Stefan Gamble reflects on this week's tribunal verdict...
WALSALL FC Chief Executive Officer, Stefan Gamble, reflects on the outcome of the Will Grigg Tribunal.“On Wednesday, the Chairman, Team Manager and I travelled to London for the Will Grigg Tribunal Hearing in front of the Professional Football Compensation Committee ('PFCC'), held at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Portman Square.
“The PFCC consisted of an independent Chairman (Professor John Goodman CBE) and members appointed by the The Football League (Michael Tattersall, Deputy Operations Director), the Professional Footballers' Association (Paul Allen) and the League Managers' Association (Alan Curbishley).
“In making a determination of the level of compensation due, under Regulations 3 and 4 of their rules, the Committee had to take into account the actual costs incurred by either club in operating their respective Academies as well as the following criteria:
• The status of each of the Transferor Club and Transferee Club;
• The age of the Player;
• The amount of fee paid by the Transferor Club upon acquiring the registration of the Player;
• The length of time during which the Transferor Club held the registration of the Player;
• The terms of the new contract offered to him by both the Transferor Club and Transferee Club;
• His playing record including any international appearances; and
• Substantiated interest shown by other clubs in acquiring the registration of the Player.
“A key point to note is that the Committee are directed to award the Transferor Club a ‘compensation fee’ in respect of the value of ‘Training and Development’ the player has received rather than a ‘transfer fee’ had the Player been in contract.
“Both clubs had already made lengthy submissions to the PFCC to support their respective valuations of the Player’s training and development and both were given the opportunity to state their case to the Committee in person at the hearing. Also in attendance was Will himself who was spoken to by the Committee without either Club present.
“The now well-documented outcome was that Brentford FC were ordered to pay Walsall FC the following:
• An initial fee of £325,000;
• £150,000 on First-Team Competitive Appearances (payable £30,000 for every 20 appearances up to a maximum of 100 appearances);
• £50,000 on promotion to The Championship;
• £250,000 on promotion to The Premier League; and
• A 20% sell-on in respect of sums received that are over and above those already received.
“This award did not meet our valuation in its entirety but when you consider Brentford’s original offer was for just £150,000 with no ‘knock-on’s’ this represents a significant uplift on that position.
“Whilst we were slightly disappointed with the level of the ‘Initial Fee’ awarded, the additional knock-on’s take us significantly closer to our own original valuation (including contingent sums) than Brentford’s valuation and in that respect we remain philosophical.
“We were given a fair hearing and therefore respect the Committee’s decision and thank them accordingly.”