Sad state of English Football

I remember the demise of the USA soccer scene partly due to the high salaries that the players made.

Now it seems that a combination of salaries and economic climate that it is really going to impact the English Football leagues quite severely.

With Portsmouth being the first Premier team to enter administration, can other teams be far behind them.
Portsmouth are to let go of 85 staff, can you imagine that many people at a club in the first place?
Mind boggling, wonder how much dead weight was there to begin with ?

Already we have teams being thrown out of the Football Conference (Chester) and several others are really in financial distress.

Financial reports show a mere six of the 20 Premier League teams actually made money last season - Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham, Arsenal, Everton and Birmingham.

Recently we have had several clubs that have endured financial problems resulting in major problems for the teams
Wrexham, Rotherham, Stockton, Southampton, Darlington, Luton and of course Leeds. However, Leeds have recovered quite well.

Listed below are just a few that we know that still owe money to Her Majesty's Tax Man and could see administration for the first time or a continuance of one in effect.

West Ham Due in High Court soon
Cardiff - Have until the end of the season
Crystal Palace - Due back in court
Bournemouth - Due back in court
Southend - 35 day extension
Notts County - Under investigation


Liverpool will be hit really hard if they do not make it to Europe next year and miss the lucrative money that those fixtures bring in.

Could be an interesting season 2010/2011

Good thread, and it's very true. The financial state of England is teribble. I just hope it doesn't effect Manchester United ;-) kutgw mate.

United will need to get rid of the Glazer's if they are to survive.

It's a shame seeing teams go into administration. English football is not how it used to be. Back in the days, players were determined, tough and didn't let anything distract them. Now they can't get away from press conferences, a lot show half-hearted approach and you got some who just play to get their paycheck. England want to win the World Cup. But WAGS have become their main distraction. In 1966, they didn't have parties with WAGS, it was a strict but positive idea. Now look what they have done. The John Terry-Wayne Bridge saga, Ashley Cole divorce etc.
And on another note, the chairmen of a football club are hardly bothered with the football. I remember when Watford got to the FA Cup Final when Elton John was chairman. He was a devoted Watford fan. The Chuckle Brothers are life long Rotherham fans. These are the people I would like to see in charge of our clubs. Not any American who knows the game through David Beckham. And also we need the managers back who were willing to argue with the chairman for the benefit of the club. We need that Brian Clough mentality. Thousands of people across Britain would be willing to fight for their club.
The future of English football seems very dark indeed...

There are still some good characters in the game that seem to just really enjoy the game and not give a monkey's about the money.

Ian Holloway is always fun to watch and listen to, reminds me of Cloughie.

It will be interesting in a few years to see how many of the current players walk away from the game and not go into management or coaching.

One thing that has to happen is to curb the limits on foreign players in the English leagues.