The Harvey Greenwood Column

Sunday 10 November, 2002

Contracting To Win

So, 17 league games and one cup game into the season that might not have been, a clear pattern has emerged. Bradford City 2002/03 get better results when not paid than when they do!

Who says money doesn't talk. Look at the stats. money less, playing for contracts elsewhere they creditably hold Wolves on the opening day, hold Palace away, dump Ipswich firmly on their backsides in their own back yard, and give Ronnie Moore the two fingered salute in the best way possible by putting a seasons best 4 past the Millers. The only real dodgy result being away at Stoke. In all the desperado's conjured up 9 points out of a possible 18. Steady above mid table form. Excellent after the summer of doom.

Then enter the BACS button being pressed and money winging its way into bank accounts. We immediately get dumped out of the used to be Worthless, but now very worthwhile, Cup. The false dawn at Walsall is followed by one win (against Norwich) in ten, giving games with sporadic interest in amongst the player's apathy. 10 points out of a possible 33. Undeniably relegation form.

Coincidence? Maybe, may not. Injuries don't help, agreed, however in this league there is a lot to be said for passion and endeavour, and everyone can have that. I hold up Michael Proctor as this seasons leading light.

So if I am saying money is the downfall of our season, and bizarrely given the summer, in that we are paying players, what could be done? Lets try and make money work to the favour of the club, and even football as a whole.

I think it needs the 'bigger picture' view. As a club we are clearly not alone with the issues of financial implosion. I do not need to name the others; you can read about them every day in the press.

Last week the 'big' clubs around Europe agreed a 'wage cap' as a percentage of turnover. A nice thought, however, a collective wage budget on millions of pounds (or Euros) of turnover is still millions of pounds. Players at those clubs will still be able to command tens of thousands a week. There may be a couple less of them in the squad, if those clubs try to adhere to the agreement (and whose to say they will?!), but that is all the impact it will have. It does not help 99% of the clubs not in their financial position.

So how about a radical new plan? Treat players like contractors in any other industry, and pay them for work done. I can hear the shrieks of derision from footballers everywhere already! Yes in its crudest form, pay for play. Instead of players banking their wages whether they play or not, contracts could be negotiated around only getting paid if they played. A great business practice in controlling wages.

Imagine how that would motivate most players to put in performances week after week to stay in the side, and maybe some of those small niggles might even disappear! It might help bring back some of the old school football principles of wanting to play come what may. (Can you imagine Bobby Campbell or Joe Cooke not playing because of a muscle strain or tendonitis... you would not even know they had it, never mind not play because of it!)

OK, so I accept that a crude pay for play would not work, as what would happen to the fringe squad players or injured players? So, lets try and get a little more realistic.

All the squad can be on minimum wage as basic. That takes care of the squad players. You can then tier a contract that gives fixed payments for playing, with a further fixed fee dependent on result, win, lose or draw.

You could even build in collective bonuses rather than individual ones. I have always thought individual 'goal' bonus targets are not appropriate, it makes average goalscorers more greedy and work against the good of the team, trying to shoot rather than pass to a person to tap into an open goal.

In the collective bonus scheme all playing players get a fixed bonus for goals scored no matter who gets the headlines, and for clean sheets.

Players can take out insurance for injuries in a similar way to disability insurance, so the serious injuries are covered. Players can supplement the club wages with sponsorships as much as they can get. Let the agents focus on the corporates rather than the clubs to earn their crust.

You could take this philosophy as far as you wanted, adding in other factors if required. The key is that all clubs offer the same terms of contract, and that is why it will never happen, the big boys would not let it happen.

However, what the idea represents, is that players would have to play and perform for their livelihoods, just like the rest of us, and not live off a good contract negotiation every three years.

Just re-read the second paragraph, that is what playing for your livelihood does.

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