Richard Masters has publicly name-checked Newcastle United and Aston Villa to boldly object to PSR/SCR criticism.
Premier League CEO Richard Masters has brazenly warned that “the league would look different” if financial restrictions were lifted.
Newcastle United are the most well-documented club to have become frustrated with PSR regulations. Losing high-profile stars like Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes this summer has only heightened the contempt among Toon supporters.
Despite boasting the world’s richest owners, the Magpies are unable to bankroll new additions using the Public Investment Fund’s pockets - unlike Chelsea and Manchester City from yesteryear. Instead, clubs can only spend what they generate - a major advantage for those competing at the top end of the top flight when PSR was introduced in 2015.
Critics argue that challenging regularly is now effectively a “closed shop” - with others unable to catch up. Repackaged as SCR for the upcoming campaign, Premier League chief Masters directly mentioned Newcastle - and equally impacted Aston Villa - to argue why the measures should remain.
‘Our league would look different’ - Richard Masters
“If you take the view that they shouldn't have any financial rules or you should be able to spend as long as you can show that you can afford it, I think our league would look very different,” he told talkSPORT. “Premier League clubs don't want that. They do want financial regulation.
“They may all have a slightly different version of the financial rules that they would like for themselves. Villa have been in Europe four times in a row, twice in the Champions League. They won their first trophy for a very long time and I know they would like to kick on from here, but they've had fantastic success.
“Newcastle… obviously a season of change as their players are leaving. They're signing new ones. They've got a new manager. Who knows what's going to happen? That's the excitement of the Premier League. But everyone should be able to aspire within the Premier League and I think that has been proven over the last four to five seasons.”
Richard Masters on SCR
Masters also expanded on the introduction of SCR and how it aligns with UEFA’s revenue-based model. He added: “It took us two years to get that in. That was a very long consultation about PSRs and what should come forward. Obviously, one of the motivations behind bringing a squad-cost ratio is to have closer alignment with UEFA. Ours is a slightly different system.
“They're at 70 per cent. We're a more generous 85 per cent. And that was the same with PSR. Our limits have always been set higher than UEFA's, (giving) more flexibility for clubs to invest over time to allow the chasing pack to compete.
“And squad-cost ratio is designed to do the same. I think we've got a very good competitive balance in the Premier League and I hope the SCR reinforces that.”
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'We don't want that’ - Richard Masters mask slips on Newcastle United and Aston Villa PSR woes
'We don't want that’ - Richard Masters mask slips on Newcastle United and Aston Villa PSR woes