Top-flight clubs are divided over whether to introduce a new ‘salary cap’ before next month’s vote on financial regulations at the [Premier League.](https://www.claretandhugh.info/beast-leaves-the-east-premier-league-rivals-snap-up-west-ham-star/)
The new ‘top-to-bottom anchoring’ model or TBA would restrict the amount any club can spend on player wages, agents and transfer fees to a maximum of five times the income earned from broadcasting and prize money by the bottom Premier League club.
TBA is currently being shadow trialled by the Premier League, alongside a ‘squad cost ratio’ (SCR) system of financial control that allows clubs to spend up to a percentage of their total revenues on squad-related costs.
Crucial vote on financial regulations lies ahead
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On 21 November, the Premier League will meet with all twenty clubs and vote on whether to adopt either, or both, models, and replace the current Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) that allow losses of £105m over a three-year reporting cycle.
West Ham Vice Chairman Karren Brady is expected to attend that meeting to represent the Hammers.
Nine of the Premier League’s 20 clubs already have to comply with UEFA’s SCR rules as a result of qualifying for Europe, and many believe it makes sense to align the regulations.
UEFA permits participants in its competitions to spend up to 70% of their revenues on their squads, while the Premier League intends to allow a more generous 85% allowance.
However, several Premier League clubs now say they will only vote for SCR to be implemented if it is accompanied by TBA ‘anchoring’ to restrict the biggest clubs from creating a larger gap in spending terms.
Last season, 20th-placed Southampton earned around £110m. So last season no top-flight club would have been able to spend more than a total of £550m on player wages, amortised transfer fees and agents if TBA had been in force.
This would not have impacted West Ham and the majority of other clubs, but has the potential to restrict Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea. Wannabe clubs like Aston Villa and Newcastle United could also vote against anchoring.
An initial vote on the concept saw Aston Villa, Manchester City and Manchester United voice their opposition, while Chelsea abstained and declined to vote.
West Ham privately backs the idea of anchoring, but the big clubs will be lobbying other clubs hard to reject the vote
For a rule change to be approved in the Premier League, a minimum of 14 out of the 20 clubs must vote in favor. This is a two-thirds majority, and each member club is entitled to one vote.
A club source speaking exclusively to Claret and Hugh on grounds of anonymity said, **_“We desperately need the new rules!”_**