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MANCHESTER, England: Proposals backed by Liverpool, Manchester United and the Football League (EFL) for major changes to the structure of the Premier League were met with swift criticism from England’s top flight on Sunday (October 11).
Liverpool and United are backing a plan to radically change the structure of the Premier League, giving more power to the big clubs, reducing it from 20 clubs to 18 and eliminating the League Cup and Community Shield, the Telegraph reported.
The plan would see the Premier League commit to providing 25 percent of the league’s revenue to Football League (EFL) clubs and also a £ 250 million package to help with the immediate impact of the crisis in COVID-19.
The newspaper said the plans had been brought together in a document called “Revitalization” drawn up by Liverpool’s American owners, Fenway Sports Group, with support from Florida-based United owners, the Glazer family.
A source with knowledge of the discussions and the document confirmed to Reuters that the report was accurate. Manchester United and Liverpool did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
EFL President Rick Parry publicly endorsed the plans in comments in the report saying “we are prepared.”
But it was unclear how many Premier League or EFL clubs had been consulted on the proposals and the top-flight league criticized Parry’s plans and public support for them.
“In the opinion of the Premier League, several of the individual proposals in the plan published today could have a detrimental impact on the entire game and we are disappointed to see that Rick Parry, president of the EFL, has given his record support,” said the league in a statement.
The Premier League said it supported a “broad discussion on the future of the game,” including competition structures, timing and finances, but said there needed to be more inclusive talks.
“Soccer has many stakeholders, so this work must be carried out through the proper channels that allow all clubs and stakeholders the opportunity to contribute,” the statement added.
The proposal includes 8.5 percent of the league’s annual net income for “good causes,” including the Football Association.
25 percent of the remaining revenue from the Premier League and Football League would go to EFL clubs. This would replace the current system of ‘parachute payments’ to relegated Premier League clubs.
However, the plan does not require the first six to receive a larger share of television revenue.
Parry, who has raised concerns about the state of the EFL club’s finances, said a change was needed.
“What do we do? Leave it exactly as it is and allow the smaller clubs to wither away? 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 (the big) six get some profit, but the 72 do too, we’re ready for it, “he told The Telegraph.
The proposal is likely to meet resistance from some Premier League clubs, especially the idea of a change to the ‘one club, one vote’ system, in place since the league was formed, as a break from the Football League in 1992.
The plan calls for the nine clubs with the largest continuous presence in the league, which includes the ‘big six’, to be given “long-term shareholder” status and the ability to make changes with the support of just six of the nine. .
In addition to reducing the size from 20 clubs to 18, there would also be a change in the promotion and relegation exchange with the second tier Championship.
The last two clubs would be automatically relegated from the Premier League and replaced by the top two from the Championship.
The club ranked 16th in the Premier League would have to play a tiebreaker with the third, fourth and fifth teams in the championship.
The plan would need the support of 14 of the 20 Premier League clubs to pass.
