Premier League - Parker on West Ham woe

Eurosport - Thu, 09 Oct 09:06:00 2008

Former England star Paul Parker believes West Ham's current woes are an inevitable consequence of foreign ownership in the Premier League.

2008-2009 West Ham Luis Boa Morte - 0

I don't think we can be too surprised by what is going on at West Ham - it just shows what can happen when you get involved with big businessmen.

A wealthy foreign benefactor might sounds great to fans, but when they have money in shares, property or other investments, they are sometimes not as rich as you think. These people often don't have real money - it is always tied up in other things.

We have seen all too clearly that football is a business, and as we know businesses can go bust.

I sincerely hope it doesn't happen but it is only a matter of time until we see a big club in serious trouble - and by that I mean they could fold altogether.

I think the old style of ownership is the best way. You might not have had as much money, but you always knew where you stood.

Nowadays it is impossible to plan for the future when the club's finances are at the mercy of the financial markets.

No doubt it is a difficult situation for West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola.

He has walked into the job and seen circumstances beyond his control change everything. The shirt sponsors have gone out of business, the club has been fined over Carlos Tevez and now the owner's bank is on the brink of collapse.

I think Zola needs to bring in half a dozen new players but he will have to sell before he can do that.

He will have to ask himself whether it is worth cashing in on someone like Dean Ashton in order to bring in two or three players in other positions.

It is made harder because of all the money spent when Eggert Magnusson was there.

They overpaid for the likes of Luis Boa Morte, Craig Bellamy and Nigel Quashie, and are still shelling out massive wages.

It is like buying a fleet of cars knowing they won't fetch anything like as much when you flog them second hand.

That big spending spree might have kept them in the Premier League, but in the long-term it has left them with a timebomb.

The value of being in the top flight is so great that clubs will do almost anything to avoid relegation.

But you almost think it might have been better for West Ham to go down. That would have given them a chance to consolidate and reduce their spending - plus it would have got them out of this Tevez mess.

The FA has suggested a salary cap to curb spending, which appears good in theory, but I just don't think the clubs, the Premier League or the fans will stand for it.

If there are limits on how much players can be paid, they will simply go abroad.

It's all very well trying to control wages, but people won't be happy when they see all the top talent leaving this country.

Paul Parker returns on Friday, when he looks ahead to England's World Cup qualifiers against Kazakhstan and Belarus

Paul Parker was talking to Alex Chick / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 18 of 58

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  1. Evacuate the site, theres been an outbreak of­ Stupid.

    13 - Paul Parker didnt even take a penalty in­ that game. Lineker, Beardsley and Platt all scored then­ the people who missed were Pearce and Waddle.

    10 - He­ didnt 'loop' the ball over Shilton. The ball­ hit him on the backside as he defended a free kick. A­ completely freak goal the like of which I have never­ seen in the following 18 years. If anything, Shilton­ was at fault for poor positioning and losing his­ balance as the ball looped over him.

    Get your facts­ right.

    Oh and I love the fact that completely random­ people consider a former player not to be qualified to­ have an opinion on football. And you do?

    You all seem­ to forget that these former players, managers and so on­ are ASKED for their opinions by journalists. These­ columns would be a bit boring if no-one commented on­ stories.

    It never ceases to amaze me hwo some of you­ idiots dont understand the most basic of concepts.

    From JONATHAN, on Wed 8 Oct 3:13PM

  2. Thats sir Trevor to you Raj, you are nobody.

    From Justin, on Wed 8 Oct 3:12PM

  3. How come everytime Paul Parker opens his gob on here­ everyone calls him a wan.ker yet there he is again a­ week later spouting @#$%. Just leave it Paul, no one­ wants or needs your opinion

    From Tony K, on Wed 8 Oct 3:11PM

  4. well anyone north of the border or south of the tyne is­ a foreinger to us

    From allan, on Wed 8 Oct 3:06PM

  5. Would Mr. Parker care to name the last time that an­ owner did not have his money “tied up in shares,­ property, or other investments?”

    From BRS, on Wed 8 Oct 2:46PM
  6. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I haven't forgot the penalty you missed against­ Germany in the World Cup semi's Parker
    what do you­ know about financial dealings anyway

    From KCUFTHEU, on Wed 8 Oct 2:38PM

  7. Good ole Trevor, back hand here and there don't­ hurt do it hahaha

    From KCUFTHEU, on Wed 8 Oct 2:36PM

  8. "sir" trev is the reason west ham got let­ off the hook.

    he is involved at the top of the­ f.a.

    in any league,even sunday league,west ham would­ have been demoted.

    sir trev?? you are having a laugh.

    From geordieprince1, on Wed 8 Oct 2:24PM

  9. Parker we havent forgot you looped the ball over shilts­ on that free-kick

    From KarlB, on Wed 8 Oct 2:14PM

  10. most of the clubs are "foreign" backed
    inc­ liverpool,man u,chelsea

    it could be any of them­ next
    no one is safe.

    From geordieprince1, on Wed 8 Oct 2:12PM

  11. That's SIR Trevor to you Raj. Bit of respect for­ one of the few gentlemen in the sport.

    From V, on Wed 8 Oct 2:10PM

  12. Well he shouldn't say "foreign," but­ "big money owners" are a bad deal for all­ sports. EVERY ONE of these clubs EXISTED before the­ "big money." and when the money goes the­ clubs will survive!!!
    Newcastle is the perfect example.

    From Paul J, on Wed 8 Oct 2:07PM

  13. The salary cap, as well as transfer fee cap or any­ other cap, however needed it seems to be, could only­ work if it was sanctioned and enforced by FIFA, which­ would mean that it would be obligatory everywhere.­ Should it be an solo action by the FA, then heavens­ help the EPL, as it would very probably turn into MLS­ no. 2.

    From astfgl, on Wed 8 Oct 2:04PM

  14. Paul Parker former England Star!!! Another unqualified­ person giving an opinion that can effect others. Keep­ quiet and let WHU sort out their own affairs.

    From The Oracle, on Wed 8 Oct 2:04PM

  15. cockney foreigner's ...... well done Mr.Ashley­ keep it going !

    From TTIOT, on Wed 8 Oct 2:03PM
  16. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    glad this is happening to them.... its those dodgy east­ end gangsters like Trev Brooking - greasing the palms­ of the FA. West Ham should be down a division. they­ should have been deducted points and not played an­ ineligible player (Tevez)

    From r.r.d, on Wed 8 Oct 1:59PM

  17. Even if they do enforce a salary cap clubs can just­ offer huge bonuese and get around it in different ways­ such as giving them houses and huge signing on fees.

    From davidwombell, on Wed 8 Oct 1:56PM

  18. yeah those foreigners at newcastle messed things up­ proper for newcastle united....

    From Rob S, on Wed 8 Oct 1:50PM
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