Mawhinney and Caborn at odds over cash to clubs
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Your support makes all the difference.The Football League's new chairman, Sir Brian Mawhinney, claimed yesterday that Nationwide clubs' youth programmes could suffer because of a Government delay in handing over money which was promised a year ago.
Mawhinney has written to all League clubs warning them to expect "significantly reduced central payments to clubs".
The letter has infuriated Richard Caborn, the Sports Minister, who wrote a retaliatory letter to all clubs describing Mawhinney, a former Conservative minister, as "opportunistic and cynical".
Mawhinney claims that the Government have so far failed to pay their contribution of £1.5m to League clubs as part of a £10m-per-season, four-year agreement between the League and six funding partners. The shortfall will result in clubs receiving a quarterly payment of £13,800 instead of the expected payment of £34,500.
In his letter Mawhinney states: "It is with deep concern and regret that I have to advise you that the Government's contribution has not yet been forthcoming.
"The immediate implications are that the final quarterly payment due later this month will be 60 per cent less than the figure you would have expected to receive."
Mawhinney said he had received an assurance from the Culture Secretary, Tessa Jowell, that the Government will not renege on their commitment but has been unable to confirm when the money will be paid.
The Government say the cash will be available before the start of next season. In his letter to clubs, Caborn said: "As he knows as an ex-Conservative minister, Government cannot negotiate either through the columns of the press or with a gun held to its head.
"I was, however, in the process of clearing £1.5m to be paid via the Football Foundation and a letter of guarantee to the Foundation was agreed. We will fulfil our commitment to your clubs before the end of the season.
"I think it is unfortunate when this Government has invested more in sport than any other, that the chairman thinks it is acceptable to announce his arrival with opportunistic and cynical use of the media."
Caborn added: "We have tried to be helpful to football in the financial difficulties that the League got themselves into last year, by clearing the £20m payment through the Football Foundation."
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