A £100M gap opened up between Premier League and English Football League clubs before a record TV rights deal "even took effect," according to Alex Homer of the BBC. The BBC found that the "difference in average turnovers" between Premier League and Championship clubs grew in each season from '14-16. More and more League Championship clubs "are spending beyond their means chasing a place at English football's top table." However, the Premier League is becoming a "closed shop" as successful clubs "only become richer," an expert said. BBC England's data unit and BBC Sport analyzed the accounts covering the three years until '16. The "full extent of the impact of the new TV deal on clubs is expected to be seen first" in the '16-17 accounts, which have not yet been published. The BBC's analysis found:
- In '16, four of the six top spenders finished in the top six of the Premier League.
- In '15, it was "six out of six" and in '14, five out of six.
- Trends were "less clear at the foot of the table."
- In '16, 16 out of 24 Championship clubs "spent more than 100% of their turnover on staff costs," including their players, coaches, management and administrators (BBC, 8/10).
