A NEW multi-billion pound TV rights deal for the Premier League announced this week means there will be no let up in the rich getting even richer at the top level of English football.

Despite it being less than the previous deal, it still ranks at more than £4billion – not bad for clubs lucky enough to be in the top-flight.

It was interesting to hear the Football Supporters’ Federation call for clubs to use more of their wealth to support fans and make tickets cheaper, including subsidising away prices.

There is a likelihood it could fall on deaf ears, after all the Premier League clubs have already committed to an agreement whereby away fans in the top division pay £30 across the board to watch their team on the road.

I know that has been welcomed by those hardcore away travellers, particularly heading to London clubs like Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham who were previously charging £60-plus to those same away fans in the very same sections.

But I think more of the money pumped into English football should filter down and help those less fortunate – both on the pitch and off it.

In recent weeks we have all read about Hartlepool United’s problems and this week a charity match was held at Chester FC to try and raise funds to stop them going to the wall.

Indeed Wanderers themselves have not been without financial concerns these past few years.

Surely there should be a pot to ensure the clubs further down the leagues but no less important in the history of our game do not cease to exist.

For fans of those clubs are just as loyal as the ones travelling to watch the Uniteds and Citys of this world.

I also think there should be some assessment of ticket prices in the Football League as well.

We have heard Wanderers chairman Ken Anderson appeal for more fans at home games this season and manager Phil Parkinson praised the support he said helped them over the line against Bristol City at the Macron recently.

In contrast Jose Mourinho has repeatedly bemoaned a ‘quiet’ Old Trafford, prompting Reds fans’ groups to contact the club with their own concerns over a lack of atmosphere.

Fair play to Wanderers they do put offers on to try and get more fans in but there is no denying following football in this day and age is not a cheap thing.

Take today when United’s travelling fans will pay £30 to watch their team at Huddersfield – albeit in the FA Cup – whereas Whites fans heading to QPR will pay £33 for an adult ticket.

In true fashion, the incredible away support Wanderers have means there will still be around 1,000 in West London cheering Parky’s boys on but surely they shouldn’t be paying more than top-flight fans.

After all, it is not as if they are better off financially and many have already had one long trip to Cardiff this week and another at Norwich next weekend is on the horizon.

Until football chiefs take a long hard look at easing the burden for fans who they always say they need backing them, then attendances will continue to dwindle and the knock-on effect will see more clubs struggling to pay the bills.

We need the FSF to keep pushing for fans’ rights but also some government pressure put on to ensure it is fair for all fans from Arsenal to Accrington, Wanderers to West Ham.

TV rights are all well and good to sell the English game around the world but how many of those fans in foreign lands want to watch a game played out in front of half-empty stadia with little atmosphere?

Not many I would presume.