By 4two
October 23 2002

The specific details of the deal have not yet been worked out, but it was on the agenda at yesterdays meeting of the FA Board. The details we have so far mean good news for the Saddlers who seem certain to meet the criteria for the handout.

Telegraph Sport today reports Nationwide League Clubs are to receive a £30 Million Pound Rescue package.

The clubs will receive their share of the handout as long as they are not financially insolvent and agree to a salary cap.

The handout is being funded by the Football Association with contributions from the Premier League and the PFA.  First Division Clubs are expected to receive 80% of the windfall, which means Walsall may well be looking at receiving £800,000.

The Telegraph reports that "The details of the scheme have still to be worked out and this took up much of the time of an FA Board meeting yesterday, overshadowing the growing battle between the FA and the Premier League for the control the domestic game"

This would be the perfect reward for the Saddlers who have  operated with a stringent financial policy for a long time now, even when other clubs were splashing out on transfer fee's and their was an abundance of money in the game.

One suggestion to help the financial stability of clubs is compulsory clauses in all contracts that says players at a relegated club must receive a pay cut, this could be a rolling scale with the drop in the first season being minor, and, the drop in the second season more significant. For the meanwhile we will have to watch this situation with interest.