Newcastle United will have the biggest wage bill in Championship history - they must make it pay; The figures behind Newcastle United's decision not to cut costs illustrate a clear policy to try and bounce back first time.
Byline: Mark Douglas
Newcastle United are set to roll the dice once more next season -- and the stakes have arguably never been higher for the club.
With Aston Villa cutting costs, United's wage bill could eclipse any of their divisional rivals next season. Indeed it looks set to be the biggest wage bill EVER recorded in the Championship.
In 2014/15, only three teams in the Championship had wage bills of more than [pounds sterling]33million. Ten had wage bills totalling less than [pounds sterling]20million. Newcastle's last season was [pounds sterling]65.1million, and extensive recruitment last season will push it closer to [pounds sterling]75million. It's unlikely to be significantly cut.
This is not by accident. It is by design.
Nudged towards the crossroads by their demoralising relegation, United had a pretty stark choice. Streamline, cut costs, reduce their wage bill, sell their best players and regroup in the Championship as a sort of 'United Lite' -- or approach next season as a Premier League club in everything but divisional status.
Given that the club retained Rafa Benitez, intend to back him and have aspirations of keeping a core of their best players on lucrative contracts, it is pretty clear which choice they have taken.
For that, Newcastle deserve credit. Lee Charnley acted quickly to capitalise on Benitez's enthusiasm for staying at United and made the case to Mike Ashley for the club to proceed as a club with aspirations of a quick return. The alternative -- stripping the club of its best assets and contracting further -- was the worst-case scenario that would have greatly increased the chances of United spending a long spell in the second tier alongside other fallen giants.
Last season's Championship wage bills
As it is they look well-placed to return. They have the best manager in the Championship, potentially the best squad and -- in a move that surely gives them a sizeable opportunity to bounce back instantly -- the largest wage bill in second tier history.
That comes with risk, of course. Should Newcastle fail to win promotion at the first time of asking it will surely have consequences for the club in the longer term. United acting like a Premier League club in the Championship is not posturing -- it is a calculated policy to ensure they have the best chance of being back where they believe they belong.
It comes with the possibility of failure. The eight largest wage bills in Championship history point to a...
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