Monday, 18th November, 2013
Former Liverpool managing director Christian Purslow has warned that UEFA's financial fair play rules (FFP), combined with the extra money flowing into the game from a Champions League TV rights deal with BT Sport, means that Everton, Newcastle and Aston Villa will never again challenge the hegemony of the established elite in England.
BT Sport have paid almost £900m to secure the Champions League rights in the UK from the 2015/16 campaign, snatching them away from Sky.
That means a huge increase in money for those English clubs competing in the top tier tournament and, along with FFP making itself felt, Purslow thinks the door is firmly shut to clubs on the next rung of the ladder making an impact.
He explained to the BBC: "The fundamental effect of the BT deal will be additional wealth for England's big three – Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United – and probably the next three too, Arsenal, Liverpool and Spurs.
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"You will now have six teams playing for four Champions League places, with the other 14 teams playing for survival.
"Never again will the likes of Everton, Newcastle or Villa get near the top – the difference in revenues will just be too great."
BT Sport will show 350 matches from the Champions League and the Europa League each season from 2015.
Everton currently sit sixth in the Premier League, while Newcastle are ninth and Aston Villa eleventh. The trio boast 20 top flight titles between them, while Aston Villa have on their own won the European Cup, in 1982.
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