No competition
Sir: Your leader (3 August) commenting on the reaction to the prices paid for the ser- vices of Alan Shearer and Cedric Brown misses an important point — that, unlike Alan Shearer's transfer fee, Cedric Brown's salary was not fixed by free market compe- tition. Newcastle could not have secured Alan Shearer's services without paying the sum in question, whereas British Gas did not have to give Cedric Brown much of an increase in order to retain his services (given their respective bargaining posi- tions) and his salary was fixed by his co- directors and not by a competitive bid. It is not surprising, therefore, that people accept the justification for Alan Shearer's high transfer fee but not for Cedric Brown's generous rise.
D.R. Twist
Mardu Cottage,
6 Mardu, Clun, Craven Arms,
Shropshire
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