[英超]利物浦和曼聯為首的六支英超球會推動改革英格蘭足球的方案，包括英超參賽隊伍減至18隊、取消聯賽盃和社區盾 [復制鏈接]

'A unique opportunity': Project Big Picture wins 'overwhelming support' from English Football League clubs
Peter Ridsdale, now at Preston, urges clubs outside Premier League's top 10 to think strategically about future probability of relegation

By
Jeremy Wilson; Matt Lawand John Percy
13 October 2020 • 10:09pm

Project Big Picture, and its promise of a £250 million bailout, has won the clear support of English Football League clubs, who have claimed that it is also in the long-term interests of many Premier League teams.

Citing the regular churn between the Premier League and the EFL, Peter Ridsdale, the former Leeds United chairman who is now advising Preston North End, urged clubs outside the top 10 to think strategically about the future probability of relegation to the Championship and a more equitable share of income.

Ridsdale admitted that he did not trust the Premier League ‘Big Six’ and their collective commitment to the pyramid but, in the context of a government that “appears to have abandoned football”, described the proposals as a “unique opportunity”.

He also said that there were “no dissenting voices” on Tuesday’s conference call of Championship clubs and complete support for EFL chairman Rick Parry. In League One, Gillingham chairman Paul Scally said that he could not recall anyone speaking “badly” about the plans but acknowledged that concerns were raised. It is understood that Lincoln City were the most sceptical.

In League Two, Leyton Orient chairman Nigel Travis said that 23 out of 24 clubs were in favour of a deal that would finance immediate stadium improvements at his club. “I’d go further than ‘overwhelming support’, I’d say there’s excitement about the opportunity,” he said. “All my potential new investors have been phoning me up saying, ‘can we get going now’.”

Mark Palios, the former FA chief executive and owner of League Two Tranmere United, however, outlined his opposition in an interview with Telegraph Sport.

“What you actually want to do is to smooth the gaps across the pyramid, rather than taking a route that will increase the gap sometime in the future and will mean the end of the pyramid as we know it with relegation and promotion,” said Palios. “You have to come back to the central premise that this plan is all about short-term gains for longer-term damage.

“People need to think about what the pyramid will look like in 20 years, 40 years’ time and I think there is a moral need to do that.” A majority of other clubs, however, believe that Parry’s plan is urgently needed. Ridsdale said that the “football pyramid as we know it won’t exist” without a comprehensive reset.

Jez Moxey, the Burton Albion chief executive and also an EFL board member, was adamant that the FA’s ‘golden share’ provided sufficient “inbuilt protection” against fears that the 'Big Six' Premier League clubs would use special voting rights to alter basic rules around promotion and relegation. He also said that he was “not worried” about the threat of a breakaway and that it was now “incumbent” on the Premier League to start rationally debating the way forward following “painstakingly frustrating” talks. “The government is frustrated,” he said. “Oliver Dowden [the culture secretary] is expecting the Premier League to step forward and fulfill the promise they made.”

Moxey, who previously also held senior executive positions at Wolverhampton Wanderers and Stoke City, said that there was an urgent need to rescue some clubs.

“We literally have clubs right now that are worried about paying October’s payroll and we have got concerns over Championship clubs having to pay PAYE payments,” he said. “Be under no illusion, we are talking about now. Right this second.”

Travis also stressed that the clubs had retained “huge faith” in Parry, who has angered sections of the Premier League by holding talks with Liverpool and Manchester United about Project Big Picture. “There’s no other alternative on the table,” said Travis. “No one else has come up with anything palatable. It’s a great answer for the future of English football at all levels.”

Scally was adamant that clubs were not “looking to sell their soul for £250m” and said that, more than six months into the Covid-19 crisis, he was only aware of a £25m suggestion from the Premier League.

Palios, though, warned his EFL counterparts not to be taken in by “sweeteners” within the proposal. “They are designed to obfuscate I think what is the main issue and that is the long-term damage it does to the pyramid by giving the power to the ‘Big Six’,” he said. “I think the process has been woeful. I don’t think the EFL chairman should, without consulting the EFL, have gone forwards. This is something that needs to be dealt with in a much more mature environment than in a crisis that’s been self-induced by football’s patent and obvious inability to govern itself or to fix itself and address the pandemic in a sensible way. I think the time has come for the government to accept that football can’t manage itself, and it isn’t awash with cash as it thinks.”

