League Championship side Derby County can look forward to a £120M ($202M) windfall if it beats Queens Park Rangers "in the Championship playoff at Wembley on Saturday and return to the Premier League," according to Martyn Herman of REUTERS.
That is the "staggering prize up for grabs for former England coach Steve McClaren's side," while QPR, which was relegated from the top flight last season, would expect to be £80M ($135M) richer should it prevail in English football's "most lucrative match."
Derby's net return would be more as it has been "outside the top flight for six years," while QPR "would still benefit from so-called Premier League parachute payments" even if it loses. The EPL's three-year, £3B ($5B) broadcasting deal, which "came into effect this season, means membership of the top flight has never been more attractive."
Cardiff City, which finished bottom of the table, earned £62M in prize money, more than ManU received for winning the title in '12-13 (REUTERS, 5/22). Deloitte Sports Business Group senior consultant Adam Bull said, "This will be at least £60 million ($102M) for Derby County and at least £40 million ($67M) for QPR. Based on existing distribution methods, even if a club is relegated after one season in the Premier League, it will be entitled to parachute payments over the following four seasons of at least £60 million" (London DAILY MIRROR, 5/22). In London, Nick Harris reported there is an argument that the playoff "is worth not nearly as much as the headline figure because the extra money will inevitably be spent on pricey signings and big wages -- and that is a perfectly legitimate argument because most promoted clubs do in fact spend most of the new cash on those things."
But that "is not mandatory." Promoted clubs "do not always do that." Some use it "to improve facilities, invest in academies, or simply boost the owners coffers" (DAILY MAIL, 5/21).
