David Gold answers your questions

In the latest of his fortnightly blogs, David Gold, the Birmingham City chairman, takes time to answer your questions on the Premier League's 39th game and other major footballing issues. If you would like to respond to the points he makes, or have any other questions you would like answering, please fill in the comments box at the bottom of this blog post.

Mr Gold, everyone who knows Eduardo's personality knows that he would never lie and he has told Croatian TV that Taylor DID NOT visit Eduardo in hospital.
Please can you explain how you claim that he did?
Frank

David Gold: I can assure you that Martin Taylor visited Eduardo on Sunday morning following the tragic accident at St Andrew's.  The meeting was brief and difficult due to the language barrier. Ourselves and Arsenal investigated the validity of this report you mention, and found that not only was there no footage of an interview with Eduardo, but he didn't say anything of the sort to the television station.

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So, David Gold appears to be saying that, on one hand, he wants to narrow the gap between big and small clubs which, as a previous poster pointed out, ain't gonna happen if all the clubs split money evenly. Then, on the other hand, he says that the extra money will help "English" clubs to prosper against the likes of Barcelona, Milan and Madrid.

Which English clubs? Not Birmingham, or Villa, or Portsmouth, or any others outside the top four. In fact, by generously enabling the big clubs to compete in Europe, he's actually advocating the creation of a bigger imbalance, as those clubs will go on to rake in yet more millions from their extended European runs and accompanying merchandise sales.

Unless UEFA is going to start rewarding small clubs when their league leaders do well in Europe? No, wait, that's redistribution of the wealth. That wouldn't fit with the ideals of the capitalist juggernaut that football is fast becoming, driven by the idiocy and greed evidenced in self-serving nonsense like the 39th game idea.
Pip

DG: Narrowing the financial gap between big clubs and small clubs is a huge ask but equal payments to big clubs and small clubs alike does narrow the percentage gap. For example, if a small club’s income is £50m and the big club’s income is £100m, the small club is receiving 50% of the big club’s income and the gap is £50m. If hypothetically the big club receives an equal payment to the small club of £50m each, the gap still remains £50m but the percentage of £100m against £150m, the difference is now 33.3 per cent.

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I'm a Blues fan, and I just don't buy this 39th game. I'd much rather we address the problems we have in the premiership where the so called 'big 4', or now 'big 5' according to Mr Gold, dominate the entire proceedings. The Premiership would be a far more interesting place if it was made more open. I'd rather we see a ban on loan players (within the Premiership/Championship) so that the larger teams can't buy all the best players, and then farm them out so they can get a game. I'm really not that bothered about English teams in Europe, as when I watch Arsenal they are in my view a foreign team anyhow (controversial I know, but it is a free world  . . . to a degree).
So I'd like to a see a fairer system for the Premiership, and more opportunities for the English (British even) players in the top level. We seem to be transfixed about getting revenues from the far east and the like. Phil, Nottingham

DG: Phil, first, thank you for your support of our club! Banning loans between the Premiership and Championship would not be feasible. The Premiership clubs, in the main, would keep buying the best players regardless and given a choice between a Premiership club and a Championship club, these players would join the elite sides anyway. The loan system has been around for a long time and it benefits clubs in both divisions. As for more opportunities for British players, a quota system would not be enforceable by law, and the bottom line is that if the home grown players are good enough and competitive enough, then they will come through. Those who do play against, and train with some of the best the world has to offer at their clubs, benefit from the knock-on affect of their  technique and skill levels improving.

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Dear Mr Gold, I think you have pitched this comment piece well in noting that the idea of the 39th game needs work; I think that the problem is in the way that it was handled and communicated. If a campaign is to be conducted in the media it needs to have the answers to the difficult questions that journalists will ask; in this case the arguments were not well developed and what might have been a reasoned debate has turned into something more akin to mud slinging. A shame, because it is an interesting proposal.
I echo your comments with regard to Eduardo, I sent a message offering my sympathy to the club, and would agree that tackles such as the one that injured him happen, and indeed go unpunished, every week in football. The Makelele/Faubert tackle recently was much worse, but the players leg was not grounded and he therefore escaped with a much less serious injury. Makelele was not even booked.
Might I also add that I think Alex McLeish has done a great job organising the team and instilling some belief; I think if he is able to keep us up he should be backed with suitable funds in the summer to bring in the players he wants. Steven Hamilton.

DG: All along Richard Scudamore has stressed that the 39th game proposal was just that - a proposal, to be discussed and debated by all concerned, to see where it could take us for the greater good. Unfortunately people have picked up the ball and ran off with it, so to speak, before stopping to consider its merits. Football is a global game now and we cannot afford to stand still, especially when the likes of basketball's NBA is ready to accept overseas franchises.

I reiterate, Eduardo was very unfortunate and, like you, I have since seen tackles that were far worse than Martin Taylor's but did not result in terrible injury and suffering, nor punishment by referees. These tackles have escaped comment but the furore surrounding the whole episode concerning Martin, which I believe was unnecessarily fuelled by comments made after the game, just won't seem to die down.

Martin made his comeback from suspension in our reserves on Tuesday night and the ground where they play, Solihull Moors FC, was besieged by media. Martin has handled himself well throughout and our manager, Alex McLeish, has dealt with the situation impressively.

Alex, we believe, is a top class manager. He is very shrewd and communicates well with the players so they know exactly what is expected from them. I know he has been assessing our squad as he has gone along and will doubtless want to implement certain things in the summer and, rest assured, we will back his judgment.