Archived News from September 2009
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PREMIER LEAGUE £1MILLION CASH BOOST TO CONFERENCE
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17 September 2009
mansfieldtown.net reports: 30k given to Stags from Premier League The Premier League has demonstrated its commitment to football outside the top flight by making a one off payment of one million pounds (£1m) to the 68 member clubs of the Football Conference, of which we will receive £30,000. Chairman Andrew Perry told mansfieldtown.net: "It's a fantastic windfall to have. As the conference have pointed out it's great that the Premier League have acknowledged the importance of football outside of the Premiership." ---------------- Stags finances given a boost by Premier League CJAD.co.uk, 17 September 2009 By Stephen Thirkill MANSFIELD Town are set for a cash boost of between £30,000 and £40,000 after the Premier League made a one off payment of £1m to the Blue Square Conference. http://www.chad.co.uk/stags/Stags-finances-given-a-boost.5655504.jp The one-off financial windfall will be split between the 68 teams in the Blue Square Premier and Conference North and South divisions to help clubs battle the budget shortfall caused by the collapse of Setanta. Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore said: "The Premier League clubs discussed the current financial difficulties facing their counterparts in the Conference and were happy to help them out with some financial support. "The Football Conference is clearly an integral part of the football pyramid as well as being extremely important to local fans and communities – it was absolutely the right thing to do at this time." And it is timely news for Stags following the announcement just days ago that broadcasters ESPN had pulled out of talks with Blue Square bosses to screen live games for the rest of the season following concerns over potential viewing figures. Despite the ESPN setback Conference bosses are still hoping to secure a television deal. But if no deal is signed Stags could look at broadcasting highlights packages on a possible pay-per-view basis on the club's official website. Said chairman Andy Perry: "It is disappointing that the talks have broken down. The day before the season we were told we would soon have an answer about what was happening, but we are still waiting for a decision and are still very much in the dark about what is going on." "We will write to the Blue Square Premier for a clarification of the situation and to see if broadcasting highlights on our website is something we can do. "We already record our matches and this could be an avenue to explore on a pay-per-view basis. "We are looking at all ways we can overcome the budget shortfall faced by the Setanta collapse. "The lack of television revenues is still an issue for Mansfield Town and makes it that little bit harder to take the club forward." ------------- Andy Perry on BBC Radio Nottingham, 16 Sep 2009. Listen here. ------------- Premier League cash boost for Blue Square leagues http://www.bluesqfootball.com/story/0,20970,13040_5563316,00.html 16 SEP 09 The Premier League has demonstrated its commitment to football outside the top flight by making a one off payment of one million pounds (£1m) to the 68 member clubs of the Football Conference. This solidarity payment has been made to soften the financial blow which clubs in the Football Conference, competing in the Blue Square Premier, North and South have suffered this season due to unfortunate economic circumstances. Recognising this wonderful gesture Brian Lee, Chairman of the Conference stated: "We are extremely grateful to the Premier League in demonstrating their support to our members at a time when our clubs are feeling the pinch not only at the loss of our TV contract but the decline of anticipated income due to the financial position generally." Premier League Chief Executive, Richard Scudamore, said: "The Premier League clubs discussed the current financial difficulties facing their counterparts in the Conference and were happy to be in the position to help them out with some financial support. "The Football Conference is clearly an integral part of the football pyramid as well as being extremely important to local fans and communities - it was absolutely the right thing to do at this time." The Title sponsors of the Football Conference - Blue Square - welcomed the cash injection from the Premier League by supporting the clubs who play in the Blue Square Premier, Blue Square North and Blue Square South. Alan Alger speaking on behalf of Blue Square commented: "This is great news for the competition and our clubs. It is generous of the Premier League to recognise the importance of the football pyramid. This helping hand extended to clubs is very welcome. It has been a difficult time especially with the loss of the TV deal; but Blue Square is 100% behind our sponsorship. The fantastic start to the current season has