WANDERERS will be pursuing a place in the Championship next season in the hope something can be done about the division’s “skewed” economy by the time they get there. Sharon Brittan has vowed to keep banging the drum for fairer financial distribution from the Premier League and for a fresh outlook on parachute payments to relegated clubs, which she feels has diminished the entertainment value which can be found in the second tier. A new funding deal, which is reported to be worth £900m over six years, is currently trapped in limbo and could remain there depending on the progress of Manchester City’s legal wranglings with the Premier League and the forthcoming introduction of an independent regulator at government level.
Ms Brittan was applauded for a passionate speech in the Commons in May which outlined some of the financial challenges her club has met in the last five years and castigated the Premier League for breaking off talks with the EFL. Sharon Brittan looks on during a game at Peterborough United this season (Image: Camerasport) One of the headlines generated by the Select Committee discussion was the Bolton chairman’s frank admission that she would have to approach her investors for circa £20m per season if the club was to challenge for promotion at a higher level – a business decision with which she did not feel comfortable. At the time, Wanderers were 90 minutes away from making that choice.
Defeat in the play-off final against Oxford United means Ia.