Finance guru: Sunderland could use ‘war chest’ to fund ‘revolutionary’ new system
The Football League could create a central monetary pot to help the likes of Sunderland fund a VAR system.
That is the view of finance expert Doctor Dan Plumley, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the feasibility of VAR in the EFL
The Times reported last Thursday (17 February) that a video review set-up could be rolled out across the EFL from as early as the 2023-24 season.
It is understood that the system would be a cheaper alternative to the VAR used in the Premier League and other top leagues worldwide.
Sunderland posted an annual loss of £2.6m in their last set of accounts and teams across the EFL are cash-strapped in the post-pandemic environment.
And Plumley explains that clubs below the Premier League may need a financial helping hand to finance VAR.
“It comes down to cost,” the Sheffield Hallam University expert told Football Insider‘s Adam Williams.
“You have to look at the revenues of these clubs. Who is going to fund this? We know how big the financial gaps between leagues are.
“It might be pretty revolutionary for the EFL butt there’s a £100m gap between the Premier League and the Championship, for example.
“In the FA Cup, clubs are required to split the bill for VAR. Cheltenham were asked to do this when they played Man City in the FA Cup.
“But those sorts of teams don’t have the disposable income to do this. So there would have to be some thought put into how costs are spread.
“It would need to be lower-cost than the Premier League’s system. Does lower cost mean lower quality? That’s something you have to consider.
“Also, not all clubs have the facilities to accommodate VAR. You need the big screen etcetera and they don’t all have that in the EFL.
“There could be the introduction of a central pot to finance this sort of thing. If you had that central war chest, that makes the burden easier to manage.”
Sunderland are currently 6th in League One and without a win in six matches.
Alex Neil’s side are in action against high-flying Wigan tomorrow (26 February).
In other news, Kevin Phillips issues “100 per cent” Sunderland claim after chairman’s Jonson Clarke-Harris reveal.