Television. Sheffield United F. C. asked what fee had been paid for the Television Rights for the B. B. C.
Sports View Programme and for what purpose it was applied.
The President stated that the fee was £5,000, and this had been put towards the premium
for the Players Provident Fund.
Wolverhampton Wanderers F. C. thought that there was good publicity to be gained from
television and if the League did not make use of it other sports would. We should try, along
with other sports organizations, to stop television of sport on a Saturday afternoon, but if we could
not stop it, we should use it.
Chelsea F. C. thought the League should take full advantage of television, where it did not
harm any of the Clubs.
Payment to
Players for extra Tottenham Hotspur F. C., Manchester United F. C., Newcastle United F. C. and Portsmouth
Floodlight and F. C. all spoke in favour of extra payment. The latter suggested that such payments be made at
other Friendly the end of the season.
Matches.
Wages Bonus. Chelsea F. C. suggested that, having regard to the present day value of the pound sterling,
the time had perhaps come when the match bonus might be increased to four pounds for a win and
two pounds for a draw.
West Bromwich Albion F. C. were more in favour of an increase in wages rather than an increase
in the bonus, if it were considered necessary to grant any increase at all.
Sunderland F. C. thought the matter should be considered in the light of the relative values of
wages before the war and at the present time. They also held the opinion that if it was necessary
to increase the wages then the bonus should remain as at present, if it was necessary to increase
the bonus, then the wages should not be increased.
Birmingham City F. C. asked the Clubs to give consideration to the following suggestion before
the Annual Meeting in June:—
There should be a basic wage with a scale of appearance money for players playing in
the first team, as follows:—
First Division ... Five pounds per match,
Second Division ... Three pounds per match,
Third Division ... Basic wage.
In addition, the receipts from practice matches at the beginning of the Season might go
to the Players Provident Fund.
Provident Sunderland F. C. referred to the drop in the contributions in the Players Provident Fund, and
Fund. thought that the Football Association might give something from the income they receive as a
result of the efforts of the League Clubs. This view was supported by Liverpool F. C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers F. C. suggested that further income might be obtained for the
Provident Fund from the Football Pools and by tax on Transfer Fees.
The President stated that the Management Committee were considering every way of obtaining
extra revenue, with a view to restoring the Provident Fund credits to 10 per cent. of wages. He
informed the Clubs that the Football Association had already agreed to give 4 per cent. on the
nett gates of all representative matches in which League Players took part.
At this stage of the proceedings, the meeting was adjourned and it was agreed to resume at
2-15 p.m.
Postponed Cardiff City F. C. suggested that if, in the opinion of the Manager, a ground might be unfit for
Matches. play on the Saturday afternoon, a referee of League standing might go along to the ground and
give a decision on the previous Friday. This would enable the visiting Club to save unnecessary
travelling expenses. A panel of ex-referees could be appointed to be called upon if a League
Referee was not available.
Liverpool F. C. recommended that, instead of the decision being left to the referee, it should
be placed in the hands of the referee together with one representative of each competing Club.
The President suggested that over many years the Clubs had had the opportunity of getting
a referee down early if they were in doubt, and with very few exceptions this had worked well.
In the uncertainties of the weather, it was not fair to expect anyone to give a decision to postpone
a match the day before.
Compensation Charlton Athletic F. C. suggested that the present system for compensation should be abolished
for Postponed and one third of any compensation due should be paid out of the Cup Pool.
Matches.
Stockport County F. C. spoke against the suggestion.
Tottenham Hotspur F. C. expressed the opinion that there was really no reason for the payment
of compensation at all.
Nottingham Forest F. C. strongly opposed any changes in the present arrangement.
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