Chelsea set to back financial fair play deal

Chelsea are set to back both a wage increase cap and a compromise financial fair play deal at today’s showdown meeting of all 20 Premier League chairmen.

The Blues had been viewed as being opposed to financial fair play (FFP) but it is understood they will agree to a system that obliges clubs to break even but allows owners to cover some losses.

Insiders at Stamford Bridge insist they have never been opposed to a compromise agreement, and that position should now ensure that both spending control systems are agreed today.

Arsenal, Manchester United, Tottenham and Liverpool will still argue that wealthy owners should not be allowed to underwrite any losses, but in order to push FFP through they will have to settle for a compromise where up to £105 million (€121.6m) over three years can be covered.

Opponents of a no-compromise FFP argue that the system maintains the status quo and favours the biggest clubs with large stadia and high commercial income. Four clubs — Manchester City, Fulham, West Brom and Aston Villa — are still expected to vote against it.

Chelsea’s backing of a compromise however should enable the necessary 14 out of the 20 votes to be reached.

The wage increase cap may also be watered down however — initially Sunderland owner Ellis Short had suggested a maximum 10% increase allowed for player wages. It now looks likely that the cap will only affect those clubs whose total bill is higher than £52m (€60.2m) so that promoted sides are not prevented from improving their squads.

Furthermore, spending money earned from clubs’ individual sponsorship deals on wages will not be restricted. That can be significant — in Manchester United’s case commercial income totalled £117.6m (€135m) last year and their wage bill £160m (€185m).

The Premier League’s expected FFP system would be less restrictive than Uefa’s, which is being brought in from next season and will oblige clubs to break even or face possible exclusion from European competition.