Several foreign-owned Premier League clubs want to scrap relegation, according to League Managers Association chief Richard Bevan. If more clubs are sold to foreigner investors, they may have enough votes to force through the change. But Bevan hopes that a government-led inquiry can help prevent the proposal. "We're very keen that the report is successful in helping the Football Association introduce a licensing programme for clubs," he said. "Because there are a number of overseas-owned clubs already talking about bringing about the avoidance of promotion and relegation in the Premier League. "If we have four or five more new owners, that could happen."
FFS. Now what. All they want is to buy into a club and not have to "invest". We already have a system whereby it is the same clubs at the top, perpetuated by the massive money differential, which prevents teams lower down getting a look in (unless their owners come in and throw money around like it is worth nothing). If this happens look out for more like Ecclestone and Briatore who want to have a Premiership club as a plaything and a status symbol, knowing that they are guarranteed matches against the likes of Manchester United and if they are at the bottom of the heap ... who cares. They will still be in the Premiership next season and can bring their business associates and tarts to their special boxes at the grounds.
It's unfortunate that the head of the LMA doesn't know the rules of the Premier League. The FA has a special share and has a veto on various issues including: 7.2 Notwithstanding any provision in the Articles or the Rules to the contrary, each of the following matters shall be deemed to be a variation of the rights attaching to the Special Share and shall accordingly be effective only with the consent in writing of the Special Shareholder and without such consent shall not be done or caused to be done: 7.2.4 the making and adoption of or any amendment to, removal of or waiver of any of the provisions of the Rules which relate to: (b) the number of Members and promotion to and relegation from the League; See http://www.premierleague.com/staticFiles/c2/8a/0,,12306~166594,00.pdf
I honestly can't see this happening, I think Bevan is scare-mongering in order to nip it in the bud. If it were to happen though, then we might as well all give up and go home. I can't see people being interested in a league where there's no relegation.
This is one of a number of 'feelers' that are being put out by certain clubs here and abroad which is all part of a plan by the top Champions League clubs to eventually form their own breakaway Super League. There were a couple of reporters close to these clubs who said the Liverpool televised european rights statement last week was another 'feeler' to test reaction. By the end of this decade there will be a 16 team Super League which will run separately from UEFA or any other governing body and at least four of the participants will be English. There will also be franchises sold to 'developing' countries to set up a 2nd tier which will integrate with the Super League and you will have the lucrative middle and far eastern markets represented. The rich will grow richer and cherry-pick the best players from round the world, similar to what they do now, the only difference is those on the outside will have no trickle-down as the smaller Premier League clubs and the 72 league clubs get at present and many will face oblivion. If you think this is bollox, remember, you heard it first here...
Sooper, I am thinking that may not be such an unattractive thing. The way things are now, the top 4 - 6 are in a league of their own anyway. Any team which spends £30m plus on single players are not on the same planet as the rest of us. Them going would reduce the amount of cash in the English game, which is unsustainable anyway, stop clubs like us trying to compete and ruining themselves, even things up on and off the field and be much more fun. Of course it would be better to return the the good old days before Sky, when the European Cup was a Cup etc, but even grumpy old gits like me realise this will never happen.
If Liverpool and three others wish to leave the English leagues and join a franchise super league good luck to them. The remaining premier league will still be popular.
It would be a global tragedy for football.The Premier League would be unattractive to sponsors and made up of teams struggling financially.There would be nothing to aim for,and unlike now no massive games to look forward to.Spanish football would die apart from Barca and Real,Italian would go the same way without Juve and the 2 Milan sides,Germany without Bayern,Dortmund,Holland without Ajax and Feyenord,the list goes on.A super league would kill every major and lower league all over Europe.It truly would be the end of football as we know it,and i for one want no part of it.
Was trying to post something similar when the system crashed. Whats going on? Will try again. If the elite clubs went to a world league we would lose the opportunity to beat Chelsea, which we've waited so many years for (and will probably go on waiting for!). On the other hand, it might be an opportunity for the rest of us. No-one seriously thought the fans could take over the club in the Summer, even though everyone wanted the previous owners out. While the Sheiks and Oligarchs set the pace, there's no way we can compete. But once they move on - as eventually, they will - then maybe we could get some sanity back, establish rules like the Bundesliga where fans own half of every club etc
None of us want it but you have to be realistic. The big clubs are pushing more and more to create bigger streams of income, why are billionaires throwing money at certain clubs? They realise that the wealth that is about to come into the game will make the current earnings look like chicken-feed. The Super League will be above international football and the players will be owned lock, stock and barrel by the clubs, no more international call-ups will be part of their contracts. Think of American Gridiron Football but as soccer on a global scale with American franchises as part of it, it is as inevitable as night following day and they don't give a toss about what state they will leave the domestic leagues in, greed will win. Forget reforming FIFA and UEFA's fair play rules, they will be swept away when this comes to fruition, the current co-operation of the G14 clubs runs till 2014, that's when this will begin to take shape.
**** all that Yankee ****,no more international call ups,what about the World Cup.Oh yeah they don't have one in American Football do they,because no other ****er plays the **** game!!
Well, whether this is a doomsday scenario or a potential return to sanity only the future will tell. I agree something like this is going to happen though, but disagree that American gridiron is the model - though they have a fixed number of franchises, no relegation etc, the draft system, salary caps and foundation on college football does mean a variety of teams win, which just can't work with our football/ transfer system, where only cash counts.The super league will eventually become as predictable as the premiership and la liga are now. But meantime we (in my view) may well be enjoying really competitive footy at national league level.
Club v country is the biggest moan of the big clubs, if they can eradicate it they will. Once they are outside FIFA/UEFA jurisdiction it won't be an issue, the clubs pay the wages and call the shots. There's too much money at stake for them to risk players being injured on call-ups. I'd love it to be like it was in the 70s where 8-10 teams had a chance of winning the league each season but those days are long gone, television money and, more significantly, betting money will drive this on. We've arrived in the big-time just as it's leaving us!
I only use Gridiron as an example of a closed shop with enormous revenue streams, there won't be any of the 'draft pick' systems they use, as at present the established big guns will be the big guns in the new set-up as well. The problem is the losers who currently enjoy regular domestic success will become perennial losers with no success, will their fans be able to cope with that? That is when new franchises will be introduced and the promised land won't be all it was cracked up to be. As you say the PL may be much better off without them and really competitive, problem is all the best players will be snapped up by the Super League, it'll just be a bigger version of what happens between the leagues now.
