STEPHEN Lansdown’s recent announcement of supporting the marquee player rule falls squarely into the “well he would say that wouldn’t he” category.
As one of, if not, THE richest benefactors to the Premiership it should come as no surprise to learn that the considerable financial muscle he can bring to bear enables Bristol to attract, if required, the type of overseas players most of their competitors can only dream of.
However we are a professional business, at Premiership level anyway, and of course money talks loudest. His assertion that only through marquee players can English clubs compete with the best in Europe raises some interesting points.
1) In recent times with the exception of Saracens (enough said) English clubs have failed in Europe with their marquee players in tow.
2) Why stop at two? It used to be one and if two cannot deliver the success he craves then why not up the stakes, the sky could be the limit if your pockets are deep enough?
3) Any adoption of Lord Myners’ recommendations can easily be implemented to protect current contractual obligations etc regarding marquee players.
4) Spiraling wage levels are inextricably linked to marquee players’ remunerations.
5) The current Premiership financial model is failing and wealthy benefactors come and go, is this really the basis for a sustainable business?
I would have been far more impressed had Mr Lansdown produced a blueprint for how the Premiership can become a long term profitable enterprise for ALL rather than perpetuating the strategy which has witnessed clubs descending into the red at an alarming rate.
Let’s cut our cloth according to our means rather than a few individuals’ deep pockets.
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