| If they don't stop small clubs dying, the Premier League will wither too 15:06 - Sep 27 with 192 views | BringBackTheRedRoom |
OLIVER HOLT: If they don't stop small clubs dying, the Premier League will wither too — teams in the lower leagues are integral to the health of English football and their death will spread upwards like disease
Why should they help? In this version of Britain, polarised and angry and fearful, why should the Premier League help anybody?
Why should the big clubs help the little clubs in their moment of greatest need? Why should the rich help the poor? Why should they do anything apart from sit back and watch them die and crow about the survival of the fittest?
Why should clubs earning £100million a season from television contracts care if teams in League One and League Two, who are being asked to exist on thin air now that supporters are exiled from stadiums, go to the wall.
Why should they care if the football landscape that has existed in this country for more than a century is changed irrevocably?
Why? Because football in this country is not about us and them. Or it shouldn't be.
It is not about big versus small. Or it shouldn't be. It is about us all being in this together. It is about what Spurs fans did last week when they started buying up Leyton Orient merchandise as a gesture of solidarity after Orient lost £150,000 in TV money when the clubs' Carabao Cup tie was lost to coronavirus.
There was something beautiful about that. It symbolised something. The cynics say that the idea of communality in football is antiquated, but it isn't. Not amongst fans anyway.
Instinctively, English football fans recognise the value of tradition and the fact that if one part of the game in this country suffers, the rest of it will suffer, too. It is a shame some of the billionaires who run our top clubs can't see it, too.
Football is not a loose association of avaricious hedge fund managers, however much the Burnley manager, Sean Dyche, might wish to draw that comparison.
Football in this country is about more than that. Or it should be. It is about communality and togetherness. And it is about English football only being as strong as the weakest of the 92 clubs.
You can call some of this naive if you want to. I understand that. But when I think of naivety, I prefer to think of Premier League clubs spending £30m, £40m, £50m or more on players this summer, of all summers, and then going to the Government with a straight face and saying they don't have the money to bail out the EFL. That's naive.
So forgive me if I don't take any lectures about naivety from the brilliant businessmen who run some of our top clubs and if I remind them of what they appear to have forgotten or what they never understood in the first place: that if the lower leagues in this country wither and die, then those clubs currently at the top of the pyramid will wither and die, too.
Clubs in the lower leagues, and beyond, are integral to their communities and they are integral to the health of football in general in this country. They are all part of a whole.
That's one of the reasons why the government, to its credit, is said to be on the verge of providing financial assistance to clubs in the National League to help them survive the next few months.
However much some Premier League owners might like to think the top division is an island, it is not. It only exists because the rest of the pyramid exists. Their strength, their appeal, depends on the rest of the pyramid.
It is not independent of it. The magic of English football lies in the four divisions and the struggle to get to the top of them. Take that away and the Premier League will not be the same. The magic of English football lies in the dream, however improbable, that any one of the 92 clubs can make it to the top. That is why the idea of no relegation is anathema to us.
The magic lies in a network of football communities spreading across the whole country.
Destroy that and you destroy the Premier League, too. Not immediately, perhaps, but gradually and irrevocably. The death of lower league clubs will spread upwards like disease.
Listen to Andy Holt, the owner of League One Accrington Stanley, one of the best and most responsible football custodians in our top four divisions.
'Football in this country is a social and communal entity and a national treasure,' he told me on Saturday. 'It cannot be left to market forces. The top clubs wield so much power but they are only there because of the rest of the pyramid.'
There is so much to admire about the Premier League but if some clubs are too stupid to help themselves, so addicted to spending that they have nothing left in reserve, then how can they be relied upon to recognise that they have a responsibility to help others and preserve the health of the pyramid?
That's the problem. The model was broken before Covid-19 hit sport. It is just that the coronavirus has shone a light on it. Last week, the Premier League clubs sought to impose conditions on the EFL for helping them through the next six months until supporters are allowed to return to grounds.
The arrogance of that was another indication that something more needs to be done to fix the system.
If the clubs that find themselves in the top division at the moment will only help on their terms, they should be forced to help on everyone's terms. It is time that some form of statutory regulation was imposed on English football for the general good.
One of Andy Holt's ideas is a tax on transfer fees that is paid into a central fund. There are plenty of other ways that monies – monies corralled by the Premier League since its inception – could be distributed more evenly.
It is time we started to look at a wider form of the revenue-sharing model favoured by the NFL and others. English football is an eco-system. If it is smart, it will see the hardship that has been visited upon it by the coronavirus crisis as an opportunity.
The Premier League is something for us to be proud of but how much better it would be, how much more proud of it we would be, if it let go of some of its greed and spread its wealth.
