Has this Club ever been in better hands? Please take a few minutes to read what Niall Quinn had to say regarding Ticket Prices and the Greedy Government. Taken from today's Echo. ***** SUNDERLAND chairman Niall Quinn today said he could see a day that fans gain cheaper access if the Government reduced their vast take from the game and passed it directly to supporters. Quinn spoke before a Parliamentary select committee on Tuesday that was investigating the finances of the nationââ¬â¢s favourite sport. Speaking exclusively to the Echo to expand his views given to MPs, Quinn said it was important that fans understood the true nature of footballing finance. ââ¬ÅFor every ã49 a club pays a player, that club must send a further ã64.80 in taxation and other contributions to the Government. This makes the Government the main beneficiary of high player wages. ââ¬ÅPeople are astonished at playersââ¬â¢ wages, but might be more astonished at the amount the Government takes. ââ¬ÅIn Sunderlandââ¬â¢s case should we drop fansââ¬â¢ tickets by 50 per cent the Government would only have to reduce their huge take minimally to facilitate it ââ¬â no gain for the players and no gain for the club. ââ¬ÅAll Premier League clubs should be told to do this. The Government should pass the saving on to fans directly, with clubs being paid a rebate at the end of the season for participating. Therefore, the fans would have a real victory in this huge debate. ââ¬ÅThe few chairmen I have spoken to at other Premier League clubs would back up my suggestion. Itââ¬â¢s not just playersââ¬â¢ wages that put the game at risk, itââ¬â¢s also the large Government take that adds to the pressures. ââ¬ÅIn truth we do pay our players too well, but as a result, the Government becomes the really big winner. ââ¬ÅFootballing finance is a bit out of kilter. On one side the fans are being squeezed, while on the other both the players and the Government are getting too much. ââ¬ÅThe desperation for clubs to stay in the greatest league in the world allied to rules such as Bosman and our ridiculous transfer window system, serve to put the players and their agents in a fantastic position to milk the footballing cow. ââ¬ÅBut remember the Government cleans up in the background. Itââ¬â¢s ironic they openly criticise our wage policy, but incredibly they benefit the most. ââ¬ÅYet through all this it seems they would be happy for wages to drop. What I am suggesting is the difference goes directly to fans. The club would not gain, the player would not gain and the Government, who seem open to the idea of a lesser take anyway, would give the fans a much-needed boost to continue their love affair with their clubs. ââ¬ÅThere are five main stakeholders in the game ââ¬â the clubs, the fans, the players, the media and the Government. At the moment, clubs work like a clearing house, the money comes in, the money goes out. The media and the Government are criticising the amounts paid to players while the fans are the ones suffering because of the higher prices they have to pay. ââ¬ÅThe real winners currently arenââ¬â¢t only the players, itââ¬â¢s the Government tooââ¬Â. Quinn added that should Sunderland choose to drastically reduce match-day prices without Government assistance then top players would have to be sold. ââ¬ÅThe only way we could afford to do that would be to sell our best players and lose our competitive edge. We donââ¬â¢t want to do that, and Iââ¬â¢m sure the fans donââ¬â¢t want us to do that either. ââ¬ÅAnd if the majority of Premier League clubs did so it would only end up damaging our game and improving our competitors in Spain, Italy and Germany. ââ¬ÅI think the only way of really tackling this is for the Government to look at their huge intake. ââ¬ÅWhy donââ¬â¢t they credit price-reducing clubs so we can satisfy supporters and continue to provide them with the worldââ¬â¢s best players? The only beneficaries of such a scheme would be the fans ââ¬â not the clubs, not players.ââ¬Â Quinn has recently led a crusade against pubs and clubs illegally broadcasting live Sunderland home games. He wants fans to spend their money on attending games rather than watching illegal broadcasts and his campaign notched a significant victory when the cityââ¬â¢s biggest club operator, Wylam Leisure, agreed not to show live Sunderland home games. The chairman accepts that price is an issue for many supporters and is working hard to come up with new and innovative ways to make games more affordable for fans. Quinn was angered by the way in which some of his responses to questions asked at the Select Committee had been reported. ââ¬ÅI was told by the chairman that Sunderland had no chance of ever being successful in the Premier League. ââ¬ÅI explained to him that I would be chased out of Sunderland if I were to say such a thing ââ¬ÅAnd while stopping short of saying we would win the league, I did say European football is a realistic target for us in the next few years. ââ¬ÅUnfortunately some bright spark reported my quote back to front. To think that I or any chairman would concede success is ridiculous. And to balance things I voted ââ¬Åyesââ¬Â in last nightââ¬â¢s Echo poll.
Your'e right you have got to love Niall, he seems the only club chairman to get out of his seat and go and do something for the fans, I've said it before & I'll say it again, he is the only truly honest & fan minded chairman in the entire football league
He told us all this at Sedgefield on Tuesday night. Niall is fighting for us. He is genuine and a one-off and I'm glad we've got him. Could you see any other Club chairman doing this? Thought not.
We are truly blessed to have this man at the helm of our club. He is a genuine champion of the real football fan and continues to be an innovator in the game. Under his stewardship the club's profile has improved dramatically as has our standing and reputation in the game and beyond it. Thanks for posting Welder and thanks to Niall for his continued energy innovation and commitment you are the best!
A great ambassador for footbal,...............................wonder what he would do for the health service?
Make Guinness avalable on the NHS as a health drink? That's a great article, welder. Thanks for posting it.
Don't thank me i only came across it in the Echo and thought you'd all like to see it, it's the big man himself we should be thanking. A special rendition from full house against Liverpool of Niall Quinns Disco Pants.
Niall Quinn is the best thing to have ever happened to Sunderland AFC. As long as he is the chairman Sunderland will go places. We should thank out lucky stars the day he decided to sign for Sunderland! Oh! and incase you did not know - he always winks at me...!!
Keep yer "feeling" to yerself, WWY! This is a family forum. And, Scatty_MOO, I know the thread title says "You've got to Love Niall Quinn" but no need to take it literally. It is not an order. Not a command. Not a request. (move over, Quinny, this may be my only chance) Scatty_MOO - you may think that my avatar is that of a famous Hollywood movie star. WRONG! I am the body double that was used in that shot And I can do more than just wink (FFS, you swoon at a wink? )
Sorry lads but I disagree entirely. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO LOVE HIM. Problem is you just cannot help it……………. it’s the same as the love we all have for our club. He was made for SAFC.
NOOOOOOOOO! He definately winked at me. You ask Syd he was standing next to me. Anyway it does not matter what you all think...I KNOW
The clue is, ASK SYD, HE WAS STANDING NEXT TO ME. Yes I was so how do we know, was it scatty or me he winked at? I did have my Sunderland cap on.
syd he may have winked at you both at the same time but then he would not see who he was winking at ill get me coat
but that would be a blink not a wink, I was there and it was a wink, but who for. I have seen scatty and must admit she is a bit of a sex kitten so it may have been her.
