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Plan to restructure the game

Nov 30, 2010
395
242
Brechin
The detail is here. If passed it would be the end of football as we know it, with the big 6 controlling every aspect of the professional game. Rick Parry should be sacked for giving aid and comfort to it.

If it went through, I'd hope Argyle, along with a number of other clubs, would resign from the League and start a new structure.
 

cheshiregreen

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Jade Berrow 23/24
Feb 17, 2004
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cheshire
Suspect there is more detail than contained in that article.

Is this suggesting a 26 team Championship?

Or is there an impact on the 3rd and 4th tier?

To quote a recently departed musician- there are more questions than answers.
 
May 5, 2006
257
79
Why do away with EFL Cup? If Premier League clubs don't want to play, don't enter. Keep EFL Cup for EFL teams and bin FL Trophy.
 
Nov 30, 2010
395
242
Brechin
Telegraph article https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/20 ... g-picture/

"Manchester United and Liverpool are the driving force behind the biggest changes to English football in a generation and an extraordinary overhaul of the Premier League, The Daily Telegraph can reveal.

The two clubs have worked together on a radical set of proposals – called “Project Big Picture” - that will reshape the finances of the game. The Premier League, the most lucrative sports league in the world, would see a reduction to 18 teams, and controlling power in the hands of the biggest clubs.

In return for tearing up many of the rules that have governed the game since the Premier League’s inception in 1992 there will be a £250 million rescue package to the Football League to see them through the Covid crisis.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal the details of the working document “Revitalisation” authored by Liverpool’s American ownership Fenway Sports Group with support from United. It anticipates the backing of the other members of the so-called big six, Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.


In a remarkable set of proposals, which will send shockwaves through the game, 25 per cent of the Premier League’s annual revenue will go to the EFL clubs with £250 million paid up front to see them through the current crisis. There would also be a gift of £100 million to sustain the Football Association.

However, there would be an abolition of the one-club, one-vote principle that has sustained the Premier League since its inception as well as the abolition of the threshold of 14 votes to pass any decision or regulation change.

Under the new proposals, the Community Shield would be abolished
Under the new proposals, the Community Shield would be abolished CREDIT: Shutterstock
Under the new proposals, the League Cup and the Community Shield would be abolished. There have been additional discussions that the League Cup would survive but without the participation of the clubs in Europe.

There would be two automatic promotion places for Championship clubs, but the third, fourth and fifth placed clubs would be in a play-off tournament with the 16th placed Premier League club.

The nine clubs who have been in the Premier League for the longest - which includes the big six - would dictate its running in every aspect and would be free to play more games in the expanded Champions League that is anticipated from the 2024-2025 season onwards.


As well as the Premier League dropping from 20 clubs to 18, there would be 24 in each of the Championship, League One and League Two making a total of 90.

The plan is supported by the EFL chairman Rick Parry who has held talks with Liverpool’s principal owner, the American investor John W Henry, and shareholder and director Mike Gordon. In addition, Parry has spoken to the Glazer family, who own United.

The plan is supported by the EFL chairman Rick Parry

The talks began in 2017 but have been accelerated since the coronavirus pandemic has thrust football into the grip of crisis with no fans in stadiums until March at the earliest. Liverpool and United are prepared for a fierce debate over their proposals but they want them implemented as soon as possible and to take effect for the 2022-23 season.

The Revitalisation document calls for immediate action to cut dramatically what it calls the “revenue chasm” in earnings from television contracts between the Premier League and the EFL. In order to discourage Championship clubs from gambling recklessly on promotion, the parachute payments system would be abolished in favour of the 25 per cent share of Premier League revenue being shared more equitably among EFL clubs.

Under proposals for the new model of distribution of television revenue in the Premier League, Fenway, the driving force behind the document, insist there would be no greater share for the top six. Their stated aim is to eliminate the huge gap in earnings between Premier League and EFL clubs while in return having a greater control of the decisions made by the Premier League.


The document says: “A reset of the economics and governance of the English football pyramid is long overdue”.

The proposals also rewrite the Premier League’s 20-club democracy in favour of placing huge power in the hands of the nine clubs with the longest continual stay in the division. As things stand that is the big six, as well as Everton, Southampton and West Ham. Those nine clubs afforded “long-term shareholder status” would have unprecedented power, with the votes of just six of them required to make sweeping changes. These clubs would even be able to veto a new owner taking over a rival club.

The power will move into the hands of the nine clubs with the longest continual stay in the division - which includes West Ham
The power would move into the hands of the nine clubs with the longest continual stay in the division - which includes West Ham CREDIT: Getty Images
In an exclusive interview with The Daily Telegraph, Parry said that he had the support of many of his 72 members, many currently facing financial ruin, to go ahead with the plan. He said: “What do we do? Leave it exactly as it is and allow the smaller clubs to wither? Or do we do something about it? And you can’t do something about it without something changing. And the view of our clubs is if the [big] six get some benefits but the 72 also do, we are up for it.”

He accepted there would be opposition from the Premier League clubs outside the big six who would see it as detrimental to their financial prospects with less money and two fewer places in the top flight.

“It is definitely going to be challenging and it is an enormous change so that won’t be without some pain,” Parry said: “Do I genuinely think it’s for the greater good of the game as a whole? Absolutely. And if the [big] six are deriving some benefit then why shouldn’t they. Why wouldn’t they put their names to this otherwise?”

