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      Premier League club’s owner launches stinging attack on Championship and fumes ‘why should we pay’

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      DAVID SULLIVAN has blasted Championship clubs who pay players £40,000 a week and managers £1million a year.And the West Ham co-owner asks: “Why should the Premier League pay for that?”West Ham owner David Sullivan has launched a stinging attack on the ChampionshipCredit: 2023 DeFodi ImagesEFL chairman Rick Parry has claimed the Premier League pays £2billion more in wages than the other four major European leaguesCredit: RexThe EFL receives £130m-a-season in solidarity payments from the top flight — but Prem chiefs have failed to vote on a new six-year £995m deal.Sullivan, 75, claims EFL clubs or incompetent owners have racked up debts because they do not live within their means.And he dismissed EFL chairman Rick Parry’s claim the top flight pays  £2BILLION more in wages than the other four major European leagues.Businessman Sullivan came out fighting to SunSport after reading our Monday EFL column which criticised his failure to agree more Prem funding.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLHe argued: “The flaw in the system is the Championship. These clubs are having financial problems because they’re paying too high wages and agent fees and some have managers on £1MILLION a year.“If you look at Serie B [Italy’s second tier], the managers don’t earn that nor are players on £30,000, £40,000 a week!“If the EFL can’t work with the funds we give them now, what suggests they can work with another £50m or £100m?“They should manage their finances better and stop paying silly money.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS“But they don’t want to because they’re competing to get into the Premier League.“If we give to the EFL what they want, in five years we’ll be exactly where we are today.”Why More Penalties Are Being ScoredSullivan blames owners who have proved incompetent, or stopped pouring money into chasing the dream of promotion to the Premier League.He said: “Some EFL owners are richer than those in the Premier League.“Yet some clubs have got into trouble because their owners have gone for promotion but got fed up.“Then there’s my old club, Birmingham. They sacked a good manager, John Eustace, when they were on the verge of the play-offs to bring in a flagship name in Wayne Rooney. It messed it up.“Why should we subsidise their incompetence?”Sullivan insists promotion-chasing Ipswich should be used as a model.He added: “They’re a flag bearer for everything that’s good.“They’ve done it within their budget.Parry believes parachute payments are causing a huge imbalanceCredit: Rex“They’re a well-supported club, which helps. But then look at Bradford, who’re getting almost 20,000 in League Two and cannot do better on the pitch.“There’s Stoke, who could go down to League One with one of the richest owners.”EFL chairman Parry believes parachutes cause a huge imbalance in the Championship.A relegated club receives £55m in their first season, another £45m for the second and, if that team was in the Prem for more than a year before relegation, £20m in the third.That adds up to a whopping £120m. In the same period, a normal Championship side gets £8.2m-a-season, totalling just £24.6m. Parry says relegated teams also benefit from receiving bumper transfer fees.Leicester banked £92m from selling James Maddison, Harvey Barnes, Timothy Castagne and George Hirst last summer, immediately after their relegation.Sullivan said: “In the Premier League, if you’re on TV it’s £900,000-a-game but drops to £100,000 in the Championship.“Our sponsors give us £10m a year — but that’d fall to £1m. Total income drops by 75-80 per cent.Sullivan fumed ‘why should we pay’ amid the row over EFL fundingCredit: Rex“Some players you go down with are assets — for example Maddison.“But you have others who’ve got injured or aren’t in-form and you’re paying them £100,000-a-week. You can’t give these players away.“You might have paid £30m for a player on a five-year deal, he’s had a disastrous season and you’re forced to get him off the wage bill by releasing him for nothing. That’s £24m written off!“You can’t put relegation clauses in their contracts that get them to drop their pay by 75-80 per cent.”Sullivan says withdrawing parachute payments would weaken top-flight competitiveness.He argues promoted teams will not risk investing in their squads — because there is no buffer if they go down.And he added: “Those clubs wouldn’t spend a penny because they’d go bankrupt as soon as they were relegated.“Around half of the Premier League teams would not take on overheads in a bid to compete with top clubs.”Sullivan urged clubs to follow the model of Championship high-flyers IpswichCredit: AlamySullivan believes a regulator will take £10m-a-year out of the game.The Government wants to grant powers to an independent body to oversee clubs in the top five tiers.They will be tasked with deciding how much money the Premier League should filter into the EFL and National League.Multi-millionaire Sullivan fumed: “It’s going to cost £10m-a-year with 50 staff to run this Quango. They’ll operate from home three days a week because they can’t get the Civil Service to work.”Sullivan fears if the Premier League pays more money, the gap between the clubs who have qualified for Europe and those who have not will widen.He said: “If they want another £100m-a-year, the top clubs want everyone to contribute the same, while the rest want those in Europe to pay more. You need 14 teams to agree — that’s unlikely.“So it ends up being divided equally.  If you take £5m off Manchester City,  it’s not much. If you take that from a bottom club, it’s significant.“There’ll be a bias to big sides when you’re trying to make it competitive.”Stoke were singled out by the West Ham owner as they battle against relegationCredit: RexEFL chairman Parry dismisses Sullivan’s claims the Prem could lose their status as the best in the world.He argues top-flight clubs pay £2bn more wages per season, according to figures from accountants Deloitte, than Germany, Italy, Spain and France — so extra  revenue paid to the EFL would not dilute their power.But Sullivan said: “That figure is exaggerated. We don’t pay £100m-a club more.“I accept we overall pay higher but in Italy they’ve 28 per cent top-rate tax, Portugal 25 per cent. Here it’s 45.“It’s easier sometimes for them to attract top players.“But we have a more competitive league because there are more clubs who can pay higher wages.“In Spain, it’s Real Madrid and Barcelona. In Scotland, Rangers and Celtic.“Here, you’ve got Newcastle and Aston Villa breaking into those top places.“There’s not a successful business in the world which is forced to pay money to their competitors.READ MORE SUN STORIES“We could damage the Premier League — which is the golden goose.“If that happens, we won’t get the  TV money we do, everything declines and we won’t have the cash to filter down anyway.” More

