In 2019/20, the average wage of a Celtic first team player was around £18,000 a week.
In the same season, Rangers players on average were paid £13,000 per week.
Meantime, the three main supposed “challengers” – Aberdeen, Hearts and Hibs – respectively paid their players £2,700, £2,600 and £2,300 per week.
Supporters of the three main “also rans” – clubs which between them haven’t won the top league for 166 years – tend to look at the players wages and think “they are earning much more than me”. This may be quite true; but it is also completely irrelevant.
The harsh reality is that the wage structure of every club outside the Old Firm makes it impossible to retain the services of good young players or acquire good players who are in their prime from outside sources.
The “challengers” have pinned their hopes on a three pronged strategy: bringing good young players through “academy” structures; picking up “bargains” from lower division clubs; and signing better-quality players who are prepared to accept lower wages in their twilight years.
The strategy has been a failure. Good young players tend to move on as soon as they appoint an agent; “bargains” seldom turn out to be; and older better-quality players often perform as if they are already collecting their pensions.
In other posts on this site I have identify changes that could me made in an effort to make the Scottish Premiership more competitive, to break the 36 season duopoly.
I believe a combination of changes are needed.
However, let no one be in doubt that a crucial issue is that changes must include measures to make potential challengers financial stronger – and that the improved finances need to be utilised to increase players wages.
Supporters outside Glasgow might enjoy goading the failures they watch in their clubs colours with the shout of “wage thieves” – but, in truth, there is seldom much to “steal” if you are a player temporarily on the the books of Aberdeen, Hearts or Hibs.
Scottish Football Matters 