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2020/10/13/project-big-picture-wins-clear-support-english-football-league/

羅力亞:'A unique opportunity': Project Big Picture wins 'overwhelming support' from English Football League clubs
Peter Ridsdale, now at Preston, urges clubs outside Premier League's top 10 to think strategically about future probability of relega .. (2020-10-14 10:06) 

民意

freezefox:
四個字：趁火打劫！
其實成件事，最大影響唔在於宜家提出黎個幾項既改動。 18隊又好 20 隊又好，廢邊個杯又好。都唔係大問題。最大問題係從此成個賽制都會於極少數大球會所控制。 大權高度集中！ 以後其他細球會更加無SAY ！
.......

如果只計英超，的確係
但低級別個d係真正比火燒緊個堆
咁政府唔做野，佢地又繼續食西北風?

講真低組別既不嬲都冇say
疫情下生存都成問題
宜家講緊即時有錢週轉+未來英超25%轉播收益
即使分餅仔對佢地黎講都係大數目

本身已經係貧富不均
小球會已經經營困難
呢個其實係足總同政政府既責任
疫情下
英超隊就仲有轉播費
低組別個d冇球迷入場
點做呀？

我當然都唔中意用錢買權
但現實就係咁
如果因為疫情令佢地討論呢個plan
即使足總唔採用
但逼到佢地正視小球會長久以來既問題
將來轉播費/其他方面可以改善佢地經營
都不失係一件好事？

Premier League aims for EFL bailout but some clubs refuse to deal with Parry
Offer expected to be £140m, not the £250m EFL wants
Anger towards EFL chairman Rick Parry over Project Big Picture

The Premier League will attempt to finalise a bailout package for the English Football League on Wednesday but the anger generated by Project Big Picture has left some clubs unwilling to hand over money while Rick Parry is the EFL’s chairman.

The offer is expected to be worth £140m – payable in loans and grants – but that would be some way short of the £250m the EFL is seeking as it reels from the impact of Covid-19. An identical proposal has already been rejected by the EFL.

The Premier League’s push to agree a bailout at a virtual meeting of its clubs is designed to undermine the drive to reform English football led by Liverpool and Manchester United and supported by Parry and most EFL clubs.

The fallout from those plans continued on Tuesday when the Football Association chairman, Greg Clarke, claimed he walked away from discussions when “a breakaway league [was] mooted as a threat”.

The virtual meeting of Premier League clubs has been convened at short notice for 11am. The Liverpool executives John W Henry and Mike Gordon are due to present Project Big Picture but the idea is understood to have dismayed the majority of clubs outside the big six, meaning it has next to no chance of being voted into being in its current form.

Under its terms, the EFL would be given a £250m bailout and a transformational 25% of a future collective broadcasting agreement in exchange for the Premier League’s big six clubs being granted overwhelming voting control on a number of important points. Any legislative changes need the support of 14 of the division’s 20 clubs.

Several top-flight clubs are known to be incensed at Parry, after he negotiated secretly with Liverpool and United to come up with PBP. The strength of feelings has led some to say they do not want to present their bailout plan to the EFL unless he goes.

The stance, which is likely to be discussed at Wednesday’s meeting, is designed to pressure EFL clubs into choosing between the Premier League’s bailout money and Parry, who has received near unanimous support for his plan from his 72 league clubs.

Talks between the Premier League, EFL and government over a bailout have been taking place since the spring without resolution. This despite the government making clear it expects the Premier League to transfer funds down the pyramid.

For some elite-level clubs, the sticking point has been a fear that by transferring money to the lower leagues they may be reinforcing rivals. They see it as counterintuitive to bail out wealthy Championship clubs who could replace them in the Premier League.

They have also wondered why these clubs have not taken measures – such as player wage cuts or deferrals – before coming to them for a bailout. It has led to a feeling among Premier League clubs that the bailout must be means-tested.

From the other side of the negotiating table there has been increasing frustration at what is seen as a lack of engagement from the Premier League.

EFL sources suggested an offer of £140m – £40m in grants and £110m in loans advanced against future television revenue – was made on behalf of the Premier League this summer and rejected.

