OPINION has been divided within footballing circles this week as a result of the contentious £5m farewell bonus being paid by the Premier League to its outgoing chief executive, Richard Scudamore.

The bonus, made up by a contribution of £250,000 from each of the 20 Premier League clubs, is to be received over the space of three years "in recognition of his outstanding work" over his 19-year reign.

Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck proposed the payment, with West Ham chairman David Gold adding that Scudamore "deserves everything he gets".

The Football Supporters' Federation, however, said: "Loyal football supporters continue to be inconvenienced by fixture changes to fit TV schedules, often losing out on travel costs or struggling to get to and from games in the first place.

"Now it appears clubs can stick their hands down the back of the sofa and find £250,000 at a moment's notice."

There has also been consternation further down the footballing pyramid at a time when grassroots football is struggling for funding and suitable pitches.

Caught in the middle of those two extremes - the Premier League and grassroots football - are clubs like Taunton Town, whose chairman Kevin Sturmey spoke to the County Gazette about Scudamore's pay-off.

"On the surface it looks like an insult," he said.

"But the Premier League are a limited company and they can spend their money as they see fit. He has brought in so much money for them as a league through the negotiation of the TV rights and they are their own entity.

"I've said it for a while now - the Premier League is not just its own planet, but its own universe. The Championship is another planet and then, below that, there is actually not a massive gap financially between Leagues One and Two and ourselves.

"I don't think it will go down well at our level, where £5m would make a hell of a difference on issues such as the changing rooms [clubs have been told to increase their dressing rooms to at least 18 square metres or face relegation].

"We earned £3,000 for winning our league last year and we have to pay £900 to enter our league and league cup, which are both sponsored, which I am a bit uncomfortable with.

"It is a difficult one. It is easy to say 'this is disgusting', but he has had a job to do for that league and has done it well, and they wish to recognise that.

"Could the money be spent better? Of course it could. But that is an issue that goes wider than one payment to a chief executive.

"It is a question of awareness and opening communication links. The FA need to make the Premier League more aware of the issues that clubs at our level face. The £250,000 they have each stumped up would pay our wage bill for two years."

Somerset County Gazette:

BALANCED VIEW: Taunton Town chairman Kevin Sturmey (right)

There is a school of thought that stories such as this 'golden handshake' could yet work in favour of clubs at non-league level, as fans may opt to shun the riches of the Premier League.

"I think that is already happening, at least to an extent," Sturmey said.

"This has shown the ugly side of money in the game, as it has shown that £250,000 is nothing to Premier League clubs.

"The Premier League is the best league in the world and it's become a global brand, but I think people struggle to associate with it.

"I think people will begin to turn away from it and that's why it is important that we offer something different.

"People seem impressed with what they see when they come and watch us. Our facilities are good, as is the football - non-league isn't just 'kick and rush', the standard is very high, as our two games this week have shown."