The belief that top-level footballers get paid excessive amounts for what they do is not something that can easily be disputed. It’s an opinion most of us share, and that’s because it is pretty much a fact.

But the extent of the damage these overpaid individuals are doing to the sport is not always obvious. Although it’s the fans that ultimately pay their wages, they aren’t the ones who actually sign the cheques.

But a new report by Deloitte has shown just how much money is being sucked out of the game by players, some of whom are earning in excess of £10 million a year.

The report, which is based on the 2009-10 season, shows that on average Premier League clubs spent 68 per cent of their total income on wages. That’s a ridiculous amount.

A few clubs, like Manchester United, are not as unbalanced, mostly because their turnover is huge. In fact, the Old Trafford wage bill is 46 per cent of their income.

But there are many others where the salary bill is totally disproportionate. Manchester City, for example, spent a staggering 107 per cent of their income on wages in that season. And that can’t have left very much in the kitty for Roberto Mancini’s hair care products.

But in my opinion the real problem with these excessive wages is not in the top flight. It’s lower down the leagues.

For while the likes of City and Chelsea and the other big boys have owners who are more than capable of making up any difference in running costs, smaller clubs don’t.

‘So what?’ I hear you cry. It’s not like the smaller clubs are paying huge wages. True. But over-inflated wages at the top clubs have a knock-on effect on the smaller clubs. All players seem to think they are entitled to silly money these days.

Whereas teams in the lower division could once get away with paying sensible wages, they are now having to pay more and more just to hold on to players who are, realistically, average at best. A case of demand and supply that has been distorted by those at the top of the pyramid.

It’s not that I begrudge anybody earning as much as they possibly can in their chosen career. It’s just that there has to be limit, a point at which you realise it has spiralled out of control.

And, with the total debt of the 92 English league clubs estimated at £3.5 billion, I think it is fair to say that point has now been reached.

The Uefa financial fair play regulations, which are due to come in to force, are aimed at making clubs live within their means. And part of that belt-tightening will obviously need to involve stricter wage budgets.

For the sake of football fans everywhere we really have to hope these measures work, because those Deloitte figures make for scary reading. The current situation is unsustainable not just in the long term, but also in the short.

The game in England is teetering on the brink of financial meltdown and only Uefa can save it now.

Now there’s a sentence I never thought I would use.

Spot the difference

The penalty spot from which Wayne Rooney scored the goal that secured Manchester United’s record 19th league title has been sold on eBay – for more than £6,000.

The piece of turf, including the spot itself, was cut out of the pitch by a Blackburn fan who then encased it in a wooden box and put in on the auction site.

Eddie Maxwell had hoped to raise a thousand pounds by selling the grass, money which he was going to put into his Sunday League team. But bidding rocketed and closed at £6,101. Maxwell, who had Blackburn’s permission to take the memento as they were planning to lay a new pitch anyway, is obviously delighted with the money he raised.

It costs roughly £1,500 a year to keep King Edward FC going, so that small gesture by Blackburn combined with Maxwell’s enterprising nature have secured the little club’s future for the next four years.

I can’t help but wonder, though, what the person who won the bid will do with his new possession.

I’m no gardener but I’m fairly sure grass doesn’t live forever no matter how much you take care of it.

And doesn’t the fact that it keeps growing mean that the actual grass Rooney took the kick from will be cut and thrown away at some point soon? As pieces of memorabilia go, it is a great one to have in the short term but will be somewhat less spectacular in a few years time when all he has to show for his money is a small box of mud.

Still, it’s all in a good cause.

Hair we grow

Credit to Wayne Rooney for having the decency to openly admit he has had a hair transplant.

The Manchester United and England striker had the procedure carried out at a Harley Street clinic and then announced it on Twitter.

Far better to get it out in the open than have rumours circulating for days. And he even followed it up by posting a picture of his new locks on the micro-blogging site. Some are suggesting it is a vain thing to do but, as the player himself said, he is only 25 and going bald, so why not?

He’s got the money and, if it makes him feel more comfortable with himself, it can only help his performances on the pitch and elsewhere. Good news for club, country and possibly his wife Coleen.

Let’s face it, it’s not as if a full head of hair is going to make him look any less like Shrek anyway. Talking of Twitter and tweets, I have finally succumbed to the hype and signed up myself. Not sure if I will have anything interesting to say and I very much don’t expect to be posting snaps of any hair transplants any time soon.

But you are all more than welcome to follow me if the urge grabs you. Just do a little search for @maltablade.

Your say

“It is difficult to say whether Barcelona are the best team ever because you have to have respect the other great sides that have played in the past.

“However, you have to consider that they are achieving one success after another, while most sides win a Champions League one year and fall short the next. Inter are a clear example of this.

“Pep Guardiola has managed to create a family, not a team, that is not only content with reaching the summit but also wants to stay there.

“Being a Barca supporter and watching this team play in a world where football has supposedly improved when compared to the old days, I believe that, yes, Barcelona are the best team ever.

“For Sir Alex Ferguson to say ‘this is the best team we have faced’ is quite remarkable, especially coming from a man who, in my opinion, is one of the most intelligent in world football.

“Of course, there will always be disagreements, but my opinion is based on the fact that I don’t believe competition in the past was as tough as it is today.

“Barcleona are playing more complete and higher quality football than the rest.” Malachy Portelli, e-mail.

sportscolumnist@timesofmalta.com
Twitter: @maltablade