They also observe that some of the clubs most staunchly against PBP, arguing it will destroy the competitive nature of the top flight, had argued privately for a suspension of promotion and relegation when the 2019-20 season was suspended because of Covid-19.

The pressure will be on Liverpool’s executives, alongside Ed Woodward and Joel Glazer at Manchester United, to persuade their fellow shareholders to give their plans consideration. The clubs opposed to the project believe their shareholdings would become irrelevant if the big six had controlling votes and could decide on matters such as how broadcasting revenues were split, who could own clubs and who was the chairman of the league.

The ideas behind PBP have been in gestation for up to a decade with the aspect of a bailout added to proposals in May. The clubs have not collectively discussed the proposals since they were leaked at the weekend. A meeting of the big six over the plans did take place last Wednesday, however, and was positive. Joel Glazer chaired it and is believed to have opened his pitch by emphasising the importance of the strength of the English football pyramid.

Fans from supporters’ trusts and similar organisations at Manchester United, Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool, Spurs and Chelsea on Tuesday issued a joint statement to oppose PBP. They called for a supporter-led review into football governance and said: “There are some suggestions in this plan that have merit but we are totally opposed to concentrating power in the hands of six billionaire owners and departing from the one club, one vote and collective ethos of the Premier League.”

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/oct/13/premier-league-aims-for-efl-bailout-but-some-clubs-refuse-to-deal-with-rick-parry?CMP=share_btn_tw

EFL clubs agree to put their support behind Project Big Picture
Rick Parry’s proposals overwhelmingly backed by EFL clubs
£250m instant payment to aid Covid crisis key to deal

EFL clubs have swung as a bloc behind Project Big Picture, despite concerns over a potential seismic power shift at the top of the game.

With Championship clubs unanimously agreeing to support the chair Rick Parry’s proposals and League One and Two also overwhelmingly in favour after a day of emergency meetings, club owners and executives have calculated that reform of the game – and a Covid-19 bailout – is worth the cost of an agglomeration of power among the Premier League’s biggest clubs.

The Preston North End adviser Peter Ridsdale seemed to sum up broad feelings when he explained his position over the deal. “Do I trust the top six today? No, I do not,” he said. “I don’t think some of them believe in the football pyramid but there is nothing to stop a change in the voting structure in the Premier League today and what we’ve got is an offer to assist the rest of the pyramid that wasn’t on the table.”

The details of Project Big Picture would see £250m transferred to the Football League to help keep clubs solvent during the coronavirus pandemic. They would also increase revenues, by giving the 72 league clubs a 25% share of future Premier League TV deals. There would also, however, be a “hard” salary cap introduced into the Championship and an end to parachute payments which, the EFL claims, have distorted the game.

Championship clubs are believed to be persuaded by an idea that PBP would help “smooth the cliff edge” between the second tier and the Premier League. There are concerns around the governance of such a plan across the pyramid, with a couple of dissenting voices in League One speaking out at a divisional conference call on Tuesday, but League Two clubs are thought to be largely supportive.

The clubs’ biggest questions revolve around the power the big six clubs would exert under the proposal, particularly down the line in terms of television rights and the redistribution of funds.

Jez Moxey, the chief executive of Burton Albion, argued that safeguards would remain against “armageddon” in the football pyramid. “Don’t forget the FA hold a golden share and they can prevent the Premier League from trying to alter something like promotion and relegation or changing the pyramid in any way,” he said. “They are the ones who ultimately govern the game and there is that built-in protection to prevent armageddon.

“The way I read it, the special voting rights are more a veto on the others trying to do things against them. But this is a Premier League issue, and this won’t happen unless we get 14 clubs to vote for it.”

Rob Couhig, the majority shareholder of Wycombe Wanderers, said there was “little dissension in the troops” but added there was precious little time for such a proposal to play out – “it is certainly a little bit of a tease” – and stressed the need for financial help.

“A lot of EFL clubs need money today and if they don’t get money in the next several weeks, there is going to be blood on the streets in terms of some of the clubs,” he said. “Something needs to be done or institutions that have existed in England for more than 100 years will not exist.”

It is understood the EFL has a short‑term provision in place to fund clubs who are struggling to meet the October pay roll and could also fund further crisis payments through commercial lending.

