The Professional Footballers Association, headed by Gordon Taylor, fear that up to 1,000 professional players will be forced to live on jobseekers allowance from next month. Many players are refusing to take a drop in salary, which is leading to a record number being available on a free transfer.


The PFA are expected to publish a list of players released by clubs in the next few days.


Already 23 players have been released from just three clubs - West Ham, Portsmouth and Northampton Town. The collapse of ITV Digital and the lack of money in the game has even forced one First Division club to offer players £750 a week instead of the £5,000 they lavished on talent just two years ago.

PFA spokesman John Nagle told the News of the World: "The players will have to be aware of the way the financial wind is blowing. Many will have to take a big drop in wages if they want to get a job."

damn... that sucks... but welcome to the real world where **** drops outta nowhere :kader:

I always said the greedy and overpaid would someday ruin the game, the only thing that surprised me is that it took so long to finally happen

well thank you very much ITV.
Not only did they manage to prevent people who have Sky and not ITV digital (which is most) from seing any NAtionwide or League cup for a whole season ... they've also nearly killed many clubs
:rockman: :rockman: nice one guys

and they still cant produce a good Premiership show

Tv companies are ruining the game. Look at the Bundesliga for one. Bayern were considering moving to Serie A. Thats ***t!!! A German team in Italy, stupid tv cox. Also the delay of Serie A was because of tv. Didnt something happen in France with Canal aswell???

Its really taking its toll on the smaller clubs and maybe a big club will crash one day.