Chelsea news: Borson reveals likely clause after unexpected twist
Chelsea likely included a clause in Graham Potter’s contract for his salary payments to cease if he lands a new job after it emerged they are still paying his wages.
That is the view of finance expert Stefan Borson, who exclusively told Football Insider the London giants will be looking to pay Potter as slowly as possible to spread the cost over a longer period.
The Daily Mail reported on 18 July Chelsea are obliged to continue paying their former manager’s £200,000-a-week wages until October.
Potter agreed a five-year contract at Stamford Bridge after joining the club from Brighton, but he was sacked in April last year after just seven months in charge.
The 49-year-old has recently been linked with succeeding Gareth Southgate as the new England boss after he stepped down following the European Championships.
Chelsea looking to spread Graham Potter costs over longer period
Borson revealed several clubs have previously taken the same approach as Chelsea have with Potter in a bid to avoid paying off a manager’s wages immediately.
He told Football Insider: “I suspect it’s just about the cash as opposed to the actual accounting.
“If you look at last year’s accounts, it looks like Potter’s wages were in there because they had over a £400million wage bill for 2022-23.
“That appeared to include all of the termination costs related to Graham Potter.
“You have got two bits. There is the way that it’s accounted for and then the cash that’s coming out to actually pay it.
“It’s better for Chelsea to pay the cash as slowly as possible, so that’s what they are doing.
“They probably have some sort of clause in there that says if you get a job in the period in which we are paying you, at that point those amounts will cease and we’ll stop paying you.
“Then they would probably just adjust their accounts for over-accruing for the amount they paid off to Potter.
“It’s been used over the years by many teams.
“People just pay effectively over 12 months or longer while that individual is not in a job and, if they are able to get a job, then the payments cease.”
In other news, Newcastle close in on deal for Chelsea star as terms agreed.
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