Kieran Maguire issues ‘very harsh’ Aston Villa claim after board statement
The current financial distribution model in both Europe and the domestic game is “very harsh” on the likes of Aston Villa.
That is the view of finance guru Kieran Maguire, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the reaction to the news that the Champions League is to be reformatted from the 2024-25 season.
Uefa is set to add two more matchdays under a new Swiss-format system, which will further enhance the revenues of already-rich clubs.
The European Leagues board, who represent the Premier League, issued a statement on Monday (16 May) that argued that Uefa must now work towards implementing a fairer distribution model post-2024.
Villa owners Wes Edens and Nassef Sawiris have invested hundreds of millions in recruitment and infrastructure since their takeover in July 2018.
And Maguire claims that it is only fair that they should be given an equal chance of competing at Europe’s top table.
“Super League clubs have extracted concession after concession both domestically and within Uefa,” he told Football Insider’s Adam Williams.
“The 10-year coefficient system, for example, means the likes of Aston Villa could get into Europe and outperform one of the other clubs but get less money.
“Everything is geared towards the protection of the cartel. It’s difficult to see how that can be reversed, although there is a very good case for reversing it.
“For a club like Villa with ambitious owners, it seems very harsh. Why shouldn’t they have a fair shot at the Champions League? The distribution favours the Super League clubs both domestically and in Europe.”
Villa last competed in Europe in 2010-11.
They posted a £38million loss in their last set of financial results.
In other news, ex-manager suggests Aston Villa could price John McGinn out of Tottenham move with “through the roof” demands.