Having training facilities away from stadium

[chili_con_carne]

You hear a lot about players reluctant about joining a club because it's too far away from London. Might sound ridiculous, but what is stopping a club like Sunderland or Newcastle having the training facilities near a town north of London? The players all live in London, train at that Base. And just fly/get coach to every game whether it is home or away. Is there a rule preventing this?

[stripeyfox]

I doubt there is a rule preventing it but I woudl imagine it would be unpractical for a number of reasons, not to mention unpopular with the rest of the club's staff and fans.

Also, I'm not sure how many players are reluctant to join a team outside London in the way you describe. All teams, including those far away from London manage to recruit players. Just because the Daily Mirror trot out some crap about a player who wants the "bright lights" of London doesn't mean it is an endemic problem for all clubs in the provinces.

[Rocket-Ron]

Didn't Anzhi  base themselves in Moscow thousands of miles from their ground?

[Gold Coast Fox]

That's not a bad idea actually... Surprised it hasn't been done before.

[VLC86]

And what happens when a player doesnt want to live in London? Do you then relocate to the original area and follow this cycle forever?

[MooseBreath]

If I was paying someone £30k+ per week I'd expect their minds to be focused on the job at hand not worrying about how long it will take to get home from chinawhite. Players who are more interested in their lifestyle than their career aren't likely to make it to the top level and stay there anyway.

[ramboacdc]

i thought this already did happen with approved gyms and coaches. 

[LcFc_Smiv]

And what do we do with our academy, a big process of coming through the ranks is being around the senior professionals at the training ground. Or the players that want to play for their hometown club, "sorry son I know you want to play us but we've got a few big signings who are refusing to leave their posh pads down south so we're moving our base to accommodate their needs". Managing a players diet and recovery is already a nightmare following a training session or home match, having to take into consideration a long trip back to a training base for home game would be far from ideal. I understand the point your making but it would be a nightmare for all of but a few individuals, who probably wouldn't deserve to be at the club in the first place.

[Andrelton]

Didn't Anzhi  base themselves in Moscow thousands of miles from their ground?

 

Yes, I remember reading that when Eto'o went there.

 

Due to armed conflict in Dagestan, the club's players live and train in a village near Moscow, at a training base previously used by Saturn Moscow. The club fly in for home matches, which have a heavy security presence. (Wikipedia)