Fuente: © Everton FC
http://www.evertonfc.com/

EVERTON FC : BLUES URGE CASH RETHINK

/noticias.info/ Everton are urging Uefa to press ahead with plans to alter the allocation of prize money amongst clubs in European competition.

Figures released this week showed that Manchester United (£33.9m), Chelsea (£28.7m), Liverpool (£21.1m) and Arsenal (£18.3m) had received massive prize money from their Champions League exertions.

But Uefa Cup competitors like Everton only raked in a fraction of these sums. The Toffees took home £400,000 after reaching the last 16 of the Uefa Cup - though that figure does not include gate receipts and TV revenue.

Everton did make more than fellow Premier League contenders Bolton and Tottenham and - with all income considered - generated a significant profit as a result of the campaign.

But the disparity in prize money between the two competitions is something Blues officials feel needs to be dealt with as a matter of urgency.

Chief executive Keith Wyness told evertonfc.com: “The figures released this week are a clear demonstration of why there needs to be a more balanced distribution of the European prize money available each season.

“If the current situation continues then clubs simply will not be able to compete and the gaps in domestic leagues across Europe will become larger and larger and that outcome would not only be dangerous but also be a disservice to supporters who follow their clubs home and abroad.

“At Everton our aim is to bridge the gap in the Premier League. We certainly believe we are moving in the right direction following the progress the team has made over the last few seasons and are now calling on the football authorities in Europe to aid us in our bid.”

Uefa have recently claimed that prize money is to be more evenly distributed to avoid strengthening the position of the elite teams but the existing structure will remain in place until 2012.

"We are confident that over the next three years the gap between the Champions League and the UEFA Cup will narrow," their director of communications, William Gaillard said.

"We are well aware there are some imbalances in the revenue distribution which have a negative effect in national leagues by widening the gap between the rich and not so rich.

"We will talk to the clubs and see how they feel, and try to convince them that in the longer run it is not in their interest if, because of the way money is distributed, national leagues become too imbalanced." notas_de_prensa_archivo