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      Tottenham clash with Nottingham Forest MOVED at just 10 days notice as Premier League ‘apologises unreservedly’

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      TOTTENHAM’S clash with Nottingham Forest has been moved – with fans given just ten days to change their schedules.The Premier League announced the news while “apologising unreservedly.”Spurs vs Forest has been moved with fans given just ten days noticeCredit: GettySpurs will now welcome Forest on Sunday 7 April and kick-off time is now set for 6pm.It was initially scheduled for Monday 8 April at 8pm.The fixture has been moved due to rail strikes.London Underground workers represented by ASLEF are not going to work and c2c, Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Greater Anglia, South Western Railway, Southeastern, Southern and Thameslink services will also be impacted by union action.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe Prem have said London Underground, London Overground and Greater Anglia services that serve the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will run near full services on April 7 for the game.For Forest’s travelling supporters, East Midlands Railway trains to London St Pancras are expected to run smoothly. Fans not attending the game will still be able to watch on Sky Sports.A statement from Forest read: “The Premier League apologises unreservedly to supporters of both clubs, and all those affected, for the inconvenience and disruption caused by this late fixture change. Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKER”The change has been made due to matters beyond the League’s control, namely the decision to implement rail and tube strikes on Monday 8 April and the subsequent reduction in available travel services. “This has resulted in the local authority’s Safety Advisory Group determining that it is not possible to stage the match with the required levels of safety for attending fans.”Home Wins – Alex FergusonTottenham won the return fixture 2-0 earlier this season via goals from Richarlison and Dejan Kulusevski. Ange Postecoglou’s men are in the battle for Champions League qualification.While ex-Spurs boss Nuno Espirito Santo is fighting to keep Forest in the division following their four-point deduction. More

