Premier League Relegation to end?

[Peter Venkman]

Do I not like this.

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/17102011/58/premier-league-foreign-owners-scrap-relegation.html

Premier League - Foreign owners 'could scrap relegation'

Mon, 17 Oct 13:03:00 2011

Some foreign owners of Premier League clubs would stop the system of promotion and relegation if they could, the chief executive of the League Managers Association Richard Bevan has said.

If more clubs fell into the hands of overseas owners, the system, the bedrock of English league soccer since it began in the 1880s, could change, Bevan told the annual conference of the Professional Players Federation.

"There are a number of overseas-owned clubs already talking about bringing about the avoidance of promotion and relegation in the Premier League," he told delegates, without specifying who they were.

"If we have four or five more new owners, that could happen," he said, adding that he hoped any such move could be avoided.

Ten of the 20 Premier League clubs are owned by foreigners, including champions Manchester United, league leaders Manchester City and 2010 League and FA Cup double winners Chelsea.

For any change to be made to the structure or laws of the Premier League, 14 of the 20 need to vote in favour.

There is no relegation and promotion in the major U.S. sports of American Football, ice hockey, baseball and basketball, so the concept is not one that the American owners of United and Liverpool, Aston Villa or Sunderland grew up with.

Last week Liverpool's managing director Ian Ayre was widely criticised for suggesting that Liverpool, owned by American John W. Henry's New England Sports Ventures, could raise more overseas television revenue if it broke away from the collective marketing stance of the Premier League.

[Nemo]

Bit lazy to blame foreign owners, Gartside has been on about this for years.

[reeves4england]

Bit lazy to blame foreign owners, Gartside has been on about this for years.

That was my first thought. At the moment I don't see this as a problem, as there aren't 14 owners who'd vote that way. It is definitely something to be aware of though. If we thought the creation of the Premiership had ruined football, then there are no words to describe what this would do!

[Phil_S]

So if they were to get there way, who would be included ?
Those who are in the PL now, or those who are there next season, or would they reduce relegation/ promotion over a number of years ? I can't see clubs near the bottom of the PL voting for it unless it was with immediate effect

[Ardiles]

It won't happen.

But if it ever did, I think I'd move on from football.

[Summerof69]

Hopefully it will never happen, but I wouldn't put anything past the Prem chairmen.

[Costanza]

If I'm honest, I do enjoy it when the Premier League makes these suggestions forward. They never go anywhere.

I say let them introduce a Premier League 2, play 39 games, negotiate their own TV rights abroad and abolish relegation.

No brainer.

[stfcinbmth]

Some of these chairman really are money grabbing arrogant twats

[Nomoreheroes]

Only a matter of time before it happens.

Its all about money.

[jonny72]

Not going to happen. There aren't 14 Premier League clubs that are so comfortable about their place in the league that they'd risk missing the cut off by being relegated and then forever stuck in the Football League. It's just a dumb ass idea that American owners come up with as they are so used to the franchise system.

Though if they did go for it (which they won't) they'd most likely have to change the league in to conferences and introduce playoffs or half the teams would have nothing left to play for after Christmas.

[chalkies_shorts]

Bit lazy to blame foreign owners, Gartside has been on about this for years.

Gartside is a cunt.

[Barry Scott]

Not going to happen. There aren't 14 Premier League clubs that are so comfortable about their place in the league that they'd risk missing the cut off by being relegated and then forever stuck in the Football League. It's just a dumb ass idea that American owners come up with as they are so used to the franchise system.

Though if they did go for it (which they won't) they'd most likely have to change the league in to conferences and introduce playoffs or half the teams would have nothing left to play for after Christmas.

There's a strange irony with American franchised sports. They are some of the greediest, capitalist bastards on the planet, yet their system for running most sports is bizarrely fair and, seemingly, financially sound. Clearly they see our game has more holes, so they can see ways of getting more money and limiting their risk (if they prevent relegation). Winner.

[Arch Stanton]

Ace, let them get on with it, making the Prem a closed shop with bring it crashing down all the sooner. People would get sooo bored of watching Newcastle Vs Stoke year in, year out when absolutely nothing is ever at stake - a 20th vs 17th grudge match - hype that up Sky sports.

They'll then try and introduce a Euro-super league with no relegation, which is bound to end in tears. The Guardian published an article recently that showed a big decline in viewing figures for group matches over the past few years, people eventually will get bored of Inter Vs Bayern if there's nothing at stake - a 14th Vs 12th grudge match - hype that up Sky sports. (I could go on)

Meanwhile, people would probably get more excited at the prospect of the Portsmouth Vs Ipswich title decider live on ITV (Hmmm, maybe Channel 5) to see who is finally crowned champions of England - and who will come out on top in the relegation nail biter of Hull Vs Barnsley. Or tune in to see plucky Macclesfield who thanks to a fairer TV deal and cheaper players wages are rising metorically up the leagues and are in the playoff final, maybe they too can finally dine at English footballs top table, brushing shoulders with the likes of Nottingham Forest and Cardiff!

