The SPL Management Committee is proposing to Wednesday evening's AGM that Administrative Rule 4.1.3 - the restriction regarding the payment of players - is removed.
Chairman Steve Vear MBE explains: "The SPL is conscious that it has been silent on this matter in our 2023 Management Report, but considering the amount of communication that has started recently in the last 24 hours, we thought it would be helpful to provide some background information and to make the position of the Management Committee unequivocally clear.
"Since the inception of the Southern Premier League, it has always been clearly understood through our rules, that the payment of players is not acceptable and that any proven breach of this rule would likely lead to a removal of league membership. We know however that for the majority of this time been the ‘elephant in the room’ within our rules, with suspicion rife amongst clubs and players around this topic.
"The Management Committee receive multiple requests every single year, from clubs and players demanding to know that the Management Committee intend to do about the payment of X player by Y club or the free match fees given by Club A to Player B. In the last 20 years, we have come close to being provided evidence on just three occasions that this rule has been breached. On each occasion there has not been clear enough evidence to appropriately charge a club of actual wrongdoing.
Survey
"The decision to offer the removal this rule after 23 years has not been an easy one to make. We have done so only after consulting with all of our member clubs several weeks ago and at the same time surveying other Premier Leagues in the country. Only two of our member clubs responded to the communication and 11 of the 14 premier leagues that responded to us confirmed they have either had no such rule or have in recent times removed the restriction having concluded leagues cannot possibly police it, making any such rule defunct.
" Laying a motion to remove this rule is a governance decision following consultation with you and other Premier leagues. This should not be confused, however, with how the Management Committee feel about this subject. To be clear
i. We do not wish the SPCL to become a ‘professional league’ – but at the same time we see no way to police or enforce the restriction we have in place.
ii. As clubs do not receive any cash award for winning any of our divisions, we see no motivation for wanting to pay players. Indeed, these funds could and should be diverted elsewhere for the good of all members of our member clubs.
iii. We would actively discourage any club from paying players, including the ‘below the line’ payments of reduced subscriptions or match fees, or travelling expenses that are over generous.
iv. Should the payment of players have a demonstrable detrimental effect to the league or our members we shall not hesitate to reverse our position as quickly as our regulations allow.
Impact
v. Laying the motion to remove the restriction is a chance for our member clubs to, as always have the final say. Clubs should think very carefully about the impact of this decision – both in terms of the impact to clubs but also the practical options open to the Management Committee to continue to manage the rule in question.
"In making the proposal the league need to make clear that legal and financial liability in relation to payment to players would be a matter for clubs alone and you should carry out your own research in relation to any future decision you may take.
"With all of this in mind, clubs may wish to consider:
1. The possible impact on CASC status for those clubs registered and the guidance regarding the payment of players
2. Contractual status of those receiving payment, including any issues relating to tax/NI and other accompanying rules such as IR35
3. The creation of a player market and the impacts this may have In the event clubs decide that this motion should not be supported, the next steps would be for a sub committee to be formed in order to establish how the Management Committee should deal with the multiple demands for ‘something to be done’.
Mr Vear wishes to remind clubs that, as things stand, the rule not allowing the payment of players is in place and at any point up to the motion being tabled, the Management Committee have the ability to remove this motion. It is therefore inadvisable for any clubs to be entering into speculative financial arrangements or advertising of payment for players.
The chairman trust this helps to provide context to what is a very difficult and complex area for those of us who are charged with the running of the ECB Southern Premier League.
Chairman Steve Vear MBE explains: "The SPL is conscious that it has been silent on this matter in our 2023 Management Report, but considering the amount of communication that has started recently in the last 24 hours, we thought it would be helpful to provide some background information and to make the position of the Management Committee unequivocally clear.
"Since the inception of the Southern Premier League, it has always been clearly understood through our rules, that the payment of players is not acceptable and that any proven breach of this rule would likely lead to a removal of league membership. We know however that for the majority of this time been the ‘elephant in the room’ within our rules, with suspicion rife amongst clubs and players around this topic.
"The Management Committee receive multiple requests every single year, from clubs and players demanding to know that the Management Committee intend to do about the payment of X player by Y club or the free match fees given by Club A to Player B. In the last 20 years, we have come close to being provided evidence on just three occasions that this rule has been breached. On each occasion there has not been clear enough evidence to appropriately charge a club of actual wrongdoing.
Survey
"The decision to offer the removal this rule after 23 years has not been an easy one to make. We have done so only after consulting with all of our member clubs several weeks ago and at the same time surveying other Premier Leagues in the country. Only two of our member clubs responded to the communication and 11 of the 14 premier leagues that responded to us confirmed they have either had no such rule or have in recent times removed the restriction having concluded leagues cannot possibly police it, making any such rule defunct.
" Laying a motion to remove this rule is a governance decision following consultation with you and other Premier leagues. This should not be confused, however, with how the Management Committee feel about this subject. To be clear
i. We do not wish the SPCL to become a ‘professional league’ – but at the same time we see no way to police or enforce the restriction we have in place.
ii. As clubs do not receive any cash award for winning any of our divisions, we see no motivation for wanting to pay players. Indeed, these funds could and should be diverted elsewhere for the good of all members of our member clubs.
iii. We would actively discourage any club from paying players, including the ‘below the line’ payments of reduced subscriptions or match fees, or travelling expenses that are over generous.
iv. Should the payment of players have a demonstrable detrimental effect to the league or our members we shall not hesitate to reverse our position as quickly as our regulations allow.
Impact
v. Laying the motion to remove the restriction is a chance for our member clubs to, as always have the final say. Clubs should think very carefully about the impact of this decision – both in terms of the impact to clubs but also the practical options open to the Management Committee to continue to manage the rule in question.
"In making the proposal the league need to make clear that legal and financial liability in relation to payment to players would be a matter for clubs alone and you should carry out your own research in relation to any future decision you may take.
"With all of this in mind, clubs may wish to consider:
1. The possible impact on CASC status for those clubs registered and the guidance regarding the payment of players
2. Contractual status of those receiving payment, including any issues relating to tax/NI and other accompanying rules such as IR35
3. The creation of a player market and the impacts this may have In the event clubs decide that this motion should not be supported, the next steps would be for a sub committee to be formed in order to establish how the Management Committee should deal with the multiple demands for ‘something to be done’.
Mr Vear wishes to remind clubs that, as things stand, the rule not allowing the payment of players is in place and at any point up to the motion being tabled, the Management Committee have the ability to remove this motion. It is therefore inadvisable for any clubs to be entering into speculative financial arrangements or advertising of payment for players.
The chairman trust this helps to provide context to what is a very difficult and complex area for those of us who are charged with the running of the ECB Southern Premier League.
