Post by QPR Report on Nov 12, 2009 7:59:47 GMT
I think any club of any size should be eligible to play in the Premiership, if their results lead them there. That's what made Wimbledon's rise so great (forget how they played). No restrictions
Guardian/Owen Gibson
Big clubs prepare to block Phil Gartside's two-tier Premier League• Plans include involvement of Celtic and Rangers
• 'The minuses outweigh the pluses' says Stoke chairman
The Bolton chairman, Phil Gartside, will tomorrow outline his revised proposal for a two-tier Premier League that would include the Old Firm, sparking a vigorous debate about the way in which revenues are shared between clubs.
While the plan is expected to receive short shrift from the larger clubs, and is thought unlikely to result in a concrete proposal, Gartside could achieve his aim of triggering a wide-ranging debate about the way in which TV revenues are distributed among clubs at tomorrow's Premier League shareholders meeting.
In his preface to Bolton's annual report,Gartside recently wrote that addressing "the polarisation of clubs and the increasing revenue differentials will be the major strategic issue for the Premier League over coming years". He said a "fear factor" was "beginning to emerge among Premier League clubs outside the top few".
Last season, Manchester United were the biggest earners from the Premier League's broadcasting pot with £51.5m. Relegated Middlesbrough earned the least with £30.95m.
But the bigger clubs will argue that the Premier League already distributes TV revenues more fairly than any other major European league. Premier League executives will also point out that control of the major destabilising factor — the Champions League money earned by the top four— is not in its gift.
The big clubs will, then, oppose any major change to the status quo, insisting they have already levelled the playing field by agreeing to every club receiving an equal share of TV income, which last year totalled £13.9m. That is then topped up with facility fees of at least £5.9m [which is based on how many times each club appears on television] and a merit payment depending on league position. They will also argue that the next overseas TV deal — revenue from which is also split equally — will be close to £1bn, almost twice as much as the current £650m deal.
But the financial difficulties faced by Portsmouth, Hull City and West Ham indicate the increasing pressure on clubs who feel they must spend beyond their means to compete and yet are terrified about the impact of relegation. Last season, £74.4m was paid out in parachute payments, which last for a maximum of two season following relegation. Some clubs will argue that figure should be increased.
Under Gartside's original plan, the two-tier Premier League would have become an exclusive club with no relegation. The new proposal, for two divisions of 18 including Celtic and Rangers, is believed to include limited scope for relegation and promotion involving what would remain of the Football League on a two-up, two-down basis. The two Scottish clubs, under increasing financial pressure of their own, would welcome the opportunity to join the Premier League. But despite support for the idea from managers including Martin O'Neill, Harry Redknapp and David Moyes, it is expected that self-interest will prevail among chairmen worried that the inclusion of the Scottish clubs would hurt their own position.
Stoke's chairman, Peter Coates, said today he would not support the Old Firm proposal: "We have lots of fine clubs in England to play and we have a system that has worked very well in a competitive sense. If Celtic and Rangers were to come in, after a while that would become the norm. It would be no big thing. I think the minuses outweigh the pluses."
Any fundamental change to the Premier League's structure would require the approval of 14 of the 20 Premier League clubs, as well as the FA.
www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/nov/11/premier-league-two-tier-old-firm
Guardian/Owen Gibson
Big clubs prepare to block Phil Gartside's two-tier Premier League• Plans include involvement of Celtic and Rangers
• 'The minuses outweigh the pluses' says Stoke chairman
The Bolton chairman, Phil Gartside, will tomorrow outline his revised proposal for a two-tier Premier League that would include the Old Firm, sparking a vigorous debate about the way in which revenues are shared between clubs.
While the plan is expected to receive short shrift from the larger clubs, and is thought unlikely to result in a concrete proposal, Gartside could achieve his aim of triggering a wide-ranging debate about the way in which TV revenues are distributed among clubs at tomorrow's Premier League shareholders meeting.
In his preface to Bolton's annual report,Gartside recently wrote that addressing "the polarisation of clubs and the increasing revenue differentials will be the major strategic issue for the Premier League over coming years". He said a "fear factor" was "beginning to emerge among Premier League clubs outside the top few".
Last season, Manchester United were the biggest earners from the Premier League's broadcasting pot with £51.5m. Relegated Middlesbrough earned the least with £30.95m.
But the bigger clubs will argue that the Premier League already distributes TV revenues more fairly than any other major European league. Premier League executives will also point out that control of the major destabilising factor — the Champions League money earned by the top four— is not in its gift.
The big clubs will, then, oppose any major change to the status quo, insisting they have already levelled the playing field by agreeing to every club receiving an equal share of TV income, which last year totalled £13.9m. That is then topped up with facility fees of at least £5.9m [which is based on how many times each club appears on television] and a merit payment depending on league position. They will also argue that the next overseas TV deal — revenue from which is also split equally — will be close to £1bn, almost twice as much as the current £650m deal.
But the financial difficulties faced by Portsmouth, Hull City and West Ham indicate the increasing pressure on clubs who feel they must spend beyond their means to compete and yet are terrified about the impact of relegation. Last season, £74.4m was paid out in parachute payments, which last for a maximum of two season following relegation. Some clubs will argue that figure should be increased.
Under Gartside's original plan, the two-tier Premier League would have become an exclusive club with no relegation. The new proposal, for two divisions of 18 including Celtic and Rangers, is believed to include limited scope for relegation and promotion involving what would remain of the Football League on a two-up, two-down basis. The two Scottish clubs, under increasing financial pressure of their own, would welcome the opportunity to join the Premier League. But despite support for the idea from managers including Martin O'Neill, Harry Redknapp and David Moyes, it is expected that self-interest will prevail among chairmen worried that the inclusion of the Scottish clubs would hurt their own position.
Stoke's chairman, Peter Coates, said today he would not support the Old Firm proposal: "We have lots of fine clubs in England to play and we have a system that has worked very well in a competitive sense. If Celtic and Rangers were to come in, after a while that would become the norm. It would be no big thing. I think the minuses outweigh the pluses."
Any fundamental change to the Premier League's structure would require the approval of 14 of the 20 Premier League clubs, as well as the FA.
www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/nov/11/premier-league-two-tier-old-firm