FA's 'restructuring' threat over TV deal

GLENN MOORE and MATHEW HORSMAN

The Football Association has threatened the Endsleigh League clubs with "restructuring" if they do not accept the FA-brokered television deal on Friday.

The threat is contained in a leaked letter from Graham Kelly, the chief executive of the FA, which has been sent to all FA Council members. The letter details the new deal which is worth pounds 118.5m over five years and, though backed by Sky TV, also includes terrestrial coverage.

The letter contains a nebulous, but threatening passage, which says: "If the proposals are accepted by the Football [Endsleigh] League the FA will be saved consideration of any applications to further restructure the professional game. If the proposals are not accepted... there could be further ramifications in the structure of the professional competitions."

As Gordon McKeag, the president of the Football League, and eight club chairmen or directors are members of the FA Council, this letter is sure to receive wide currency before Friday's meeting. The phrasing is vague enough for almost every club to feel unnerved but the lower division clubs, haunted by the spectres of regionalisation, part-time football and, especially, the creation of a second breakaway league, will have most cause for concern.

A senior broadcasting executive was more explicit yesterday. He warned that if the FA deal was rejected the First Division would break away and join the Premiership. "If the deal does not go through, the First Division will go," he said. "The chairmen of the Football League do no seem to understand how serious the situation is."

The letter to FA Council members contrasts with one which was sent by Kelly to all 72 club chairmen and publicly released yesterday. That stressed the deal's positive aspects although it also warned: "It is a here-and- now offer. It is not a speculative proposal involving a percentage of a financial question-mark at some stage in the future."

That comment is clearly aimed at the Premier League who, since the FA offered its deal, has made a counter-proposal. The Premier League believes the Football League should simply renew its current deal (worth pounds 6m to pounds 7m a year) for one year to bring it in line with the other deals. Then it should link with the Premier to negotiate a joint deal, of which the Football League would be guaranteed 20 per cent. It is anticipated this would at least match the FA offer.

Both sides insist they will not become involved in an auction - but that is the only friendly note to the debate. The FA, having made its proposal on 9 October, originally gave the Football League 14 days to accept. The deadline was extended to Friday on condition the Football League did not re-negotiate with the Premier League in the meantime.

The Premier League is upset by this demand, and suspicious of the need for a quick decision. This, says the FA, is because ITV can renew the Football League's current deal at the same price (plus RPI) if a deal is not agreed by 1 December. However, it may not be in ITV's long-term interest to do so.

Both bidders say they are seeking the best deal for the good of the game. The FA argues that it always has football's wider interests at heart; the Premier League notes that it has told the clubs their deal would be linked with ground improvements and youth development.

In essence the row is about power - who controls the professional game? In a moment of candour Trevor Phillips, the FA's commercial director and the force behind their offer, admitted: "This is a battle for power. This is all about keeping a healthy balance of power so everyone respects each other's position. Things work better when there is a healthy balance of power."

Hammam's rage,

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