[BrianCappellieri]

BBC

The latest report into the financial state of football clubs in the Scottish Premier League continues to paint a bleak future.

[Parkhead_Faithful]

Most of that is attributed to the old firm, rangers had some spectacular losses this year and celtic's debt is shrinking, an average SPL clubs loss is around 2 million per year, thats not bad, not great but it could be a lot worse.

[Mattinho]

Maybe it's time for a strict foriegner limit, say two on the field at one time? The national side would benefit from this also. That would cut into wage problems drastically me thinks.

[Parkhead_Faithful]

Originally posted by Mattinho
Maybe it's time for a strict foriegner limit, say two on the field at one time? The national side would benefit from this also. That would cut into wage problems drastically me thinks.

Yes but club legal bills would skyrocket as it would be in breach of european law and every foreign player jettisoned would be back for their pound of flesh.

[John T]

Originally posted by Parkhead_Faithful
Yes but club legal bills would skyrocket as it would be in breach of european law and every foreign player jettisoned would be back for their pound of flesh.

And then those players can live on that money when they no longer have a team to play for because it went bankrupt and shut down.

The really idiotic part about it is it's not like the SPL is the only league they can work their trade, so to speak. Go look for a team in another league. And if they go off about how only foreigners are getting the boot, point to the hundreds of players released this past summer and see what they say.

[SJFC4ever]

Scottish players are being paid absurd salaries as well, a foreigner limit would make no difference to the financials.

If you look at this situation, clubs who are prudent are being penalised. The only club to make a profit in 00/01 was relegated, and the only club without an overdraft was relegated in 01/02.

So financial regulations to prevent the amassing of unsustainable debt is the only way to stop clubs from doing so, since there is a clear incentive to spend more than you earn. (at least in the short term, that is)

[BrianCappellieri]

The Guardian

SPL: We're heading in the right direction

The Scottish Premier League insist top-flight clubs are "moving in the right direction" - despite record losses for the 2000-1 season.