Plan to restructure the game

[German Shepherd]

Andy Holt, Stanley's manager, is spitting feathers on Twitter. Probably because of this...

https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...mier-league-2-and-b-teams-project-big-picture

 

[Brechin Hedge]

the EFL clubs appear to be playing a dangerous game by rejecting this offer.

Much as i love Argyle and the lower leagues i see no reason why efl clubs should expect the premier league to simply right a cheque. To think the premier league needs the like of argyle is simply not right. the days of a joined up four division league structure are long gone. A european super league for the top clubs is almost here with the champions league and it would appeare destiny that the likes of liverpool will be playing the likes of madrid et all every week as that is what the tv viewers want.

The efl cash crisis is simple. clubs spend more then they generate in income. this is largely down to overpayment of players. why can a league 1 club not budget for a wage bill of £2.25m?

Argyle are as guilty as anyone with a large squad, £10m on a refurbished stand and an ever expanding academy. clubs just need to reign back and get realistic and not expect hand outs from the bigger clubs who generate worldwide income through the premier league etc.

perhaps starts with more realistic expectations from fans of clubs like Argyle.

 

[Biggs]

Argyle are as guilty as anyone with a large squad, £10m on a refurbished stand and an ever expanding academy.

Both the stand and the academy investment are explicitly in order to become sustainable, though. They’re not luxuries or nice to haves, they’re essential to generate cash and players.

 

[Quintrell Green]

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12104955/efl-clubs-set-to-reject-premier-leagues-50m-bailout

The problem is that The Championship is so different to League One and Two in that it soaks up cash because of payment of unrealistic players' salaries in an attempt to reach the promised land of The Premiership.

If Leagues One and Two start to get picky over the amount and quality of financial support coming from The Premiership,, they will need to tread carefully as the old adage of 'beggars cannot be choosers' still stands. It is not an easy scenario.

 

[Brechin Hedge]

its a pipe dream.

there are NO self sustainable football league clubs. Why do you think mr hallett converted his loan to a donation within 5 minutes of buying the shares. The club could not afford the interest.(in fact the interest would have been more than the loan over 20 years!)

Plymouth simply does not have the wealth from commerce to have large businesses lining up to buy corporate facilities. As soon as mr hallett's generosity runs out the cycle will start again. chairmen come and go. same everywhere and has always been the case. Wasn't it Tony Waiters in 1973 saw an improved youth system as the way to sustain the club?

accept it and enjoy argyle as a club enjoyed by the local community in the lower leagues, with the occasional brief spell in tier two. remember Torquay had a generous benefactor, built a new stand, built up the academy. Then the money stopped.

not saying the fans should not welcome mr halletts deep pockets. but keep it real. it will be a brief spell and the cash will run out eventually. fans need to manage expectations and not expect and encourage clubs to overspend on players wages getting promotion the way they have over the last 30 years.

 

[Mike E]

On face value it is yet another step towards the already powerful taking even more control, but as has been mentioned previously, it is only the start of negotiations, although something as near as will be accepted, merely because alternatively the immediate crisis caused by Covid will lead to possibly half the EFL clubs going to the wall.

For each year passed since the formation of the Premier League, Argyle's chances of ever reaching the top flight have diminished to the point where it is merely a pipe dream or pure fantasy. From our point of view, forgetting the politics of the higher echelons of the game, this deal will ensure the immediate survival of our club and our fellow EFL competitors.

Because of Covid, whether we like it or not, we need to accept it.

 

[Biggs]

You can't forget the politics at the higher end of the game though, the whole pyramid is built on the premise that clubs move up and down divisions based on sporting merit. In reality, that is affected by how rich those clubs are and how much TV money each league gets... but that's still the underlying principle.

Once you remove that, change the promotion and relegation system, and put into place actual laws that give certain clubs protection and superior rights, it removes that integrity. And it's a slippery slope too, who is to say that the Championship won't enact similar rules giving certain clubs more rights than others and altering relegation to and from League One. Then it does affect us.

 

[jimsing]

There needs to be an independent overseer of the whole game of football in England, one with authority over the PL and the EFL as both parties have shown themselves to be uncapable and unwilling to do their job properly.

The regulation of ALL football clubs should be overseen by an independent body. Football is our National game and should be regulated as such, with recourse to Parliament if necessary.

One of the problems we may encounter will be that there is so much money swilling about in the game, how are we ever going to be sure that the game will be controlled with honesty and integrity, with no backhanders being handed out to those in charge, as has occurred within UEFA and FIFA?

 

[jimsing]

I see there are now proposals for EFL clubs to discuss a £77.2m rescue package for Div 1 & 2 Clubs only.

Wonder how much of that is a loan and how much is a grant from the big boys and what they would want in return?

https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/sport/football/efl-premier-league-rescue-package-4608084

Turns out to be £50m over and above the normal £27.2m clubs already getting. Decided not enough tobail out the Div 1 & 2 clubs. Back to the drawing board.

https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/sport/football/efl-clubs-say-premier-league-4611893

 

[Mike E]

You can't forget the politics at the higher end of the game though, the whole pyramid is built on the premise that clubs move up and down divisions based on sporting merit. In reality, that is affected by how rich those clubs are and how much TV money each league gets... but that's still the underlying principle.

Once you remove that, change the promotion and relegation system, and put into place actual laws that give certain clubs protection and superior rights, it removes that integrity. And it's a slippery slope too, who is to say that the Championship won't enact similar rules giving certain clubs more rights than others and altering relegation to and from League One. Then it does affect us.

I didn't say I like it, I think it stinks, but unless some financial support is forthcoming in the next few months, without the fans, we are in danger of not having a football league at all.

 

[GreenThing]

It’s in the PL’s interest to keep the FL going strong. Where else would they cherrypick the up and coming talent for next to nothing? Where would they send their youngsters on loan to gain match experience?

 

[WoodsyGreen]

Sky have just reported that a number of clubs in England, Italy, Spain, Germany and France are in negotiations about the formation of an 18-team European Premier League, backed by Fifa.

Inevitable.

 

[German Shepherd]

Off you toddle, let the rest of us get on with it. :wave:

 

[WoodsyGreen]

I would imagine it'll replace the Champions League rather than see the big boys give up their places in their domestic leagues.

It's basically a way to ensure the rich keep on getting richer.

 

[Drake]

Sky have just reported that a number of clubs in England, Italy, Spain, Germany and France are in negotiations about the formation of an 18-team European Premier League, backed by Fifa.

Inevitable.

Let them. I don’t actually think it will be the success they want it to be. Whilst it will attract an obscene amount of media attention and financial backing, after the initial novelty wears off British football fan’s will return to the (more competitive) domestic game as there is just no connection to European teams, no sense of competitive history or rivalry. The matches between the English teams in any Euro PL will be the most interesting for the majority, otherwise it will become very meh.

It could be the best thing for English football in reality.