Premier League tribunal seen as massive test case
A tribunal will soon rule on Chelsea's controversial wooing of two Leeds United youngsters, a pursuit that has stirred so much anger that some within the Premier League would like the champions to be punished with the deduction of points.
Others want seven-figure compensation levels established to reimburse Leeds, who have invested time, cash, patience and endless coaching skills in the pair. "If compensation is not significant than people in youth-development structures will worry," said one leading academy director.
Michael Woods and Tom Taiwo, the two teenagers at the centre of what all agree is a massive test case, were being nurtured by Neil Thompson, director of a Leeds academy that has produced Paul Robinson, Alan Smith, Jonathan Woodgate, Harry Kewell, James Milner and Aaron Lennon. Then Chelsea called. Money talked, talent walked and Woods and Taiwo are continuing their education at the Bridge.
Youngsters do move, but the frustration for a club like Leeds is partly the manner of Chelsea's approach and also the reality that compensation will never match the players' true worth. Chelsea could get away with paying less than £500,000 for the pair, rising to £2 million if they reach the first team and represent England. If Woods and Taiwo are capped, they will be worth five times that.
In Woods and Taiwo, Chelsea admit they have "elbowed a few" rivals, in the words of chief executive Peter Kenyon. He points out that Chelsea need to take an aggressive approach to "break up the cartel" run by other leading clubs.
However brazen Chelsea have been, they are not alone. One Premiership manager has upset Leicester City by phoning the parents of two of their most eminent academy scholars, a left-back and a striker. One promising teenage striker at a northern club received a letter from a famous forward at a southern club, inviting him to visit.
Illegal approaches are rife and the Premier League, when they consider compensation levels and possible punishment for Chelsea, must send out a message to all those who want to piggy-back on the hard work of youth coaches like Thompson. If the academy system is to flourish, its rules must be respected.
Every academy director in the land awaits the tribunal's verdict with interest, aware that their youngsters could be targeted next. "The two Leeds players are very, very good players," says Dave Parnaby, director of Middlesbrough's hugely successful academy. "Chelsea have gone right to the front door and made financial offers, and the boys have decided to leave.
"Now it goes to compensation. Jermain Defoe went from Charlton to West Ham, and it reached the million bracket (with add-ons). We are eight years on from that. It is a test case for the whole of the football industry."
If top youngsters like Woods and Taiwo are cherry-picked by wealthy clubs like Chelsea for only modest compensation, then some chairmen might wonder whether it worth having an academy costing £2 million a year if their tyros are lured away - players who represent the club's future, in terms of winning trophies or bringing in millions when transferred.
Although rescued from economic meltdown by chairman Ken Bates, Elland Road's financial situation is such that they cannot afford to lose Woods and Taiwo without proper recompense.
Even more sensitive is the issue of whether Chelsea went through the right channels in meeting Woods and Taiwo, which they insist they did. If the tribunal can prove an illegal approach was made, and that Chelsea contacted the players before Leeds, then certain leading figures at the Premier League would like the champions to face the loss of points.
A warning needs to go out to all rapacious clubs. "Most people stop scouts coming to Under-16 games," adds Boro's Parnaby. "Some are just predators." It is time the Premier League attacked the predators.
By Henry Winter (Filed: 21/03/2006)
Telegraph
A tribunal will soon rule on Chelsea's controversial wooing of two Leeds United youngsters, a pursuit that has stirred so much anger that some within the Premier League would like the champions to be punished with the deduction of points.
Others want seven-figure compensation levels established to reimburse Leeds, who have invested time, cash, patience and endless coaching skills in the pair. "If compensation is not significant than people in youth-development structures will worry," said one leading academy director.
Michael Woods and Tom Taiwo, the two teenagers at the centre of what all agree is a massive test case, were being nurtured by Neil Thompson, director of a Leeds academy that has produced Paul Robinson, Alan Smith, Jonathan Woodgate, Harry Kewell, James Milner and Aaron Lennon. Then Chelsea called. Money talked, talent walked and Woods and Taiwo are continuing their education at the Bridge.
Youngsters do move, but the frustration for a club like Leeds is partly the manner of Chelsea's approach and also the reality that compensation will never match the players' true worth. Chelsea could get away with paying less than £500,000 for the pair, rising to £2 million if they reach the first team and represent England. If Woods and Taiwo are capped, they will be worth five times that.
In Woods and Taiwo, Chelsea admit they have "elbowed a few" rivals, in the words of chief executive Peter Kenyon. He points out that Chelsea need to take an aggressive approach to "break up the cartel" run by other leading clubs.
However brazen Chelsea have been, they are not alone. One Premiership manager has upset Leicester City by phoning the parents of two of their most eminent academy scholars, a left-back and a striker. One promising teenage striker at a northern club received a letter from a famous forward at a southern club, inviting him to visit.
Illegal approaches are rife and the Premier League, when they consider compensation levels and possible punishment for Chelsea, must send out a message to all those who want to piggy-back on the hard work of youth coaches like Thompson. If the academy system is to flourish, its rules must be respected.
Every academy director in the land awaits the tribunal's verdict with interest, aware that their youngsters could be targeted next. "The two Leeds players are very, very good players," says Dave Parnaby, director of Middlesbrough's hugely successful academy. "Chelsea have gone right to the front door and made financial offers, and the boys have decided to leave.
"Now it goes to compensation. Jermain Defoe went from Charlton to West Ham, and it reached the million bracket (with add-ons). We are eight years on from that. It is a test case for the whole of the football industry."
If top youngsters like Woods and Taiwo are cherry-picked by wealthy clubs like Chelsea for only modest compensation, then some chairmen might wonder whether it worth having an academy costing £2 million a year if their tyros are lured away - players who represent the club's future, in terms of winning trophies or bringing in millions when transferred.
Although rescued from economic meltdown by chairman Ken Bates, Elland Road's financial situation is such that they cannot afford to lose Woods and Taiwo without proper recompense.
Even more sensitive is the issue of whether Chelsea went through the right channels in meeting Woods and Taiwo, which they insist they did. If the tribunal can prove an illegal approach was made, and that Chelsea contacted the players before Leeds, then certain leading figures at the Premier League would like the champions to face the loss of points.
A warning needs to go out to all rapacious clubs. "Most people stop scouts coming to Under-16 games," adds Boro's Parnaby. "Some are just predators." It is time the Premier League attacked the predators.