Cash gap closing

11:02am Tuesday 13th May 2008

PREMIER LEAGUE chiefs insist the financial gap between the top clubs and those at the bottom is closing despite Manchester United's record income from the season.

Sir Alex Ferguson's side earned £78m in television cash and prize money over the season - £50m more than Derby.

The equivalent figure last season, under the previous broadcast deals, was £40m - and it was just £30m in the 2005/06 season when earnings from the Champions League were not so high.

However, in percentage terms the smaller clubs have done better than the bigger ones.

United's income rose 25 per cent compared to last season, while Derby earned £28.2m, a 56.5 per cent increase on the £18m Watford earned a year ago.

Premier League communications director Dan Johnson said: The new broadcasting deals are closing the gap, because the biggest increases have been in the overseas contracts which are divided equally between the 20 clubs.

Also the increase in money means a lot more to the smaller clubs because it is a much bigger percentage of their turnover.'' Johnson also pointed out that all clubs are guaranteed a minimum ten payments for being featured in live games, whether or not they actually appear in ten live matches.