More money than sense?

Football - Manchester City v Bolton Wanderers Barclays Premier League

MANCHESTER CITY’S astonishing annual wage bill has smashed the £100million-a-year barrier.

Kolo Toure’s arrival at Eastlands means salaries at City have DOUBLED in two years.

And it means owner Sheikh Mansour has a £½BILLION commitment in wages alone over the next four years.

Robinho (£160,000 a week), Emmanuel Adebayor (£150,000), Carlos Tevez (£150,000), Gareth Barry (£120,000) and Toure (£120,000) are the top earners.

And in addition to their astronomical salaries, the City players are currently negotiating a win bonus structure for the new season. (News of the World)

For any company to double it’s work force wages inside two years is surely cause for concern? Yes it’s true Sheikh Mansour is an incredibly wealthy man but can he continue to justify such spending on a year on year basis? I guess it all boils down to what the club can recoup in the way of ticketing, sponsorship and merchandising but all those variables are essentially linked to one thing. Success.

If Mark Hughes doesn’t show some return on the club’s spending then either he will be replaced or in the long term perhaps the club’s backers decide to pull the plug and look at other ways to invest their billions.

Either way it does seem a tad obscene to see such flagrant sums of money flying around but you can’t begrude the loyal supporters of the long suffering side who will hope that this outlay will bring with it tangible rewards be it a top four finish and the promise of Champions League football or perhaps a cup or two?

The struggle is of course to make sure that the club attracts players seeking to succeed on the pitch as well as drawing an impressive bank balance because if Man City bring in players only interested in making millions it is sure fire bet that in fighting will ensue as individuals fight over who gets the most.

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