic standards expected of The Yorkshire Post. If you can, safely, please buy a paper or take up a subscription. We want to continue to make you proud of Yorkshire’s National Newspaper but we are going to need your help.

Postal subscription copies can be ordered by calling 0330 4030066 or by emailing [email protected]. Vouchers, to be exchanged at retail sales outlets - our newsagents need you, too - can be subscribed to by contacting subscriptions on 0330 1235950 or by visiting www.localsubsplus.co.uk where you should select The Yorkshire Post from the list of titles available.

If you want to help right now, download our tablet app from the App / Play Stores. Every contribution you make helps to provide this county with the best regional journalism in the country.

Sincerely. Thank you.

James Mitchinson

Editor