BEARGER 1,830 Posted May 19, 2016 Share Posted May 19, 2016 Football League wants new five-league, 100-club system English football could be heading for its biggest shake-up since the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The Football League wants to create an extra division with 20 teams in each from 2019-20. It would mean England had 100 teams in five divisions, up from 92. Currently, there are 24 teams in the Championship, League One and League Two. The Football League says the move would tackle fixture congestion and boost the finances of its members. The Premier League and the FA have backed the proposal "in principle". The current 72 Football League clubs will decide whether they support the move at their annual general meeting in June 2017. "There are clear benefits for everyone," Football League chief executive Shaun Harvey told BBC Sport. "It is about taking a step back to try to work out what is best for English football. "We hope that the Football League taking this first step is the catalyst for future change." Why change the current system? The Football League believes the move would help: Ensure more games are played on weekends and Bank Holidays; Remove fixture congestion and clashes; Help Football League clubs make more money; Keep the play-off finals on the last weekend of the domestic season. Harvey said the Premier League and the FA have backed the idea in principle because "they can see potential benefits on an international basis". "The whole game needs to come together," he added. "It is about finding solutions that supports English football for the future." How would the restructure be implemented? For the proposal to be approved, it needs the backing of 65 Football League clubs (90%) at next year's AGM. The Football League says its board is offering "no recommendation other than asking its members to give full consideration to the proposal". The decision will have to be confirmed by November 2017. Relegation from the Football League would be scrapped in the 2018-19 season before the restructure for the following season. How the promotion/relegation system would work during 2018-19 is still to be determined. Where would the extra teams come from? Currently, the bottom two teams in League Two are relegated from the Football League to the National League. They would not go down at the end of the 2018-19 season, said Harvey. Six other clubs - in addition to the two clubs already promoted from the National League - would join the Football League. "The logical place for the extra clubs to come from would be promoting the next six teams from the National League," said Harvey. "Some of those teams are already professional and the extension to the league may suit them." Scottish Premiership sides Celtic and Rangers have long been linked with moving into the English pyramid. In 2009, Premier League clubs voted to reject a proposal to bring the Old Firm rivals into the English top flight. Will Football League clubs lose revenue? The major impact would be felt by Football League clubs, who would see their number of matches reduced from 46 to 38 per season. Despite the potential of losing revenue from three fewer home matches, Harvey has asked the 72 clubs to take a "broader view of English football". "We have to make sure none of our clubs are in a financially worse position," he added. "Our clubs shouldn't be the only one to shoulder the burden. We won't be looking for clubs to take a financial haircut to support this. "We believe focusing on weekend games will, over period of time, drive bigger attendances and increase quality of performance on the pitch." What about the fans? Long midweek trips across the country for fans are "in the main" going to disappear, said Harvey. "There a hardcore of fans who are more than happy to go length and breadth of the country," he added. "But I think less games will make the Saturday at a stadium more special and more important. "It is going to be interesting to see how fans accept this. I'm hopeful it will be positive." 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rousseau 10,605 Posted May 19, 2016 Share Posted May 19, 2016 This is interesting news. It seems to represent a real opportunity for the Old Firm to enter the English leagues, no? 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bearman 9 Posted May 19, 2016 Share Posted May 19, 2016 This is interesting news. It seems to represent a real opportunity for the Old Firm to enter the English leagues, no? For this reason, most certainly... Why change the current system? The Football League believes the move would help: Ensure more games are played on weekends and Bank Holidays; Remove fixture congestion and clashes; Help Football League clubs make more money; Keep the play-off finals on the last weekend of the domestic season. Harvey said the Premier League and the FA have backed the idea in principle because "they can see potential benefits on an international basis". 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
boabie 230 Posted May 19, 2016 Share Posted May 19, 2016 There is little enough money in Scottish football as it is without removing Rangers and Celtic. There's no way imo the SFA would allow us to play English clubs up here on a Saturday. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RANGERRAB 3,657 Posted May 19, 2016 Share Posted May 19, 2016 How about Rangers join a British league and the yahoos join an Oirish league? Sounds fair to me & everyone's happy 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
aweebluesoandso 290 Posted May 19, 2016 Share Posted May 19, 2016 (edited) We should definitely apply, what's the worse that can happen? They can only say no . Edited May 19, 2016 by aweebluesoandso 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
boabie 230 Posted May 19, 2016 Share Posted May 19, 2016 We should definitely apply, what's the worse that can happen? They can only say no . We'd have to resign from Scottish football first mate. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
aweebluesoandso 290 Posted May 19, 2016 Share Posted May 19, 2016 We'd have to resign from Scottish football first mate. Make enquiries on the QT then, and if it's a positive result resign from the SPFl/SFA 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BEARGER 1,830 Posted May 19, 2016 Author Share Posted May 19, 2016 News Old Firm move to England 'up for discussion' SHAUN HARVEY, chief executive of the Football League, insists he is willing to re-open the discussion about the Old Firm moving to England as part of the plans for a fifth division down south. The Football League wants four divisions of 20 teams below the Premier League by the 2019/20 season. With 24 teams currently in each division, their plan raises the prospect of seven teams being relegated from the Championship in 2018/19 to allow for three to be promoted with no clubs dropping out of League Two. Two teams would be promoted from the National League, but the identity of the six other sides to be added to the newly-formed League Three remains vague. Asked about the possibility of Celtic and Rangers becoming involved, Harvey conceded there would be clear difficulties, but did not rule it out. "The whole discussion can be had," he said. "But I suspect the wider this gets drawn, the harder it would be to deliver to our clubs and the rest of the stakeholders in the game." Football League clubs have been notified about the plan and will vote on the changes in June 2017. A 90 per cent approval rate, or 65 of the current 72 clubs, is required to get the go-ahead. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davie P 4 Posted May 20, 2016 Share Posted May 20, 2016 I can' t see the English clubs voting to allow it, but if the opportunity arose, I would hope that Rangers would give serious consideration to moving into the English league pyramid system. The entire game in Scotland is so toxic, is morally and financially bankrupt, devoid of 'sporting integrity' and so rabidly anti Rangers, that I would personally jump if the opportunity arose. Obviously there would be huge hurdles to overcome in order to achieve this, but if anyone can genuinely see Scottish football getting back onto a level playing field by doing 'more of the same', you must be on the Prozac! 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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