Phil Gartside and the Premier League 2

[ibelieveinmrreeves]

Just read about Bolton chariman Phil Gartside's genius idea to turn the Championship in the 'Premier League 2'. Basically, the idea is to create two tiers of 18 teams (including Celtic and Rangers), with just one Football League team able to gain promotion each season. Or, in Gartside's terms, its another way to strangle FL teams and generate more dosh.

I'd like to say I can't seriously believe it'll ever happen, but frankly I wouldn't put much past the FA (especially if it's as lucrative in monetary terms as it sounds). Safe to say, should I ever meet Phil Gartside I'll give him a slap for even having the temerity to make such a retarded suggestion.

Haha, I actually read this as a 'Mirror World Exclusive', but I've just found the guardian article from Oct 23, 2008 http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/oct/23/premier-league-shake-up-bolton-gartside

[Rich Pullen]

The Premier League 2 idea has been floating around for years - so long infact that Swindon were among the early teams to be included

[ibelieveinmrreeves]

Hmm, I knew the inclusion of Celtic and Rangers had been around for years, wasn't aware of the concept of the Premier League 2 though. This is what I get for reading The mirror

[Rich Pullen]

Yeah - I'm certain of it. After the success of the first few seasons of the Premier League it was proposed.

[Batch]

Yes, we were certainly in what is now the Championship when it was first proposed.

I don't like it one bit for three obvious reasons -

1. Only 1 team up/down - would destroy the FL.
2. Money will further be diluted into the football league. The Prem will have 36 teams apposed to the 20 they have now - and you can bet that they will take the lions share.
3. Why the fuck should Rangers or Celtic get a place in our league structure for free. They should earn it like 91 of the 92 league clubs have - start at the bottom non-league and work up.

If this ever went ahead it would destroy our football league structure, and destroy Scotlands too. It must never go ahead.

[ibelieveinmrreeves]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/8006934.stm

Piece on it there from the BBC today. Looks as though its being given serious consideration

[Flea]

If it aint broke dont try to fix it

[Spencer_White]

It doesnt suprise me to see chairmen scared about falling off the gravy train.

To be honest, we are so far outside the top 30 clubs in the country, that would it even matter to us?

I cant see Celtic or Rangers comming off. No way. Not after Manchester.

But Premier League 2 has been a long time comming, and to be honest, we dont have nearly as much to loose as some clubs. 'The Championship' lot have been looking to cut us adrift for a while.

[Iffy's Onion Bhaji]

What a fucking joke.

[yeo]

Greed ,greed ,greed.

Id imagine the clubs outside of this would have to seriously consider going part time.

[jonny72]

Made me laugh, the Bolton chairman acting like they are now part of the established elite in the Premier League and have more in common with Arsenal and Chelsea than Ipswich and Plymouth. All it takes is one bad season and they'll be following Charlton, Leeds, Sheffield Wednesday, Southampton etc in the lower leagues.

Before everyone starts panicking lets not forget their plans to play a game abroad were a lot more progressed than this and that came to nothing. I'm sure pretty much nothing will come of this as they've been talking about all of it for a long time, there's nothing new here.

There is no way Celtic and Rangers will be joining the English leagues as they are the only ones that think it is a good idea - no one else wants it. The FA's and UEFA are unlikely to let it happen either.

Promotion and relegation is very unlikely to change, maybe they'll get it down to 2 up / 2 down but that will be it and it will cost the Premier League a fortune to pay off the Football League so they accept it. Expanding the Premier League to 2 divisions is just plain stupid and won't achieve anything, the current structure is working well and I doubt anyone will be eager to fuck with it.

I can see The Championship clubs demanding and getting a better share of the TV income, or even going it alone. Wouldn't have a problem with that myself, the gap in quality is getting wider and wider and who the fuck wants to watch League 1 / 2 matches other than supporters?

[No Longer Posh Red]

If I remember correctly the last time this came up that twat Scally (Chairman of Gillingham) was all for it on the basis that they had just got promoted into what was the Championship.

If it does get the go ahead I just hope that Bolton suffer the same fate & they end up in Div 4 again, wankers

[Reeves for King]

Gartside has always been like this, twat. He advocated no relegation from the top flight too didn't he? All this is just to stop Bolton from getting relegated - but relegation is the fun bit of football at the momenet with the domination of the big 4 - the fact that big teams like Leeds, Leicester and Charlton can become shit and drop down to the third tier.

I have another idea anyway, miles better too. Boring, shit, nothing 1-0 teams like Bolton and Blackburn should be relegated at the end of every season as a punishment for being boring and shit and 'big' teams like Sheff Wed, Derby, Forest etc,. should go up in their place

[flammableBen]

I can see why there at it, being desperate for a bigger share of the tv money. I think that a better solution would be to go ahead, but make league one "Premier League 3" and leage two "Premier League 4", obviously keep league sizes and promotion places the same. Such an elegant solution.

[Doore]

If it goes ahead it would be wonderful for membership to be decided by club's performances over the past, say, 40 years.  Then see where Bolton end up (I have no figures or stats to back this up, but would hope it would leave Bolton playing league matches at the CG - happy to be corrected).