If it doesn't, if six more months without fans kill off a slew of clubs in the lower leagues, then English football will start to die from the bottom up.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8776385/OLIVER-HOLT-dont-stop | |
| ‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’ |
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| If they don't stop small clubs dying, the Premier League will wither too on 15:53 - Sep 27 with 179 views | BringBackTheRedRoom |
Premier League support for EFL clubs could be reached in coming week - Oliver Dowden
A deal for the Premier League to support lower-league clubs during the coronavirus pandemic "could be reached this coming week".
Plans for some fans to return to stadiums from 1 October will not go ahead because of the rising number of coronavirus cases, and it is feared the postponement could have a "devastating" impact on clubs.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden told the Andrew Marr Show that England's top flight needs to "start looking after the football family as a whole".
He added that he was hopeful an agreement could be made over the coming days.
"I've been in touch with the Premier League a lot over the past few days. They are working closely with the EFL (English Football League) to see how they can support them," said Dowden.
"The prime minister and I have been clear: the Premier League needs to start looking after the football family as a whole, and indeed they are having productive conversations.
"I am hopeful that they will reach a deal this coming week in relation to that, and then beyond that, look across at all sports."
The fan pilot programme, which had already been restricted to 1,000 people per game in September, has been paused. Dowden said there had been no positive cases from pilots that had already taken place but, under advice from the chief scientific adviser and the chief medical officer, "it would not be wise to undertake any further easements".
"It's not just in the stadium, it's the journey to and from the stadium as well. At each of those points there are chances for further social interaction and risk of virus spreads, so right now is not the time to do it," he added.
Dowden added that the Premier League "appreciates" its help is needed to support EFL clubs and that he is confident an agreement will soon be reached.
In response, Huddersfield Town chief executive Mark Devlin posted on social media: "But Mr Dowden, irrespective of Premier League support, you need to let us start welcoming back fans and business partners into a safe stadia environment.
"So much work had been done on making our stadia as Covid safe as possible, you now need to let us all get on with it."
It is not yet known when fans will be able to return, with existing government restrictions likely to remain in place for six months.
But Dowden said the government was working with clubs and medical advisers to seek "further innovations" to decrease risks.
"We are continuing to explore what would be the ideal solution in the absence of a vaccine, which would be if you have large amount of in-day testing to give people a so-called freedom pass to be able to go into those stadiums," he said.
"We are exploring that. We are exploring further technological innovations. But we are also looking at how we can support the clubs through this difficult period."
Analysis
BBC Sport's Simon Stone
The BBC was told earlier this month the EFL expected to be given details by the Premier League about what financial assistance it might offer by the end of September.
While the Premier League will continue advancing solidarity payments earlier than normal, BBC Sport understands that, while accepting the need for speed and to be flexible in its approach, it is not completely clear what the EFL is asking for beyond a £250m 'bailout'.
BBC Sport has been told the Premier League needs detailed analysis of what money is needed, for whom and precisely why. Without this, the organisation is reluctant to hand over a cheque at a time when its clubs are feeling huge financial pressure given they are losing the most in terms of fans being absent from stadiums.
Respected football finance blogger Swiss Ramble posted on Thursday that the combined losses of Premier League clubs through the absence of matchday income would be at least £830m if no fans were allowed into stadiums for the remainder of the 2020-21 season.
That figure is regarded as a minimum as it does not take into account sums paid by fans buying merchandise on a matchday because that is calculated in a different revenue stream.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54315814 | |
| ‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’ |
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| If they don't stop small clubs dying, the Premier League will wither too on 16:41 - Sep 27 with 173 views | spudgun |
So much to go at here, it is difficult to know where to start.
Bit of a three piper which I will come back to.
The obligation of Premier League clubs to others is certainly an interesting talking point.
Just one thing.
Something that I have thought about from the start of this pandemic is whether those that have been proven to have had Covid should get a medical "pass" and be allowed to move more freely than those that haven`t had the disease.
Heard a debate on it some time ago and the overall consensus was that it shouldn`t be allowed because it was divisive. And I get that, but perhaps we shouldn`t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.
But hypothetically, if it could be regulated effectively, in principle it would allow mass gatherings of people, who in theory, probably pose no, or very little risk, to each other.
The quote "football cannot be left to market forces" is an interesting dichotomy for this Conservative administration - several of whom were authors of the libertarian tinged "Britannia unchained" ... | | | |
| If they don't stop small clubs dying, the Premier League will wither too on 18:49 - Sep 27 with 165 views | spell_chekker |
The 4 pro leagues:
I assume that championship clubs are ok? They don't seem to get mentioned.
With regards to L1 and L2. As far as I remember, the salary caps for the playing budgets are ê2,5m in L1 and £.6m in L2.
To cover all the players wages in L1, £60m is needed.
To cover all the players wages in L2, £40m is needed.
