THE Premier League’s £1billion wage bill is not a good enough reason for the strongest clubs to go off on their own in search of bigger pots of money to the exclusion of others.

Some influential voices, led by the president of Real Madrid, are suggesting that the only way clubs can grow their revenues is to play in a European Super League, supported by a new TV deal.

Essentially the idea is that our big four clubs will not have to bother travelling to Portsmouth or Burnley, but would pit their talents against the other big names of European football, and make more money in the process.

Ultimately, of course, club owners would like to turn their large revenues into, first small, then large, profits.

Deloitte, one of the big accountancy firms who produce an annual report on the Premier League, has reported wages topped the £1bn mark this year, a truly staggering amount.

But it is the principal reason why the Premier League, despite its considerable revenues, does not generate decent profits for its clubs.

Simply, too much of the money is gobbled up by players' massive wages.

The elite players would be among the biggest beneficiaries of a European Super League.

The prospect of such a competition is the latest and most extreme example of a trend which will ultimately rob sport of all those features which make it such a life enhancing thing.

Football is our national game and its survival and its prosperity are important.