Premiership hits the jackpot

The richest game in football just got richer. The Premier League’s new television rights sale means that the financial chasm between them and the Championship has grown further. Considerably.

The rights to televise live Premier League matches in the UK was sold for over £5 billion (BD2.90 billion) a 71 per cent increase on the previous deal. This excludes overseas rights which were expected to net a similar amount.  In other words Sky and BT, the two companies that were successful in the bidding process, will be paying on average over £10 million (BD5.84 million) per match.

Of course this does not all find its way directly to the clubs but it has a major impact. Last season the club that made the highest revenues from the Premier League were not the champions, Manchester City, but the team that finished second, Liverpool, as they had more of their games televised live.

The impact of the increase can also be demonstrated by the fact that the three teams relegated when the new deal kicks in from 2016 could earn more than Chelsea who finished this season as title winners. This happened the last time there was an increase when Cardiff earned £1.2 million (BD800,000) more when relegated than Manchester United who won the year before.

The parachute payments will also increase to a massive £60 million (BD35 million) payable over four years. There is an argument that this ‘rewards failure’, yet this certainly creates a financial disparity at Championship level. Last season six clubs generated less income than the parachute payment alone.

So there was plenty to play for as Norwich and Middlesborough entered the richest game in the world at Wembley on Monday, which marked the end of a gruelling 48-match league campaign. Norwich were only relegated last season although they endured a tough start to their campaign, only looking like promotion candidates after Alex Neil was installed as manager, winning 15 of their last 22 games. In the play-off semi-final the Canaries held their nerve in two legs against arch-rivals Ipswich, who gifted Norwich the victory after Christophe Berra was dismissed for handball on the line.

’Boro had the better of both meetings between the sides during the regular season, including a 1-0 victory away as both sides chased automatic promotion. In fact, the North-East side looked destined to avoid this end-of-year drama until they capitulated with a defeat and draw in the final two games.

However, they boast the Championship’s top player in Patrick Bamford and the meanest defence, although they have never won at Wembley. There is further intrigue as the boss, Aitor Karanka, who has managed a transformation, counts Jose Mourinho as a mentor.

Norwich will join Watford and Bournemouth in the top flight and be replaced by the three relegated teams for whom the enhanced parachute payments will come too late.

Heading into the final round of the season QPR and Burnley were already consigned to their fate, with only the latter showing any pride in their final performance in the top flight.

Perhaps the R’s are already daunted by the prospect of a difficult summer with the Championship debating how much to fine QPR for breaching Financial Fair Play regulations the last time they were in the second-tier. With expulsion from the Championship technically a possibility (although this option has been ruled out) the highest estimate of the fine to be levied exceeds £50 million (BD29.2 million), with this not set to be decided until after the start of the season.

Hull was the only one of the teams relegated who had anything to fight for and their home game against Manchester United was a microcosm for their season. The defence and midfield were well-organised to restrict United, content to sit back and hit the visitors on the break, although despite creating the best chances they were profligate and paid the ultimate price.

As Hull has never won in the Premier League in May perhaps they needed to wrap up their season sooner. It will be interesting to see how many of Assem Allam’s £40 million (BD23.4 million) spent on 11 new signings are willing to wear the shirt playing away in Bristol.

Newcastle United, the other side with a chance for relegation, took matters into their own hands with what was ultimately a comfortable 2-0 home win against West Ham. Fans still protested against the management of the club at the end of the game.

The Magpies will have taken great delight in having jumped above Sunderland in the final standings, although even this may have been surpassed by the euphoria that accompanied the winning goal from the ever-popular Jonas Gutierrez.

The Argentine midfielder was already well-liked before he had to return home for treatment for his testicular cancer. After enduring chemotherapy he made his return to the Newcastle side in March as a substitute against Manchester United. His goal was the perfect way to sign-off as he is now out of contract, although he may yet return as he has expressed a desire to continue playing in the Premiership.