People find enjoyment in whatever and I totally mean what I say above, I think people will just turn off and not watch games which have no meaning. I mean what the fuck will fans of Newcastle/Villa etc have to look forward to? An absolute pounding at home by one of the rich teams one week, followed then by a scrappy, meaningless away encounter at Bolton

Now I do watch the odd premier league game, but only if zero else was on,  I really couldn't give two hoots about it.... its become the polar opposite of what football means to me - its become the equivalent of a Red Letter Day birthday gift, a day at the races, a visit to a west end show.

There's no identity, its become a tourist attraction, how I laughed watching a Man U player getting subbed on Saturday and whilst he was trudging off to the bench all these fucking day trippers were falling  over themselves trying to take a photo of him. A souvenir for the day!.... ahhh how nice, that can go in the keepsake box alongside the £8 programme, £75 ticket stub and the special Liverpool Vs Man United scarf, now next week lets go and see Les Miserables or maybe take a ride on the London Eye.... although I hear sticking red hot toffee apples in your eyes is the latest thing - its an absolute scream, lets do that then dear... hooray! Perhaps when the Doc is cauterizing my eye wounds he can take a photo and I'll put it in the keepsake box alongside the stick that the toffee apple came on... watch that the toffee juice doesn't get on your £8 programme dear, don't worry my love I'll make sure my newly appointed seeing eye dog licks the stick clean first....

I swear I was in the best of moods this morning.

[walcot red]

Ace, let them get on with it, making the Prem a closed shop with bring it crashing down all the sooner. People would get sooo bored of watching Newcastle Vs Stoke year in, year out when absolutely nothing is ever at stake - a 20th vs 17th grudge match - hype that up Sky sports.

They'll then try and introduce a Euro-super league with no relegation, which is bound to end in tears. The Guardian published an article recently that showed a big decline in viewing figures for group matches over the past few years, people eventually will get bored of Inter Vs Bayern if there's nothing at stake - a 14th Vs 12th grudge match - hype that up Sky sports. (I could go on)

Meanwhile, people would probably get more excited at the prospect of the Portsmouth Vs Ipswich title decider live on ITV (Hmmm, maybe Channel 5) to see who is finally crowned champions of England - and who will come out on top in the relegation nail biter of Hull Vs Barnsley. Or tune in to see plucky Macclesfield who thanks to a fairer TV deal and cheaper players wages are rising metorically up the leagues and are in the playoff final, maybe they too can finally dine at English footballs top table, brushing shoulders with the likes of Nottingham Forest and Cardiff!

People find enjoyment in whatever and I totally mean what I say above, I think people will just turn off and not watch games which have no meaning. I mean what the fuck will fans of Newcastle/Villa etc have to look forward to? An absolute pounding at home by one of the rich teams one week, followed then by a scrappy, meaningless away encounter at Bolton

Now I do watch the odd premier league game, but only if zero else was on,  I really couldn't give two hoots about it.... its become the polar opposite of what football means to me - its become the equivalent of a Red Letter Day birthday gift, a day at the races, a visit to a west end show.

There's no identity, its become a tourist attraction, how I laughed watching a Man U player getting subbed on Saturday and whilst he was trudging off to the bench all these fucking day trippers were falling  over themselves trying to take a photo of him. A souvenir for the day!.... ahhh how nice, that can go in the keepsake box alongside the £8 programme, £75 ticket stub and the special Liverpool Vs Man United scarf, now next week lets go and see Les Miserables or maybe take a ride on the London Eye.... although I hear sticking red hot toffee apples in your eyes is the latest thing - its an absolute scream, lets do that then dear... hooray! Perhaps when the Doc is cauterizing my eye wounds he can take a photo and I'll put it in the keepsake box alongside the stick that the toffee apple came on... watch that the toffee juice doesn't get on your £8 programme dear, don't worry my love I'll make sure my newly appointed seeing eye dog licks the stick clean first....

I swear I was in the best of moods this morning.

thats hilarious, and I agree. The Prem league boring, and there is next to atmosphere at some of these grounds. I went to arsenal sunderland on sunday with the father in law. where was chanting? where was the good humoured bit of banter with the away fans? nowhere. give me a swindon v accie stanley with 7,500 with a bit of atmosphere and banter. then that. im bored with the greed league and hope we never get there again.

[stfcinbmth]

Summed it up pretty well Arch