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      Former Arsenal star Gael Clichy hails three legends who changed the Premier League forever including ‘nightmare’ striker

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      FORMER Arsenal defender Gael Clichy has revealed the three players he feels changed the Premier League forever.The ex-France left-back, 38, will watch the Gunners take on Manchester City – another of his old sides – on Sunday in a huge clash in the title race.Gael Clichy has named the three stars that changed Premier League footballCredit: Getty – ContributorClichy was a part of Arsenal’s famous Invincibles side that did not lose a single game during the 2003/04 Premier League campaignCredit: GettyAnd two of his three Premier League game-changers were his team-mates the last time Arsenal became champions as The Invincibles in 2004.Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira were two of the key men in that side and have unsurprisingly been named by Clichy as having had an instrumental impact on the league.He also insisted Henry would be well-suited to the modern game.But the third man may surprise some people as he was a nemesis of both Arsenal and Man City.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLIt is Manchester United legend Roy Keane.When asked about the greatest players he ever played with, Clichy told Super 6: “There’s no doubt, Thierry Henry [on the best player he played with].”In my mind three players changed the Premier League, Thierry Henry, Vieira and Roy Keane.”Thierry just himself, at certain moments, was the Premier League.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS”He was so good to play with and really difficult to play against, I’m pretty sure some defenders were having nightmares about him.”Henry is a 2024 player, his pace, power, mentality, ruthlessness.”Ashley Cole picks his all-time team-mates XI… but does it boast more Arsenal or Chelsea stars?Nowadays, Clichy is Henry’s assistant for France’s U21 and U23 teams.The pair will coach their country’s Olympic team in Paris this summer.Next year, they will then lead France at the 2025 U21 European Championships.The Super 6 jackpot stands at a huge £1m this weekend. It’s completely free to play, just correctly predict six scores to win!Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira had a famous rivalry in the late 1990s and early 2000sCredit: AFP More

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      I’m a former Arsenal star making my own way in management – I’m trying to copy what Arsene Wenger did with Gunners stars

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      JULIO BAPTISTA has revealed he is trying to copy Arsene Wenger after starting his own career in management.The Brazilian spent a season playing under Wenger during a loan spell with Arsenal.Julio Baptista is trying to copy Arsene Wenger as a managerCredit: GettyBaptista scored 10 goals and added four assists in 35 appearances for the GunnersCredit: AFPWenger signed Baptista on loan from Real Madrid in 2006, with the former midfielder scoring 10 goals and providing four assists in 35 appearances.Now a coach, Baptista has reflected on his time in the Premier League and how his time under Wenger has impacted his approach to management.He exclusively told Ladbrokes Fanzone: “”Playing in the Premier League was an incredible experience.”I wish I was there for longer. I had just started to learn English and then I left.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”Obviously, I played for one of the best clubs when I was there and I got to work with Arsene Wenger. “Wenger for me is a superb, top manager. I learned a lot from him and he helped me a lot in improving my game and made me a stronger player.”My first conversation with him, he spoke very very slowly and said it would be too hard to try and speak Spanish with me. “He said you need to learn English and I will speak slow so you understand everything.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS”The first instruction he gave me was ‘What position I would like to be in’, and he believed I could do an incredible job for him. He improved me a lot as a player.”He is a very nice person, and he is one manager who doesn’t act superior. “He’s able to do his job and be a nice person at the same time. He was never intimidating; he was so close to the players.”He is very kind and doesn’t make players feel pressure. He has an incredible mind.”Now that I am a coach, I try to reproduce what Wenger did and how he acted towards the players. He got more out of the players than anyone.”Four Arsenal stars confronted Arsene Wenger after huge stars sold to bitter rivals, reveals Jack Wilshere Baptista went on to have spells in Spain, Italy, Brazil, Romania and the USA before retiring in 2019 aged 37.He soon moved into management, taking charge in Real Valladolid’s youth and reserve sides.However, the 42-year-old was sacked by former team-mate Ronaldo back in November and is yet to return to the dugout.Baptista coached Real Valladolid’s youth and reserve sides before leaving in NovemberCredit: Instagram @juliobaptistaoficial More

