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Liverpool and Manchester United remain determined to achieve a radical restructuring that would reduce the size of the Premier League despite fierce opposition from the top-flight executive, many of their clubs and the government.
On another dramatic day, Boris Johnson added his voice to the condemnation of Project Big Picture, the FA indicated that they could use their ‘golden share’ to block reforms, and the EFL was thrown into new confusion with the resignation of the CEO. David Baldwin was only when the future of President Rick Parry was questioned.
The Premier League rebels will not be deterred by the chaos that has engulfed them since their controversial plans were leaked on Sunday, and will make their case at an emergency meeting of all 20 clubs later this week.
Sportsmail learned that Liverpool owner John Henry and his United counterpart Joel Glazer held crisis talks on Monday about how to carry out their project in the face of mounting opposition.
Henry and Glazer will continue to push for an 18-club Premier League, which they believe is necessary to create more space on the schedule for the biggest clubs to compete in an expanded Champions League.
However, it is accepted that the proposed governance reforms that give the Big Six an effective veto and a larger share of streaming revenue may have to be diluted. Presenting the new structure to coincide with the next round of television contracts at the beginning of the 2022-23 season remains his aspiration.
Henry and Glazer are also believed to be contesting the Premier League’s claims that their proposals would alter the distribution of broadcast revenue and prize money from the top club in the table to the bottom club from a ratio of 1.8: 1 to 4: 1.
They claim that the change would be to a more modest ratio of around 2.25: 1, which would still make the Premier League the most equitable first division in Europe.
The Americans are also committed to increasing the financial contribution of the top flight to the sub-divisions to around £ 700 million a year, which together with a promised Covid-19 bailout of £ 250 million has been enough to secure Parry’s support, much to the dismay of many. Premier League clubs.
The Premier League has called an emergency meeting of the clubs to clear the air amid anger that most of them only found out about the radical proposals when they were leaked on Sunday.
Representatives for Liverpool and United will be asked to describe their role in developing secret plans that have been in private circulation for so long that Project Big Picture is now in its seventeenth draft, while the rest of the Big Six will also render. accounts later It was learned that last Thursday they held a private meeting to discuss the proposals.
A second meeting scheduled for Sunday was understood to have been canceled at the last minute after plans were leaked.
While the rest of the Big Six have yet to commit to supporting the reforms and are not comfortable with them being made public, at least one club was interested enough to have submitted the proposed revisions to draft 17 on Friday evening. tomorrow, less than 24 hours after the initial meeting.
Given that an 18-team Premier League would suit their long-term strategic interests, it is unlikely that they will be willing to abandon all proposals either.
Only Liverpool and United were willing to publicly endorse the plans when contacted by Sportsmail on Monday, with eight clubs describing their opposition, although the fact that 10 declined to comment indicates there is debate.
In another significant development yesterday, the FA indicated that it would be willing to use the so-called ‘golden share’ they received when the Premier League was established in 1992 to block changes.
However, the FA’s position is more nuanced than overtly hostile, because its president Greg Clarke has been involved in the discussions for several months.
The FA’s main concern is to protect the pyramid of English football, so it will be guided by the sentiments of the clubs in each division.
The governing body has a number of concerns about the proposals, notably the plan to abolish the Community Shield, which it would fiercely resist due to the value of its streaming rights and the money the masterpiece generates for charity.
The EFL remains firmly in favor, with Parry arguing that the plans would provide a restart to narrow the financial gulf between the Premier League and the Championship in particular, as well as prevent League One and League Two clubs from going bankrupt in the crisis of the Covid-19. .
However, they face other problems following the unexpected resignation of David Baldwin. The former Burnley chief executive just joined the EFL in June, but has quickly become disillusioned due to the difficulties of dealing with a wide range of clubs with competing schedules.
Baldwin will serve a six-month notice period after making the decision to resign before plans for Project Big Picture emerged over the weekend.
His departure is a blow to the EFL, especially as he leads negotiations with the Premier League on the proposed Covid-19 bailout, which could now be in jeopardy due to its disagreement with Parry.
The Premier League took the unusual step of publicly criticizing its former chief executive in a heavily worded statement on Sunday, and EFL clubs are likely to blame Parry if the Project Big Picture delivery element or the bailout does not materialize.
In another blow to the proposals, the prime minister’s official spokesman addressed his opposition, stating that the plan “does not have the support of the Premier League and it is exactly these kinds of clandestine deals that undermine confidence in the governance of the government. football”.
Source: m.allfootballapp.com
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