The English Premier League, the world's richest soccer competition, will hand more than £90 million to England's subordinate, three-division Football League over the next three seasons as part of a "solidarity package". Nearly £32 million will be delivered next season, going into youth development, community activities and the Football League's member clubs. Lord Mawhinney, the Football League chairman, welcomed the package as a move towards bridging the gap between the haves and the have-nots. "All Football League clubs are going to benefit, and we are very grateful," he said. "If you look at the position of the Football League today compared to four or five years ago, our sponsorship money is considerably up, our media contracts are up. This solidarity payment means that clubs will have the ability to increase investment in youth development and community programmes, as well as receiving an extra payment virtually equivalent to the one a Championship club receives from their own basic award."
The Premier League package, announced yesterday, will distribute the first £31.8 million of the funding next season, with £5.4 million going towards Football League youth development while £4 million will be set aside for community investment. An £11.2 million solidarity payment will be split among clubs in the Championship, League One and League Two and clubs will receive an extra £11.2 million as a result of Sunderland and Birmingham City no longer receiving parachute payments. Clubs which finish fifth in the Championship will receive £1,383,602, with the sixth-placed club receiving around £75,000 less and so on down to the 13th-placed club, which will receive £775,909, as will clubs finishing 14th and below. League One clubs will receive £103,480 each, with £68,987 per League Two club.
The Premier League package, announced yesterday, will distribute the first £31.8 million of the funding next season, with £5.4 million going towards Football League youth development while £4 million will be set aside for community investment. An £11.2 million solidarity payment will be split among clubs in the Championship, League One and League Two and clubs will receive an extra £11.2 million as a result of Sunderland and Birmingham City no longer receiving parachute payments. Clubs which finish fifth in the Championship will receive £1,383,602, with the sixth-placed club receiving around £75,000 less and so on down to the 13th-placed club, which will receive £775,909, as will clubs finishing 14th and below. League One clubs will receive £103,480 each, with £68,987 per League Two club.