League rebels head for defeat

Crystal Palace's Ron Noades and a group of other club chairmen look likely to fail in their rebellion over the distribution of television money and other sponsorship funds among Endsleigh League clubs, which is to be discussed at today's Football League meeting in London.

The chairmen of the 72 clubs will vote on how to share out an annual pounds 35m cash windfall that is largely funded by the new five-year television deal with Sky and is boosted by sponsorship and a pounds 3m hand-out from the FA and Premier League.

The League's board of directors are proposing that First Division clubs should, from next season, receive at least pounds 631,300 compared with the current figure of pounds 240,000. Many clubs would collect more than pounds 1m because payments rise, according to League placings, to pounds 891,200 for the champions, plus any additional TV facility fees.

That is not enough for some clubs, led by Norwich and supported by Noades and Ian Stott, of Oldham, who are recommending a mass resignation from the League by 31 December unless they get their way.

The League is confident of winning. A 75 per cent majority is needed to carry the motion, which means at least six First Division chairmen supporting the 54 Second and Third Division clubs, who appear to support the League's leadership.

Under the board's plan a club finishing mid-way in the First Division would receive a basic pounds 766,900. There is also an increase for the Second and Third Divisions. Annual payments of pounds 164,000 and pounds 159,000, respectively, would rise to between pounds 365,088 and pounds 302,712 in the Second and between pounds 235,312 and pounds 211,055 in the Third.

Norwich want an increase of pounds 550,000 per annum on the pounds 21.15m that is to go to the First Division clubs out of the pounds 25m Sky deal and a greater say in the running of League affairs.