There is no doubting the need and desire to find a financial solution to the crisis and now all eyes turn to the Premier League meeting on Wednesday.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/oct/13/efl-clubs-agree-to-put-their-support-behind-project-big-picture?CMP=share_btn_tw

Six Championship clubs have told Sky Sports News that if there is no financial bailout forthcoming they fear for the survival of their club.

Sunderland CEO Jim Rodwell tells @SkySportsNews on Project Big Picture: “SAFC are in better shape than most, but clubs will topple at the end of this month. I’d like to think if we were the SAFC of 5 years ago we would have cast an eye to the EPL and thought ‘that could be us’.”

“It’s heartbreaking that fans can’t get in. We were ready to go with a pilot event against Peterbrough last month but got the rug pulled from under our feet. We believe we can get a certain number of fans in-and-out safely to a 49,000 seater stadium.”

“If something good is to come out of this awful pandemic this (Project Big Picture) could be it. The plans don’t hurt anyone in a meaningful way. Liverpool, Man United & Rick Parry should be applauded for trying to do something for the game.”

Cardiff City say finance has been an issue since the Premier League's launch in 1992 and they have backed Project Big Picture "in principle."

Find out more: https://bbc.in/3nWUe2z

呢個世界點都有正面同反面, 用錢換權都好合理姐
冇理由幾間球會無啦啦比幾億出去救其他會架嘛
呢D應該政府做, 不在其位不謀其政
個提案我個人認為就係各取所需
小球會要錢渡難關, 大球會要權鞏固地位
如果正常時期推呢樣就多數都無行
但呢D特殊時期提出又真係有討論既空間喎
我諗絕大多數既小球會都會同意, 畢竟英超權力同佢地無太大關係
受影響既係目前英超中下游同英冠既部分球會

Premier League: “All 20 Premier League clubs today unanimously agreed that Project Big Picture will not be endorsed or pursued by the Premier League, or The FA.”

Clubs “agreed to work together as collective on strategic plan for future structures + financing of English football, consulting with all stakeholders to ensure vibrant, competitive + sustainable football pyramid.

“Clubs will work collaboratively, in an open and transparent process, focusing on competition structure, calendar, governance and financial sustainability.”

根本就係提PBP先逼到D官僚做野

Premier League says clubs will not back 'Project Big Picture'

Premier League clubs have "unanimously agreed" that 'Project Big Picture' will not be "endorsed or pursued".

The controversial plans, proposed by Liverpool and Manchester United, were rejected at a meeting of the 20 clubs in England's top flight on Wednesday.

Instead, the clubs agreed to "work together" on a new "strategic plan" for the "financing of English football".

They also decided on a £50m rescue package for League One and Two clubs at the meeting.

A Premier League statement said "discussions will also continue with the EFL" over financial support for the Championship.

'Project Big Picture' involved reducing the Premier League from 20 to 18 clubs and scrapping the EFL Cup and Community Shield.

In addition, the English Football League would have got 25% of all future TV deals, which would have been negotiated jointly, plus a £250m bail-out.

However, it would also have seen more power transferred to the so-called 'big six' Premier League clubs.

In its statement, the Premier League said its members had "agreed to work together as a 20-club collective on a strategic plan for the future structures and financing of English football, consulting with all stakeholders to ensure a vibrant, competitive and sustainable football pyramid".

It added: "Clubs will work collaboratively, in an open and transparent process, focusing on competition structure, calendar, governance and financial sustainability.

"This project has the full support of the FA and will include engagement with all relevant stakeholders including fans, government and, of course, the EFL."

"Clearly there's some frustration that a proposal that hadn't had the input from the clubs has been pushed so hard in public," said Premier League chief executive Richard Masters.

"We don't have any beef with the EFL. We have a historic relationship - we want that to be constructive.

"It was a candid, positive and - in the end - a unanimous meeting.

"We decided to move on from 'Big Picture' and move on to a new review process.

"Solidarity is incredibly strong so while there's been a lot said, I don't think it's irreparably damaged the Premier League."

FA chairman Greg Clarke had said a breakaway league was suggested "as a threat" by the organisers of 'Project Big Picture'.

Masters added: "I don't think anyone has been talking about breaking away.

"We acknowledge the English model is a huge success but it hasn't been reviewed for a long time, so maybe there are some systemic issues that haven't been dealt with."

