Project "Big Picture" - "Big" Clubs Plan Overhaul of English Football
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2020/10/11/world-exclusive-man-utd-liverpool-driving-project-big-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 £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 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 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.
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.
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:
- £250 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 £100 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 £20, 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
Comments
-
Wow thanks for posting that Henry.
Pretty sweeping changes if adopted. I can see why the EFL are in agreement as it will add greater revenue down the food chain. Not sure the rest of the premiership will agree though as they are basically losing any say in how the league operates and all power hands over to the top 6 clubs plus Everton, Southampton and WHU ? What happens if one of those gets relegated ?
Everyone knows that their needs to be sweeping changes but I'm not sure 6 clubs holding all the power is the right way to go about it. They are basically trying to buy ownership of the premiership9 -
Big fan of Relegation play offs10
-
And the plans in general look good, devil in the detail, but headlines look good0
-
So the fucking yanks want to destroy the English game great.2
-
Big fish want to dominate their pond all the more. Quelle surprise.
I don't think they've ever wanted the likes of Burnley, Bournemouth or Wigan. Clubs the size of Charlton are welcomed for a year, but they don't want them hanging around.28 -
This is all a smokescreen to get rid of the one club one vote rule.
Dressed up as saving the game but the top 6 are instead taking full control of the game.50 -
Let's face it, any plan drawn up by the "Big 6" in the Premier League is never really going to have the good of football as one of its aims, no matter how much spin they want to try and put on it.
It's about greed and pulling up the ladder to stop anyone else trying to get their noses in the trough. "One club one vote you say? Pah, how outdated."44 -
You may have missed it but our owner is a "fucking yank"Hartleypete said:So the fucking yanks want to destroy the English game great.10 -
Vetoing a new owner taking over a rival club?! That's so dangerous.
Ultimately I suspect the EFL's hand might be forced in some way. A lot of the member clubs are facing unprecedented financial pressures right now, so taking the money in the short term might be the only option, despite the long-term consequences. A reduction to 90 teams; the "special status" (i.e. removal of one club one vote); the change in financial distribution that screws over the "other" Premier League clubs; FFP that doesn't work; and a later start for friendlies (??!!))... none of that sits well with me.
That said, the EFL would welcome the money that would come from this; capping away tickets at £20; getting rid of the League Cup; and the idea to improve stadium infrastructure are all okay ideas.
But ultimately this is a very, very worrying plan.9 -
The PL top six / nine wanting to become a dictatorship, surprise, surprise.
This would give them total control of rules and regs, so anything good in the plan could be changed by them with ease in future.
The most worrying point is to see Rick Parry supposedly in favour - EFL blinded and crippled by idea of short term bailout.
30 - Sponsored links:
-
It was going to change at some point. I can live with these changes. 25% to be handed to efl clubs. No league cup and more importantly no premier league 2.0
-
It’s not jumpers for goalposts is it?1
-
- £250 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 £100 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 £20, 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
But apart from that, all good.27 -
Apologies if I’ve missed something, but is this a proposal / idea or is it 100% defiantly happening?0
-
secret plan "leaked" by the Telegraph.Mendonca In Asdas said:Apologies if I’ve missed something, but is this a proposal / idea or is it 100% defiantly happening?2 -
Interesting view from @SE7toSG3 's best mateThe Premier League’s big clubs are behaving like pay-day lenders. Take some cash now, while you’re desperate, and pay us back with crushing interest.There is a false choice being presented here: agree to these proposals, which further entrench power and wealth at the very top, or watch lower-league clubs die. There’s a third option: the Premier League helping out of a sense of social responsibility and duty to football.There are so many ways to make the EFL more sustainable: strengthened rules and regulations on ownership, greater financial transparency, fan representation, better oversight and so on. There could be a fairer distribution of wealth without back-breaking terms and conditions.Ultimately, any good in these proposals is superficial compared to the damage they would do. The Premier League, FA and government should be working together on a serious bailout package for football, rather than the big clubs offering survival in exchange for subservience.
As someone else replied on twitter what the EPL should do rather than what it wants to do23 -
So my first question
What gives Man City or even Spurs the right to dictate how the League should be structured... The former were a bog standard league team less than two decades ago whilst the latter do nothing major apart from fighting for pointless positions!!
Those six need to learn quickly they're the problem within the game and certainly shouldn't be running it21 -
In terms of structure. Is seems a lot has been copied/taken from Germany.
18 teams, relegation play off etc.0 -
Is there a single person more responsible for creating and then maintaining the big club monopoly on money and talent in football than Double Agent Rick Parry? He's doing an outstanding job.9
-
I live in the USA and they have no concept of relegation here. Don’t let the Yanks dictate what the EFL should look like.4
- Sponsored links:
-
Thanks @Henry Irving for your 1-28pm post.
Answered alot of my questions.0 -
3
-
My take from that is that there is no chance of it being voted through by the rest of the Premier League...and that's a good thing.Rothko said:3 -
Been so bored of the premier league for ages. Rather these elite teams just piss off and create their own little league with no relegation and leave them to it.
10 -
Using a pandemic to push through something they have been working on for ages but knew they could not get through previously in its proposed format ... parasitic wankers22
-
For decades the big 6 cried that they didn't need fans, covid taught them otherwise.
It now appears that they haven't listened as they want even more money.
What summed it up for me this week was Arsenal spending £45m on a player yet the next day made the mascot redundant24 -
So the EPL plan to use the Covid Coronavirus to bribe the rest of the teams into accepting a load of changes essentially designed to make the top 6-9 a closed shop and take all control into their hands.
If voted through, then whats the betting the first thing the '9' do with their new found power is vote to cancel all payments to the EFL for ever more.5 -
I'd be quite happy for the "big six" to pick up their ball and bugger off to play amongst themselves and their friends in Germany, Italy, and Spain.
This is pure self-interest with the tiniest fig leaf of "concern for the little clubs".
Football League clubs, who don't have the safety net of a massive TV deal, may be interested in the short-term cash injection to overcome their immediate funding concerns but hopefully they'll see through that to look at the "big picture" which is the hijacking and curtailing of the traditional English League structure by a few greedy and arrogant clubs.
How the hell the Spuds still feature in a "big six" is beyond me. Two league titles, the last 60 years ago? Man City and Chelsea only owe their recent successes to incredibly rich owners; prior to that they were pretty ordinary. Arsenal are a busted flush after the glory years of Graham and Wenger.
Why "nine" longest serving clubs? If the additional three means Everton (who at least have some kind of pedigree in the last 40 years), Southampton, and the Hamsters, that's a bit of a slap in the face for Leicester City who won the bloody thing a few years ago!
The Foxes' triumph may have been a one-off and never-to-be-repeated it at least gave some hope to all clubs that anything was possible. The "big six" will do all they can to ensure that a fairy tale story like that can never happen again because they were embarrassed by a "little outsider".
F*** 'em. F*** the lot of them.19 -
Nothing but contempt for this sickening plan to create more of an elite club that nuisances like Bournemouth and Watford can't spoil. It's so important to read between the lines as our own HI has illustrated.
More time for those essential pre-season friendlies in China and Dubai? Fuck off and play there instead.13 -
Don't a majority of clubs have to vote this through? Can't see it happening2
