24 Mar 2009Mawhinney: Football League clubs must balance the books

Football Clubs News | Football Finance News

Football League clubs have to continue to control all their costs in a bid to make it through the greatest economic threat the game has known, it has been stated.

Chairman of the Football League Lord Mawhinney has warned clubs that life is expected to be tough until the end of the 2011-2012 season and they must balance the books.

Among the clubs currently struggling to make ends meet are Charlton, who are £21 million in debt and seem set to be relegated to League One and Darlington, who need to ensure an average gate of 6,000 simply to break even.

Lord Mawhinney said: "This is the time to batten down the hatches. Directors must have realistic business plans."

He added that he has approached a number of clubs with the suggestion of the idea of putting some sort of cap on wages, but "different clubs have taken a different attitude".

"It's a dog eat dog world," he concluded.

Charlton are currently 14 points from safety in the Championship with only seven league games remaining this season.

© Copyright