Kieran Maguire: Southampton putting PL in ‘awkward’ position after big-money deal is signed
Southampton owner Dragan Solak is putting the Premier League in an “awkward” position with his complaints about television rights in Serbia but it is unlikely to change the stance of the other 19 clubs.
That is the view of finance guru Kieran Maguire, speaking exclusively to Football Insider after Solak’s Telekom company hit out at the Premier League.
As reported by the Times last week (22 November), it is claimed they have ignored political issues in Serbia by selling the rights to the games to the state broadcaster.
Telekom claim the state broadcaster, who vastly overpaid for the rights, are using media access as part of a political campaign to silence opposition in the country.
“Whilst it is awkward in respect to the Premier League’s deal with Serbia, in what appears to be a politically-acquired broadcasting deal, the Premier League does have an obligation towards its clubs to maximise revenues where possible,” Maguire told Football Insider correspondent Adam Williams.
“It also has relationships with many countries across the world where there are single-party or quasi-single-party political regimes.
“Therefore, while it may appear uncomfortable and questionable with respect to the moral hazard involved, I don’t think Southampton’s owners can expect the other club’s in the Premier League to make sacrifices financially in order to give additional support to a part-owner of a Premier League club.”
Solak became the owner of Southampton in the summer after his company, Sport Republic, bought 80 per cent of shares from Gao Jisheng for around £100million.
After an indifferent start to the season, the club sacked long-serving manager Ralph Hasenhuttl earlier this month (7 November).
In other news, Southampton are being offered a Liverpool first-team star ahead of the January transfer window.