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      Forgotten Man Utd flop ‘first reserve’ if Liverpool target Xabi Alonso turns down Bayern Munich job

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      FORMER Manchester United boss Ralf Rangnick is in the running for the Bayern Munich job, according to reports.The German giants are in the hunt for a new manager as Thomas Tuchel is leaving at the end of the season.Xabi Alonso is on Bayern Munich and Liverpool’s radarCredit: GettyShould Bayern fail to land Alonso, they could go after Ralf RangnickCredit: ReutersBayern’s first choice is Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso, whose team are in the hunt to win the Bundesliga, DFB Pokal and Europa League, having not lost a game this season.But Liverpool also want to appoint the Spaniard as they need to replace Jurgen Klopp in the summer.Should Bayern fail to convince Alonso, they could turn their attention to Rangnick.Kicker report he is “their “second alternative” due to his good relationship with sporting director Christoph Freund.READ MORE ON MAN UTDRangnick is currently in charge of the Austrian national side and will lead them at Euro 2024.His future beyond the tournament is unclear.Rangnick appeals to Bayern as he has plenty of Bundesliga experience after managing Stuttgart, Hannover, Schalke, Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig.He also had a spell as interim boss at Man Utd during the 2021/22 season.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERThe 65-year-old stepped in following the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.United finished the season on just 58 points – their worst ever total in Premier League history.After Rangnick’s 29 games in charge, he left the club and did continue his initial role as a consultant.Ralf Rangnick responds after Cristiano Ronaldo slammed ex-Man Utd manager as ‘not even a coach’ More

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      Arsenal ‘unlikely to sign Osimhen or Toney as Arteta’s top three striker transfer targets are revealed’

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      ARSENAL have reportedly gone cold on Victor Osimhen and Ivan Toney as Mikel Arteta identifies alternative transfer targets.The Gunners have long been linked with both Osimhen, 25, and Toney, 28, as they bid to add a natural goalscorer to their frontline.Ivan Toney is no longer Arsenal’s top No9 target this summerCredit: AlamyVictor Osimhen’s injury has also meant he has fallen out of favour with the GunnersCredit: AFPBut, according to the Athletic’s David Ornstein, the Napoli and Brentford stars are now falling out of favour. It is understood Osimhen’s injury record and Toney age are concerns for the Gunners.And it’s claimed Arteta has now switched his focus onto three alternative strikers.Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Sporting’s former Coventry star Viktor Gyokeres make that list, along with Brighton hotshot Evan Ferguson.READ MORE ARSENAL NEWSOrnstein said: “The likes of Sesko & Gyokeres are well thought of. “As is Ferguson but the price Brighton would want & the season he has had so far perhaps makes him less likely at the moment. “I don’t see it being an Osimhen or Toney. There will be other options too.”Sesko has impressed in the Bundesliga with 11 goals in 30 games this season. Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERThe 20-year-old forward has been linked with fairly recently and has been on top form for Leipzig this season.While Gyokeres, 25, leads the European top-flight leagues with 30 goals and 11 assists in 34 matches. Ivan Toney reveals ‘ideal summer’ involves transfer to European giantsFerguson, the youngest of the three at 19, has shown promise at Brighton but has been in and out of the Seagulls starting XI this season.And the teenager may come with a hefty transfer fee having scored 16 goals in 60 senior appearances.Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko has been on superb form this season with Arsenal now interested in the strikerEvan Ferguson is another target but the 19-year-old may come with a hefty price tagSporting’s Viktor Gyokeres is now a top transfer target for ArsenalCredit: AFP More

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      Zinedine Zidane tipped for Man Utd manager job by former team-mate with Erik ten Hag under pressure at Old Trafford