The proposals include:

ÂŁ250 million immediately to the EFL to compensate its clubs for lost matchday revenue, deducted from future television revenue earnings and financed by a loan taken out by the Premier League
Special status for the nine longest serving clubs – and the vote of only six of those “long-term shareholders” required to make major changes, including amending rules and regulations, agreeing contracts, removal of the chief executive, and a wide-ranging veto including on club ownership
Premier League to go to 18 clubs from 20
£100 million one-off gift to the FA to cover its coronavirus losses, the non-league game, the women’s game, the grassroots
8.5 per cent of annual net Premier League revenue to go on operating costs and “good causes” including the FA
From the remainder, 25 per cent of all combined Premier League and Football League revenues to go to the EFL clubs
Six per cent of Premier League gross revenues to pay for stadium improvements across the top four divisions, calculated at ÂŁ100 per seat
New rules for the distribution of Premier League television income, overseas and domestic, including proposals that base one portion on performance over three years in the league
The abolition of the League Cup and the Community Shield
24 clubs each in the Championship, League One and League Two reducing the professional game overall from 92 clubs to 90
A women's professional league independent of the Premier League or the FA
Two sides automatically relegated from the Premier League every season and the top two Championship teams promoted. The 16th place Premier League club in a play-off tournament with the Championship’s third, fourth and fifth placed teams.
Financial fair play regulations in line with Uefa, and full access for Premier League executive to club accounts
A fan charter including capping of away tickets at ÂŁ20, away travel subsidised, a focus on a return to safe standing, a minimum away allocation of eight per cent capacity
Later Premier League start in August to give greater scope for pre-season friendlies, and requirement for all clubs to compete once every five years in a summer Premier League tournament
Huge changes to loan system allowing clubs to have 15 players out on loan domestically at any one time and up to four at a single club in England."
 
Sep 25, 2010
3,258
537
This is being pushed by the American owners of Liverpool and Manure, they will not always be the owners of these clubs.

It seems that the top 6 clubs, want to control everything, thru there American owners.

Forgive me for being sceptical and worried, but is this good for English football ??.

It looks like you could have Liverpool v Manure, played in Chicago, etc.

And Liverpool & Man Utd Reserves sides in the EFL, for starters
 
Jan 27, 2012
3,889
913
As a customer and someone who pays money into the game I wouldn’t be spending my cash watching a league system like this. I’d find some other sport to follow and that would be the end of my interest in Argyle. And the Premier League for that matter (which is already becoming boring for many real football fans),
 

Tom Cobbley

Jam First
Aug 7, 2011
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Oldham
Why dont they just sod off to a European League, Whats stopping them then closing off the Premier League after they get their way and the EFL go along with it for a few quid. Their greed is the reason I cancelled Sky Sports years ago.
 

Lousy Pint

Jam First
Sep 23, 2005
2,043
903
Milano
Even if this plan doesn't get the go ahead now, we all know that it (or something very similar) will in the not too distant.

Absolutely soulless people with no regard for fans. Americans... the world's muggers!

Parry should be sacked immediately.

And notice, no mention of the cup competition with the U21 prem teams (I really don't know the name of it). If anything needs scrapping, surely it is that. It won't be long before the U21s (or B teams, whatever) will be in the league.

The trouble is, at our level, no-one gives a toss. For example, the BBC football webpage yesterday, not a key pressed about L1 & 2, even though there were no precious prem matches.

Slightly Peeved in Italy
 

justanotherfan

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Mar 4, 2012
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Aston Villa and Newcastle have both featured in more Premier League campaigns than Manchester City but are not included. Mr Parry should have the decency to resign :wave: after putting his backing on record.
 
It’s a fairly naked power grab, but what’s the alternative? If we stay as we are then many efl clubs will go bust shortly. If the top six are saying ‘in return for passing over 25% of our revenues, then we want greater control over our futures’, then I think if I were in their shoes I might ask the same.

I’ve long felt that a European Super League is inevitable.It’s not something that interests me because I prefer to support my local club, and I genuinely find the efl leagues more interesting than the Prem. But why should we deny that to supporters of the top six if that’s what they want? And if that route results in a more financially viable efl, what’s not to like?

This is a genuine question because I may be missing something here, but what is the most likely consequence of this direction which could be of a significant disadvantage to Argyle?
 
Sep 25, 2010
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537
Let’s just look at what it is a proposal, by American owners.

With the backing of Man City, (Abu Dubai owners), Chelsea (Russia), Spurs (tight fisted owner), Arsenal (another American owner). Wanting a European Super league, B teams in the EFL. Prem games in the states, Etc, etc.
Ok, they might not be asking a lot now, BUT the top 6, will get a POWER grab, and 2/3 years down the line, what will they want, and the decisions will be made by the top 6.

Sorry, but the whole thing stinks.
 

Tugboat

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Feb 24, 2007
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I hope they get given the 2 fingers they deserve by everyone.

Disgusting effort to pray on the weak and venerable
 
May 16, 2016
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There's no doubt the 25% bribe share of whatever it is will be welcomed by those Clubs that desperately need the extra just to survive, although It depends on how it's distributed. Equal shares would mean more to Morecambe than Sunderland for example. It may do no more than inflate fees and wages in the longer term.

The danger of concentrating power amongst a small amount of Clubs is the distribution of TV wealth within the Premier might become distorted, I believe in Spain that Barca, Real Madrid etc, get more TV share than the others, they might even negotiate their own deals. Once that happens here, you can see the doors slowly creaking shut on the rest of us.

The removal of the parachute payments is an example of that.