Parachute payments no more in the Premier League?

Last Saturday, I watched the Liverpool 1 Burnley 1 game in a Portuguese Bar.

When Burnley equalised, I texted my Burnley supporting mate at the final whistle, with the line “Get in Burnley.”

His response; “We played well second half and deserved the draw but we are still going down.”

When the three teams came up last season, there was not many people who would have bet against all three going straight back down.

In the event though, Wolves have gifted an opportunity to the newly promoted, thanks to their awful season so far. Wolves have though it seems accepted their fate and started to get some sort of results. Six points from their last four Premier League match, the goalless draw against Newcastle United being the latest one.

Often, teams that have accepted their fate start and play with a bit of freedom.

The Wolves hierarchy know that when they get relegated, they are guaranteed £50 million or thereabouts next season to get them back up to the Premier League. If they don’t bounce straight back next season, though I suspect they probably will, then they will get further parachute payments for a maximum of two further seasons, though the amount dropping per season.

But then what?

My Burnley mate knew before the start of the season that it would be a miracle for them to stay up. What’s the point of being in the Premier League if you are going to get drubbed week after week.

Meritocracy is a great principle to believe in when there is a level playing field. Unfortunately, the powers that be who have a stranglehold on the Premier League do not agree.

Some clubs and their supporters seem to be happy to just exist in this elite club and have voted in support of this status quo. So as Coventry City sit on top of the Championship with no parachute payments to boost their cause and having just beaten a Leicester team in benefit of those payments, it makes you believe in meritocracy.

Parachute payments are a scam to maintain the so-called big clubs grip on the Premier League.

It is time for a Premier League 2 with no more parachute payments.

Let’s spread the money that the Premier League is pulling in to all those clubs who have the history, support and potential to be challenging in the Premier League.