Whilst it it is clear that ticket prices have rocketed upwards, the biggest factor in the rise of player's wages has been TV money.

The fact is in each of the leagues, people will pay to see a winning team and "key" matches, and if anything conspires against that - weather, the game being on TV, then attendances fall. It was ever thus.

An exception to this is Sheffield Wednesday whose decline has matched sponsorship from a hit-and-miss ISP - let's call them Plusnet for now.

We also forget that many of these clubs are in huge debts. Chelsea around £500 millon since Abramovitch, Liverpool around £80 million before the takeover, Manure £600+ million to finance the Glaziers takeover, Newcastle £70 million etc. etc.

Sheffield Wednesday £26 million at the last count.

Sheffield United - probably breaking even due to succesful income streams being developed outside the game and a brilliant chairman.