Players could lose jobs if they strike, warn chairmen

Players who go on strike in the row over television money could lose their jobs, English club chairmen have warned.

The clubs hit back as English soccer's first ever strike loomed after the players' union named December 1 as its date for industrial action, which will affect all league games where television cameras are present.

"The implications of a strike are horrendous because it will lead to television companies looking to call in the terms of their contracts and in turn players' clubs will look at the contracts of the players," said David Sheepshanks, chairman of premier league club Ipswich Town.

"The only people who are going to suffer are the fans and the majority of players," he told Sky Sport television.

"The rich players as ever will walk into new clubs ... but the majority of lower paid players would suffer because there would be less money for the clubs to pay in wages.

"It's to be avoided at all costs."

Geoffrey Richmond, chairman of first division club Bradford City, also warned jobs could go.

"To balance the loss of gate revenue certainly I think every club would stop paying the players during that period and that's at best.

"At worst if this is an illegal strike... I think you would see clubs terminating players contracts."

The union, the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA), is demanding five percent of the three-year 1.65 billion pound ($2.34 billion) broadcasting deal which was signed in June 2000 -- about 27 million pounds ($38.3 million) a year.

The PFA's chief executive Gordon Taylor says the Premier League, which receives the bulk of the money, has offered only 17 million pounds ($24.1 million) a year so far.

LEGAL ACTION

Doug Ellis, chairman of premier league Aston Villa, said he had personally warned his players against striking.

"I've already written to each individual player to his home address pointing out the conditions of his contract," he said.

"It's quite clear... it says in clause two 'the players agrees to play to the best of his ability in all football matches in which he is selected to play for the club'.

"That's an unconditional contract, it's got nothing to do with television cameras being there."

Leeds United chairman Peter Ridsdale said the Premier League would have no alternative but to consider seeking a court injunction to declare the strike illegal if it went ahead.

He also warned players would not be paid during any strike.

"We have to consider legal action. It is not an industrial dispute," Ridsdale told BBC radio.

"There's no dispute between Leeds United Football Club and our players about their contracts -- we pay them to play and they are happy to play.

"We have no choice but to say you will not be paid because the wage money comes from TV money."

Chelsea chief Ken Bates said the PFA was playing a risky game because the Premier League would go to court to try to prevent a strike.

"Then one of two things will happen. Either he (Taylor) will win ... in which case there will be serious negotiation," said Bates.

"Or, if on the other hand he loses and we win the injunction and have the strike declared unlawful, then he has lost everything because our 50 million pounds offer will no longer be on the table.

"He won't get a penny."