Most of you will probably have heard by now of the findings of the FA Commission. Their aim is to improve the long term quality of English football, not just football in England. The main points are as follows (taken from the guardian): 1. Premier League B teams The most âradicalâ â and disputed â proposal from the commission is the introduction of B teams into the football pyramid. The plan would be for a new division, âLeague Threeâ, to be inserted between League Two and the Conference. Premier League clubs would be given the option of fielding a B team in the new division or the Conference, with existing Conference clubs making up any shortfall. B teams could not be promoted any higher than League One, relegated any lower than the Conference or play in the FA Cup. Similar systems operate on the continent, notably in Spain and Germany. 2. Strategic Loan Partnerships An alternative for Premier League clubs who do not want a B team â and even for those who do â an SLP would formalise loan arrangements that already exist between some elite and lower-league sides. The proposal would give Premier League and Championship clubs more power to dictate how their players are utilised by lower-league sides, who would be compensated financially for complying. It is about as close to a feeder club system as you can get without formally introducing one. 3. Home-grown Player Requirements The commission proposes the number of home-grown players required in a Premier League squad should be increased from eight to 13 by 2020. It also believes the same should happen in the Football League, while it calls for a quota of four âclub-trainedâ players in Premier League squads by 2020, in line with regulations in Uefaâs club competitions. 4. Changes to the non-EU work visa process The final proposal calls for a reform of the process by which clubs are able to sign players who do not have a European Union passport. The commission believes non-EU players should be banned from playing at any level below the Premier League and that there should be a cap of two non-EU players in any Premier League squad. Government regulations require the FA to reach a consensus with stakeholders and also other Home Nations over any changes to work-permit restrictions. Link: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/england/10817099/Football-Association-commission-proposals-what-you-need-to-know-about-Greg-Dykes-plan.html ---------------------------------------- Opinions are very much split as to whether this is a good idea or not. I'd like to know what others think of the proposal (from a Fulham perspective preferably). As a foreigner my interest lies only with the development of Fulham youngsters as opposed to the English national team. If we are still in the Championship at this point we would not be eligible to submit a 'B' team despite having one of the best youth systems in the country. Who would our youngsters play? If all the top clubs have all their youngsters playing in a B league then where is the competition for the likes of us. Even if we are back in the Premier League by then and do opt for a B team would we not be allowed to play the likes of Emerson Hyndman or Solomon Sambou in the team due to them being non-EU players? It'll be interesting to see what others think. Many in the Football League and Conference are against it. That includes us from next year. We'll seem to be in limbo if we're still in the Championship with a strong youth squad by then, what do you guys think?
