League aid

[dhermon]

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11750_3168665,00.html

Leeds United chairman Ken Bates has called on the Football League to set up a 'task-force' to help prevent clubs from being forced into administration over crippling debts.

Leeds themselves were in administration before the start of the season, while Luton and Bournemouth have both entered administration during the campaign.

Following the news that League Two outfit Rotherham have filed a notice of intent, Bates believes the Football League's image is being tarnished.

"We don't know the individual situations of individual clubs, but it must be worrying to the Football League," Bates told Yorkshire Radio.

"They should consider setting up a taskforce to advise clubs in difficulties about the best way of going about it rather than leaving them to their own devices, because it can't be good for the league.

"They have a responsibility to help the clubs. It's a fair argument that clubs got into the mess of their own making, I wouldn't argue with that, but they've got an opportunity to sort out the past once and for all, and they should be encouraged to do so, so come 2009/10 we have a strong, well-managed Football League."

Whether the league takes notice of Bates' comments remain to be seen after Leeds issued a writ against the organisation, over the 15 points they were docked at the start of the campaign.

Is he talking sense for a change or what

[DB11]

They've only got themselves to blame for getting into debt.

[Fat Ron]

They've only got themselves to blame for getting into debt.

Bet you didnt say that when we were in Administration!!!

I think its a great idea, but they should also consider (as previously stated by davieG) that the Financial benefits of the game should be distributed more fairly in order to give the smaller clubs a fighting chance.

The collapse of ITV digital, the Bosman ruling and now the Transfer Windows severly restrict Clubs financially and the League need to acknowledge this and take relevant action. Far too much money is involved in the Premier League and the lower leagues suffer because of it. Its almost as if the Leagues want to cut down to 3 divisions or maybe, as suggested some years ago to only 2 divisions, The Premier League and the Super Premier League or whatever they wanted to call it.

Its not only lower league clubs that are suffering because of it, its our home grown players too. If Rotherham, Luton, Crewe or even Leeds were to go out of business, where would the kids that were in thier School of Excellence/Acadamies go to?? The long term effects will be that England will suffer (some will argue that they already have!!) with the standard of coaching dropping due to not enough proffesional jobs being available.

Money and more importantly the Premier League is killing the game as we know it.