Robbie Savage says Premier League is run on "false economy"

Robbie Savage believes that the Premier League's inflated wage structure is detrimental to the division's overall quality.

The former Wales international feels that the amount of money spent on mediocrity in the league adversely affects the standards compared to other nations around Europe.

"Too many of our clubs pay £50,000-a-week to average players," Savage wrote in his Mirror column.

"Too many clubs charge £50 a seat to watch bog-standard football and too many players are in it for the money first and the football second, which is driving standards down. No disrespect to Queens Park Rangers, because if Harry Redknapp keeps them up he's worked a miracle, but why did Loic Remy choose them over Newcastle United?

"Why did he find bottom of the table, miles from safety, in a ground which holds only 18,000 people, more attractive than playing in front of 50,000 every week? In England, we charge the highest ticket prices and pay the highest wages to players, but the Premier League is run on a false economy."

The draw for the Champions League quarter-finals was made on Friday with no team from England in it for the first time since 1996.