The League One and Two rescue package
The Premier League said the financial package for League One and Two clubs was intended to make sure they "will not go out of business as a result of the financial impact of Covid-19 and be able to complete the 2020-21 season".

It conceded they were at more risk than Premier League and Championship clubs as they "rely more heavily on matchday revenue and have fewer resources at their disposal".

"This offer will consist of grants and interest-free loans totalling a further £50m on top of the £27.2m solidarity payments already advanced to League One and League Two this year, making a total of £77.2m," added the Premier League statement.

The EFL will meet all its clubs on Thursday to discuss the Premier League's proposal and said it was "encouraging that there is an acknowledgment that a review of the current status quo is required".

Its statement went on: "The EFL welcomes the opportunity to contribute to any wider debate with colleagues across the game as we seek to finally address impossible economic pressures and deliver on the objective of having a sustainable EFL in the long term."

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden, who described 'Project Big Picture' as 'Project Power Grab', has previously called on the Premier League to look after those lower down the football pyramid.

"This morning I reiterated calls of many in the football family for bigger clubs to look after smaller clubs," he said.

"An offer has been made by the Premier League to EFL League One and Two which is a good start.

"I urge them to work together and stay focused on helping clubs through this crisis."

Analysis
BBC Sport's Simon Stone

The wording of the Premier League statement is interesting.

On the one hand, Project Big Picture is not being endorsed; on the other, all 20 clubs have agreed to work on a strategic plan "in an open and transparent process, focusing on competition structure, calendar, governance and financial sustainability".

So, depending on how you look at it, the work of Liverpool owner John Henry and Manchester United counterpart Joel Glazer is either dead in the water or has opened discussion on something the EFL in particular has been calling for desperately.

I was told the reaction to Liverpool and Manchester United in today's meeting was tame compared to what it might have been.

However, there has been no apology and some clubs believe there is now a lack of trust between the 'big six' and the rest, which probably underlines why "all 20 clubs" and "open and transparent" were so high up in the Premier League's statement.

We can never know whether there would have been this new commitment to reform had Project Big Picture not made its way into the public domain. Its authors are sceptical that there would have been and hence feel justified - nor do they view their ideas as being over.

Evidently though, the suggestion that the voting mechanism within the Premier League could be changed so six clubs out of a 'special' nine would have to power to create, change or block any issue has no support and will have to be changed.

The other interesting aspect of the past 72 hours surrounds EFL chairman Rick Parry.

There were some EFL clubs who were not entirely happy with Parry before this news came out. Now they are solidly behind him. It is fair to say this enthusiasm is not shared by his Premier League counterparts. The relationship between the two leagues now will be fascinating.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/54545053


So, depending on how you look at it, the work of Liverpool owner John Henry and Manchester United counterpart Joel Glazer is either dead in the water or has opened discussion on something the EFL in particular has been calling for desperately.

其實大陸都做緊差唔多既野架。


好多中東、非洲國家，好窮！無錢發展！ 大陸咪幾十億幾十億咁借比佢地囉。 要黎建公路，築橋鋪路， 建碼頭⋯⋯⋯ 完全係「有利」於個個國家架。 咁跟住呢？

無錢還，咪用你既天然資源黎還囉。 又或者起好既鐵路、公路收歸「國有」（中國有）囉。 佢地都會話， 飯都無得食，你攬住啲天然資料有咩鬼用！ 我地都無能力開發。 放係到咪得個吉。 宜家國家可以借助外力發展， 放棄某啲權利，都係無可奈何。



此所謂一帶一路。行緊既，咪又係相同既政策。

freezefox:其實大陸都做緊差唔多既野架。
好多中東、非洲國家，好窮！無錢發展！ 大陸咪幾十億幾十億咁借比佢地囉。 要黎建公路，築橋鋪路， 建碼頭⋯⋯⋯ 完全係「有利」於個個國家架。 咁跟住呢？
....... (2020-10-15 12:25)

宜家都ban左
證明人地有公開透明傾
反證左根本做唔到黑箱作業

freezefox:其實大陸都做緊差唔多既野架。
好多中東、非洲國家，好窮！無錢發展！ 大陸咪幾十億幾十億咁借比佢地囉。 要黎建公路，築橋鋪路， 建碼頭⋯⋯⋯ 完全係「有利」於個個國家架。 咁跟住呢？
....... (2020-10-15 12:25)