Football fans all over the country may have been shocked at the conviction of Wigan striker Marlon King last month but it was the words of Chairman, Dave Whelan about his former employee that lead to more interesting issues within the sport.
Just an hour after receiving the news that the Jamaican international had been sentenced to 18 months in prison for sexual assault and actual bodily harm, Whelan made it clear that King would “never pull on the shirt of Wigan Athletic again” and that the club would be in the “process of severing his contract”.
However, after dealing with the incident, Whelan was quick to comment on what he really thought of King’s contribution to the club during his 21-month stay with the Latics. After admitting that he regretted the day he signed King, Whelan said he “always thought his heart and soul wasn't in being a professional footballer”. This statement, especially from a top-flight Chairman, casts a shadow over the modern game and poses the question of exactly how many players may fit into this category.
Success at Watford, in a spell which saw King score 37 goals in 82 starts, catapulted him into being regarded as one of the country’s top marksmen. He came to the attention of many Premier League clubs in the January window of 2008 and sealed a £4million move to Wigan, which saw his weekly wages double to £40,000. However, this led to the downward spiral of King’s career. He failed to emulate the form that had earned him the move.
Did this put Marlon King in a comfort zone? He knew he was to earn over £7million over the following three-and-a-half-years. The thought that he would be on a footballer’s dreaded ‘wrong side’ of 30 when his deal expired may have left King with little incentive to make the same impact for Wigan as when still looking to further his career. May there have been added distractions off the pitch, when reaching a level of income that would be able to fund a lavish lifestyle.
In the way Premier League football has evolved with its huge injections of capital and many clubs adopting ‘rotation’ policies, this allows footballers to coast through their contracts with their reputations not a cause for concern.
Manchester City striker Emmanuel Adebayor voiced his opinion on how wages dictate a player’s loyalty earlier this year. He was asked whether it was true that playing for a certain club is not about the wages, “It is not true, it is about money”, Adebayor replied. Adebayor’s performances before and after earning himself a new contract, and therefore entering the ‘comfort zone’, whilst at Arsenal place him as a prime example of a player to whom Whelan’s comments apply.
Is it the case that footballers are not being given true incentive? Should their income be based around performance-related bonuses? Although bonuses are a feature of the modern game, they are in most cases, incomparable with a player’s salary. When a player is guaranteed his basic wage, where is the added incentive for his performance to improve, especially at clubs who find themselves with little to play for in terms of trophies?
That said, any sort of regulation upon a player’s basic wage would be almost impossible to implement. It is out of control as clubs compete for a player’s signature on a world stage with ready investment behind them. Any wage restructuring would undoubtedly cause rebellious action, as shown by the Indian Premier League in cricket. It is a sad fact of our game that some professionals are totally money driven, but it is important to note the existence of model professionals, still in the game, striving for success as they play for their love of football.
Fans quickly forget a footballer’s past when he is performing on the pitch. Lee Hughes, charged with causing death by dangerous driving back in 2004, has been welcomed back by Oldham and more recently, Notts County, after enjoying prolific goal scoring spells.
Whelan’s comments will undoubtedly affect King’s return to football if he chooses to resume his career after his jail sentence. Publicly saying he is a player with his heart not in the game tarnishes the views of fans, managers and chairmen of potential future clubs.
Whelan told BBC Radio Five Live that King’s situation had “been kept quite secret by the player” and that he “knew he did something but we didn't know exactly what it was”. Although this seems strange considering the allegations against King were published in December of last year.
King’s rapport with the Wigan faithful was also against him. He was under pressure after a poor run of form (one goal in 18 league appearances) and had been on loan twice. Previous incidents of jail sentencing, albeit for shorter periods, have seen players like Eric Cantona and Tony Adams continuing their football careers after they were released. However, this followed huge success prior to the sentencing and with King being a fringe player at Wigan his position is much more insecure.
Some would consider it no surprise that Dave Whelan sacked King, but would he have done this if he was one of their top players who may command a large transfer fee? At the end of the day, football is a business. Loyalty of employees and incentives to give of their best is an issue for all businesses but it is the fear of how many players see the sport as merely a business rather than the beautiful game.
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