proved what a competitive and exciting league we are connected with. TV coverage of the matches is obviously a bonus, but we get so much more from our partnership." The Football Conference remain committed to securing a broadcast partner and assure their member clubs and all those who support them, that in addition to this gesture, it is in the long term interests of the competition to showcase all that is good about football played at this level. ---------------- Conference clubs handed windfall http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_conf/8259550.stm The Premier League has made a one-off £1m payment to help the 68 Conference football clubs cope with the current adverse economic conditions. The Conference is still seeking another broadcaster after the demise of Irish company Setanta three months ago. Several club chairmen expressed their relief and gratitude for the donation. Premier League chief Richard Scudamore said: "The Conference is an integral part of the football pyramid. It was absolutely the right thing to do." On top of the economic recession, the Conference leagues which include the Blue Square Premier, North and South, have had to deal with the collapse of Setanta in June this year. The clubs had been two years into a five-year deal worth £2.5m with Blue Square Premier sides receiving a minimum of £70,000 a year and clubs in the North and South taking £15,000 each. Scudamore said: "The Premier League clubs discussed the current financial difficulties facing their counterparts in the Conference and were happy to be in the position to help them out with some financial support." He added that all 68 Conference clubs were "extremely important to local fans and communities". Conference chairman Brian Lee, who helped to broker the deal, said: "We are extremely grateful to the Premier League in demonstrating their support to our members at a time when our clubs are feeling the pinch. "Not only at the loss of our TV contract but the decline of anticipated income due to the financial position generally." Despite the news on Wednesday that talks over a deal with ESPN to televise Blue Square Premier matches had broken down, the Football Conference remain committed to securing a broadcast partner. Chairman Phil Wallace of Stevenage, currently riding high in third spot in the Blue Square Premier, was delighted with the cash hand-out, despite a few reservations. "We lost around £100,000 from the collapse of Setanta and we should receive around £30,000 to £40,000 from this deal," he said. "It doesn't make up for all the Setanta money - it makes everything a third easier. But I think everyone would agree that it's a massive step. "Clubs would have really struggled because the noose was getting tighter and tighter but this will obviously really help clubs." ------------------ Cash windfall for Harriers Wednesday 16th September 2009 http://www.kidderminstershuttle.co.uk/sport/harriers/news/4632623.Cash_windfall_for_Harriers/?ref=rss KIDDERMINSTER Harriers are set to receive a cash windfall after the Premier Football League donated £1,000,000 to the Football Conference. The lump sum will be split between all 68 clubs in the Blue Square, with the teams in the Premier Division getting more than the sides in the North and South Divisions. The payment has been made to soften the financial blow which Conference clubs suffered after the collapse of the Setanta Sports. The cash boost, estimated to be about £30,000 for Harriers, will be added to the £18,000 that the club will receive off the Conference from sponsors Blue Square over the course of the season. Conference chairman Brian Lee, Chairman of the Conference said: “We are extremely grateful to the Premier League in demonstrating their support to our members at a time when our clubs are feeling the pinch not only at the loss of our TV contract but the decline of anticipated income due to the financial position generally.” The payment is a result of talks between Conference chiefs and those in charge of the Premier League. It also comes as a lift after American broadcaster ESPN decided not to buy the rights to televise Conference matches this week. ESPN had taken over broadcasting Premier League games after the demise of Setanta Sports. Premier League Chief Executive, Richard Scudamore: “The Premier League clubs discussed the current financial difficulties facing their counterparts in the Conference and were happy to be in the position to help them out with some financial support. “The Football Conference is clearly an integral part of the football pyramid as well as being extremely important to local fans and communities – it was absolutely the right thing to do at this time.” The Title sponsors of the Football Conference – Blue Square – welcomed the cash injection from the Premier League by supporting the clubs who play in the Blue Square Premier, Blue Square North and Blue Square South." ---------------- |
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