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      ZINEDINE ZIDANE has been tipped to become Manchester United manager by his former team-mate.The Frenchman has been out of work since his second spell in charge of Real Madrid ended in 2021.Zinedine Zidane is open to joining a Premier League side, claims his former team-mateCredit: SplashZidane and Julio Baptista played together during the legend’s final year at Real MadridCredit: GettyErik ten Hag is under pressure at Man UtdCredit: AFPZidane has been linked with a return to management and Julio Baptista believes he would be open to joining Man Utd.He exclusively told Ladbrokes Fanzone: “I think he will be a Premier League manager someday. “He is an incredible coach, with amazing experience having won the Champions League, so I can see that happening. “I can see him going to Manchester United.”READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAmid pressure on Erik ten Hag, reports suggest he will not be sacked at the end of the season.However, Sir Jim Ratcliffe is already in the process of identifying a new gaffer should he choose to axe the Dutchman or let him go when his contract expires at the end of the 2024/25 campaign.It has also been reported that new CEO Omar Berrada and incoming director of football Dan Ashworth will have the final say on Ten Hag’s future.They will also be in charge of identifying his replacement.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERGraham Potter and Gareth Southgate are some of the names on their radar.Zidane and Baptista were team-mates during the legendary midfielder’s final year at Real Madrid in 2006. Zinedine Zidane ‘will only return to management for three jobs’ as Bayern Munich hunt new boss Baptista, who also used to play for Arsenal, added: “Zidane was the best player I have ever played with. Playing with him and sharing a dressing room with him was very special. “He is one the best in the world. In training sessions, he would do crazy things and he is a very good person. “I see him often and we like to reminisce about our time together at Real Madrid. “My best memory with him was actually his last game at Real Madrid against Villarreal. We drew 3-3 and I scored two goals. “I was so glad to have played well and score to give him good memories of his last game.” More

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      I turned down Aston Villa transfer after being handed bizarre contract clause… now their fans can’t stand me

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      TROY DEENEY has revealed he turned down a move to Aston Villa after they put a bizarre clause in their contract offer… before the club’s supporters ended up HATING him.Watford legend Deeney, 35, grew up six miles away from St Andrew’s – the home of Villa’s rivals Birmingham.Troy Deeney has revealed the bizarre clause he received in his Aston Villa contract offerCredit: RexDeeney has the crest of Villa’s rivals Birmingham on his calfCredit: AlamyHe has a tattoo of the the Blues’ crest on his calf and ended up playing for them in the latter stages of his career between 2021 and 2023.Deeney also bagged six goals in five games against Villa and once had coins thrown at him by fans of the Midlands club after scoring against them.Yet had circumstances been slightly different, Deeney could have ended up leading the line for them earlier in his career.That was if he had agreed to remove his Birmingham tattoo – a sticking point for those at Villa.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLSpeaking on talkSPORT, he said: “I had an opportunity to [join Villa], yeah.”My friends let me know it wouldn’t be a good idea, and secondly they wanted me to remove my Birmingham City tattoo as well.”The club [Aston Villa wanted me to], that was part of the conversation.”But they’ve gone on to bigger and better things and so have I.”Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSDeeney went on to admit he believes a move to Villa would have made it tough for his family – most of whom support Birmingham.He added: “No I wouldn’t have [had it removed], that’s why it didn’t get too far.Troy Deeney posts emotional message to Watford fans after 11-year stay ends”My best friend is Birmingham City die-hard, my whole family are Birmingham City apart from my brother who weirdly decided to go against the grain.”It would have been a difficult place to live and see the family if I was playing for Aston Villa for a few months.”I’m sure they would have got over it afterwards.”Deeney scored 11 goals in 56 games for Birmingham across a two-season spell.But he is best-known for more than a decade at Watford where netted 140 times in 419 appearances.He helped The Hornets secure promotion to the Premier League in 2015 and 2021, while he also reached the FA Cup final in 2019 where Watford lost 6-0 to Manchester City. More