Former Leeds United full-back Danny Mills believes introducing salary caps in the Championship could be one of the methods would make the division more of a level playing field - but accepts it could restrict some owners with lofty ambitions.
Since the coronavirus pandemic brought the English football season to a halt in mid-March, which came as a damaging blow to Leeds, as they had just returned to the top of the Championship table after a run of five successive victories, the financial side of the sport has, as well as how the season can be concluded, dominated the headlines.
Clubs, particularly in the lower reaches of the English football pyramid, are set to suffer terribly as a consequence of the virus, which, of course, has brought gate receipts to a halt and forced other income methods, such as merchandise sales, to slow down.
The transfer market, too, is set to be heavily impacted by the pandemic, with the likelihood that transfer fees are set to drop massively.
And another topic that has been up for discussion has been the possibility of salary caps being introduced, with former Leeds man Mills, who spent five years of his career at Elland Road, suggesting it is one way that could help clubs in the battle against Profit & Sustainability rules.
“Too many clubs are on the financial precipice. They are not run badly but they gamble and go right up to the line every season," Mills, as quoted by the Stoke Sentinel, said.
"It doesn’t take an awful lot for them to go under that line – and that’s a massive problem.
“Salary caps are fair in one way. That then restricts certain owners but maybe it’s been their legacy, their life, to own a football club. If they have money, why shouldn’t they be allowed to spend it?
“Who’s going to dictate the salary cap? When does it kick in? There are a lot of things to be discussed.
“Maybe it’s about going back to having stricter regulations around financial fair play and having a certain amount of revenue that you’re allowed to spend – a certain percentage you can spend on wages.
“Maybe it should be enforced more strongly, the rules have to be stricter and there have to be more severe punishments.”
