Pay structures at Premiership football clubs have long since been an issue of debate.

Who gets paid what, and whether it is a fair reflection on the importance of the job that they do is something that occupies many fan’s minds, but whilst most of us would never dream of suggesting that the tea lady should be paid on a par with star players, why should certain players collect an insufferable salary every week while others receive far less?

On the radio last week a well respected pundit said: “John Terry is on £68,000-a-week we know that.”

He was referring to the prolonged, extended mission to secure Terry’s long term future at Chelsea.

That actually came as a shock to me. Terry is one of Chelsea’s most inspirational and indispensable players, so if he is being paid £62,000 less than Michael Ballack’s alleged £130,000-a-week earnings that is simply astonishing.

In these circumstances, with a footballer arriving at a club from abroad – in some cases years past their peak - whether as a free or fee transfer, is it justifiable to put them on a pedestal in terms of the money they get compared with a local lad who has spent his entire career at the club and came through the ranks?

With the Premiership being such a lucrative league it inevitably attracts players from across Europe, and indeed the world. However, most Chelsea fans would vouch for Terry being more important to their club than most. The evidence: Chelsea’s shaky defence leaking goals at will during the middle part of the season. His absence due to injury was a massive blow to the team as they struggled at the back without sufficient cover. Conversely, Ballack has strolled through the season after a nonchalant introduction to the English game.

The career of a footballer is relatively short, and as such it seems that a number of them are declaring their loyalties to one club. Contradiction exists here; of course it is a player’s (and their agent’s) right and priority to broker a deal that satisfies and intentionally benefits them. However, how long do these contract talks have to go on for?

Liverpool trio Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher and Steve Finnan have decided that there is nowhere else they would rather play their football. You would think then that a mutually sturdy agreement between club and player would be wrapped up promptly. This is not the case as we are all too well aware of. Talks and negotiations can go on for longer than necessary.

Gerrard is likely to be approaching the £120,000-a-week mark. No fan is shocked or amazed by these figures, although some might be offended.

“How do these people get paid that much money for kicking a ball around a pitch,” critics may blurt, but this is a football cliché that usually does the rounds when a footballer’s weekly wage is discussed.

It is supply and demand, and if the clubs couldn’t afford to pay these extortionate transfer fees or wages they wouldn’t. So long as Sky TV continues to pump fortunes into the Premiership the trend will continue.

Admittedly not all Premier League clubs give into the demands of ‘greedy’ players. Everton have a strict wage structure and show an infuriating reluctance to spend big on players whose price tag far exceeds their valuation. However, in the competitive world of football where Premiership survival is just as rewarding as being crowned champions, those unwilling to ‘splash the cash’ will invariably get left behind.

In the Toffees’ case, next season they are involved in the UEFA Cup, and to attract top players to the club they will undoubtedly have to relax their pay structure. The best players command the highest wages - fact.

Football is a capitalist sphere, and that may never change. All things considered, footballers make a huge amount of money during their careers and there is a recognition amongst them of the privileged position they are in. So, even if they are getting short changed a couple of grand a week does it really matter?

It would be pretty hard to comprehend an individual moaning about being paid £60,000-a-week rather than £100,000.

Although saying that it didn’t stop Ashley Cole.