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Play-off final is worth £90m to the winners

Pa,Martyn Ziegler
Friday 21 May 2010 12:04 BST
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The winner of tomorrow's Coca-Cola Championship play-off final between Cardiff and Blackpool will secure a staggering prize of £90million in new funds, according to analysts.

Deloitte say the income from TV, sponsorship, gate receipts - and parachute payments if they are relegated from the Premier League - has risen by 50% compared to last year.

The bumper new Premier League television deal, thanks to record overseas rights sales, is behind the rise.

Paul Rawnsley, director of the sports business group at Deloitte, said: "The Championship play-off final winners will benefit from at least £40million of additional revenue in 2010/11, the vast majority of this coming from television income and the rest from higher gate receipts and increased commercial income.

"In addition, even if a club is relegated after one year in the Premier League, parachute payments may be received over the following four seasons of up to £48million.

"In financial terms, this match offers the winning club the most substantial prize in world football and the value is now even greater as a result of the Premier League's increased revenues from international broadcast rights and the extended parachute payments over four seasons.

"It is a prize which provides the opportunity for sound investment and strengthening the foundations of a club for years to come."

Blackpool's president Valery Belokon has promised to distribute a pot of £5million - dependent on appearances over the season - between the players if they make it to the Premier League.

Over the past 10 years, 17 of the 30 newly-promoted clubs have managed to retain their Premier League status for more than one season.

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