Brentford chief predicts bleak future

Brentford's gound lacks facilities of other clubs

Brentford's managing director fears several clubs will go out of business in the next few years.

Gary Hargraves was speaking after Deloitte & Touche published its report into football's finances on Tuesday.

The report showed that there was an increasing gap between the richest clubs in English football and the rest.

Only a handful of clubs were making profits, while the rest were struggling to stay in existance.

Sky's money coming in in 1992 drove wages up and we're all suffering as a result of that now

  Gary Hargraves
Brentford MD

Hargraves said: "Things are getting increasingly difficult because of players' wages increasing over the last 10 years.

"Sky's money coming in in 1992 drove wages up and we're all suffering as a result of that now.

"There's a difference in the revenue that we're able to generate in comparison to the Premier League clubs like Manchester United and Arsenal.

"They are better equipped to generate revenue through sponsorship, gates and additional facilities that they might have in their stadiums.

"It does look grim. A good example is Devon and Cornwall. You've got Torquay, Exeter and Plymouth all in the same vicinity and fighting for the same fans.

"It begs the question 'Will they all survive?' And I think the answer is no."

But Leeds United chairman Peter Ridsdale said there was nothing to worry about if clubs were sensible.

We still have 92 clubs in this country and they are very sustainable brands

  Richard Scudamore
Premier League chief executive

"I think every club has the opportunity to partake in success if they run their clubs properly," he said.

"This time last year, who would have thought that Ipswich would be fifth in the Premiership and playing in Europe?

"I think that quality sides and quality management allow sides to prosper."

Richard Scudamore, chief executive of the Premier League, agreed.

"We still have 92 clubs in this country and they are very sustainable brands, all of them," he said.

"I don't think we have the haves and the have nots. There are those who have earnt the right by success, it's a meritocracy."