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Manchester United Executive Vice President Ed Woodward has rejected claim (is ‘Project Big Picture’ was a “closed-door takeover.”
The plans, drawn up by Liverpool and Manchester United, would have given EFL teams £ 250m to share, plus 25% of the revenue from future television deals that the Premier League secures.
They would also have involved eliminating the Carabao Cup and cutting the Premier League to 18 teams.
The Premier League has agreed to a full review of the proposals, to be completed in March.
Plans for ‘Project Big Picture’ leaked to the press in October and sparked a generally negative answerBut Woodward said those who reacted were responding to an incomplete document.
“It’s important to reflect that this was a work in progress,” said Woodward, speaking at the Manchester United Fan Forum on 20 November.
“It was not a seizure of power behind closed doors, just a draft of proposals and a discussion document.
“The next step would have been to extend them to all interested parties in search of consensus.”
One element of the proposal involved Premier League clubs called the “Big Six” – Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea – gaining special voting rights on certain issues, along with West Ham, Everton and Southampton. .
In October, Premier League clubs “unanimously agreed” that “Project Big Picture” would not be “endorsed or persecuted.”
Instead, the clubs agreed to “work together” on a new “strategic plan” for the “financing of English football”.
On Thursday, Premier League and English Football League agreed to a £ 250 million rescue package to help ease the financial challenge EFL clubs face as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Woodward had been pushing for a “no strings attached” offer and says protecting the English pyramid was at the center of the talks.
“A strong Premier League and a robust and financially sustainable pyramid are crucial to the health of the national game and that is the principle that we will continue to follow within the strategic review recently launched by the Premier League,” he said.
‘A long-term, planned approach to recruitment’
United have played four games since Woodward spoke, winning three but losing in the Champions League to Paris St-Germain at Old Trafford on Wednesday.
He says the club will continue to support manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the transfer market, focusing on the summer transfer windows.
“We recognize that there is more work ahead to achieve the consistency necessary to win trophies,” Woodward said.
“I said in April that we remained committed to strengthening the team, while at the same time being disciplined in our spending during the pandemic.
“I think we delivered on that, with the additions we made over the summer, bringing our total net spending to over € 200 million (£ 180 million) since the summer of 2019, more than any other major European club during that period.
“We will continue to support Ole with a planned, long-term approach to recruitment, focused on the summer windows.”
Club will install 1,500 barrier seats
United will install 1,500 barrier seats, standing on rails, at Old Trafford.
Work will begin early in the new year on the northeast section of the stadium after approval from the Sports Grounds Safety Authority.
United have struggled to deal with the problem of staying in position for several years at Old Trafford.
Wolves were given similar permission for its South Stand in 2019 in its attempt to address the persistent position.
Standing on the grounds of the top two tiers of English football is illegal, but in 2018 a new guide from security chiefs allows clubs to install barrier seats if strict conditions are met.
Currently, fans are unable to attend games at Old Trafford due to government coronavirus restrictions in Greater Manchester.
