MX23RW : Sunday, January 12 11:46:15| >> :600:141981:141981:

Nigel Clough urges Premier League to give more financial help to EFL clubs

Bury and Bolton have been struggling financially ahead of the start of the season.

Burton boss Nigel Clough has urged Premier League heavyweights to do more to help financially-struggling English Football League clubs.

The Brewers chief is eager to see increased top-flight aid, with two Sky Bet League One sides having slipped into administration this summer.

Bury failed to meet the EFL's 5pm Monday deadline to show evidence of financial viability, leading the governing body to suspend Saturday's home game with MK Dons.

Bolton's opening day trip to Wycombe had also been in doubt but Wanderers' submissions satisfied the EFL and the game will go ahead.

The clubs have already been deducted 12 points for going into administration and face a battle to stay in the division and Clough wants more help from the top flight, which already offers EFL clubs solidarity payments.

He said: "It's very difficult but I think there's enough money in football at the moment to look after everybody. I would look up for it. When there's billion-pound TV deals and everything I think the Football League should have just a little bit more.

"I think it's been the lifeblood for many years in providing players for the Premier League and even the international team. I think there's an overall responsibility to try and look after those clubs.

Clough's Burton reached the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup last season
Clough's Burton reached the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup last season (Anthony Devlin/PA)

"People don't understand how hard it is in the lower divisions because they read the figures at the top level. They look at the transfer fees of £60m, £70m, £80m.

"There doesn't seem to be any or many £1m or £2m transfers anymore.

"Gareth Bale is offered a £1m a week – it's staggering. It's beyond belief. You talk about a £1m transfer and then they are talking about a £1m in wages. There's been a staggering increase in a relatively short period of time.

"One week's wages at those figures would certainly keep us going for a while."

Burton are due to host Bury on September 27 and welcome Bolton on October 12.

Clough, who is preparing to face Ipswich in Burton's League One opener on Saturday, also fears so many clubs are being pushed to the brink one may go bust.

He said: "There might be, a few years ago quite a few went out of business and I hope it doesn't come to that.

"That's why I think there's enough money in football for that not to happen. I hope someone comes in and saves them.

"It's sad as both are in our division. It looks worse then.

"We wondered what would happen to the rest of the fixtures if it did happen. It's a tricky situation."

ID:366538: cacheID:366538:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:6405:
Written by
P A
Restore Data
Share this article now:
General view of Bolton Wanderers' University of Bolton Stadium taken 2016
Read Next:
EFL threatens to postpone Bolton, Bury opening games
>
Read more about Nigel Clough Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
FT
Steelers
14-28
Ravens
6pm
Broncos
@
Bills
9.30pm
Packers
@
Eagles
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Birmingham CityBirmingham23165241172453
2Wycombe WanderersWycombe25156450272351
3Wrexham25156437181951
4Huddersfield TownHuddersfield24145537191847
5Barnsley2512673933642
6Reading2412573933641
7Stockport CountyStockport25108737271038
8Leyton Orient24114932221037
9Mansfield TownMansfield2311483126537
10Bolton WanderersBolton2411493637-137
11Charlton AthleticCharlton239772721634
12Lincoln CityLincoln258892830-232
13Rotherham UnitedRotherham248792424031
14Stevenage238781820-231
15Exeter CityExeter2494112831-331
16Blackpool247983235-330
17Wigan AthleticWigan2376102123-227
18Northampton TownNorthampton2568112439-1526
19Peterborough UnitedPeterborough2474134146-525
20Bristol Rovers2474132238-1625
21Crawley TownCrawley2355132443-1920
22Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury2445152444-2017
23Cambridge UnitedCambridge2445152243-2117
24Burton Albion2428142038-1814


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!