A shed load of money but Man U could probably flog Pogba and donate the proceeds to ensure the survival of the entire EFL.
That's not good enough. Don't overlook grassroots. All the way down to level 9 needs looking after.
Double the minimum £100m figure that the ELF needs and you could probably save everything.
A huge amount of money which is nevertheless easily there in the game.
I would add to the Holt article that what's the use of being a 'big' club if there aren't any 'small'?
What's the point in being champions if the leagues below are decimated? - The champs over nothing or at best, the champs over the remaining runt. | |
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| If they don't stop small clubs dying, the Premier League will wither too on 19:36 - Sep 27 with 160 views | BringBackTheRedRoom |
The salary cap is actually a bit of a false flag. League One player average weekly wage is set at about £1700, however any player who still has a contract from before the cap, say at about £6000 a week, will only have the first £1700 count towards the cap. So I would imagine most if not all League One club's players wages will be way over £2.5 million. I'd guess it's the same in League Two.
Advancing solidarity payments is just kicking the problem further down the line. What happens when they are due to be paid, and they have been already spent?
I actually have some sympathy with PL Clubs on this issue, why should they give money to clubs that overspend? You know they'll just be back again in six months wanting more. | |
| ‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’ |
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| If they don't stop small clubs dying, the Premier League will wither too on 20:35 - Sep 27 with 157 views | spell_chekker |
I understand that Red.
For example, why should prem clubs subsidise an money pit like Sunderland?
If each L1 club, for example, got £3.5m then the normal would benefit and the Billy BB would have to quickly reform their way of doing things. | |
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| If they don't stop small clubs dying, the Premier League will wither too on 12:18 - Sep 28 with 145 views | BringBackTheRedRoom |
Government warned football structure at risk of collapse
Football is now at risk of "the collapse of the national league structure that we have known for over 100 years", the government has been warned.
A group of prominent figures has written a joint letter urging ministers to help with a coronavirus crisis rescue package.
Signatories include former Football Association chairmen Greg Dyke and Lord Triesman, Sunderland shareholder Charlie Methven and broadcaster Robbie Savage.
They say many EFL and National League clubs are now preparing to "cease playing... and put their business into administration".
"We would ask that the government now make clear what financial support it's prepared to give before it is too late," the group writes.
"In order for clubs to sustain themselves over the winter and keep playing, they would need to be compensated for the loss of match ticket sales.
"There is still time to act, but not long left."
Sports have been told to prepare for several more months without gate receipts after plans for some fans to return to grounds from 1 October were scrapped last week because of the rising number of coronavirus cases.
EFL chairman Rick Parry told BBC Radio 5 Live on Saturday that some clubs "are on the brink".
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden told the BBC on Sunday he was "hopeful" the Premier League would confirm it would help lower-league clubs this week.
But the government has now been told it cannot rely on the top flight, and must also provide emergency funding to cover clubs' loss of matchday revenue.
"The absence of this income is not a result of their actions, but the policies that have been put in place by the government," the group writes.
"It cannot be the Premier League's sole responsibility to sort out issues arising from government policy.
"The government itself needs to take responsibility or many already embattled towns - often in areas of the country which have suffered many hardships in recent decades - will lose their last focal point."
Sent to both Dowden and the Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston, the letter is also endorsed by chair of the Football Supporters' Association Malcolm Clarke, Damian Collins - former chairman of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee - and a number of other MPs.
"Without any plans being made to rescue football clubs, many in the EFL and others in the National League as well, are now actively preparing to make all but essential staff redundant, cease playing, close down their youth academies and community foundations, and put their business into administration," Dowden and Huddleston are told.
"This could lead not only to the failure of many historic community clubs, but the collapse of the national league structure that we have known for over 100 years."
"These are decisions that will be made in the coming weeks, with many clubs unable to meet their payroll obligations for next month."
The group refers to the £1.5bn bailout that the government gave to arts and cultural organisations in July.
"We believe that football, like other well-loved professional sports in this country, is also a cultural activity," the signatories add.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54322650 | |
| ‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’ |
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| If they don't stop small clubs dying, the Premier League will wither too on 17:42 - Sep 28 with 133 views | spell_chekker |
Of course, some good could come out of this as a fair bit of "restructuring" would be more than welcome.
The way the Prem, EFL, and FA conduct their business if often criticised by us fans. | |
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| If they don't stop small clubs dying, the Premier League will wither too on 13:40 - Sep 29 with 125 views | BringBackTheRedRoom |
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| ‘Where there is harmony, may we bring discord. Where there is truth, may we bring error. Where there is faith, may we bring doubt. And where there is hope, may we bring despair’ |
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| If they don't stop small clubs dying, the Premier League will wither too on 14:38 - Sep 29 with 119 views | spell_chekker |
I wonder if they're starting the season in the Chinese league?
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