Changes to the football league

[Lee909]

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:

 

To ensure more games are played on weekends and Bank Holidays;

To reduce fixture congestion;

To help Football League clubs make more money;

To keep Football League play-off finals as the last event 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."

[Trumo]

The Premier League clubs would never go for it of course, but one of the most beneficial changes at the top end of the game would be to reduce the Premier League from 20 to 18 clubs.

[jimmycase]

Interesting. So they're talking 5 leagues including the PL ie 1 PL and 4 FL?

 

Not sure how inviting some more National League clubs into a 5 division Football League generates more money for each club though.

[Russ Atmosphere]

Any chance they could take the league cup back while they're at it.

[CWD82]

Interesting. So they're talking 5 leagues including the PL ie 1 PL and 4 FL?

 

Not sure how inviting some more National League clubs into a 5 division Football League generates more money for each club though.

If theirs more games on a weekend instead of all through the midweek like they are now I reckon you'd get more people going.

 

Less games as well meaning the quality could potentially be better but thats not a guarantee obviously

[Evelyn Tentions]

Less games would probably mean increased ticket prices.

[Kloppite]

The Premier League clubs would never go for it of course, but one of the most beneficial changes at the top end of the game would be to reduce the Premier League from 20 to 18 clubs.

That won't happen cause they will lose match day revenue won't they.

[xerxes]

If theirs more games on a weekend instead of all through the midweek like they are now I reckon you'd get more people going.

 

Less games as well meaning the quality could potentially be better but thats not a guarantee obviously

For those that work at weekends, mid week games are welcome.

[Frank Dacey]

If they go ahead with this then one of the areas they should investigate is regionalisation for the lowest two leagues. It can't make sense for Colchester to be playing Carlisle, for example. It must cost a fortune in travelling expenses and away support must be limited. If they did regionalise then it would hopefully limit the impact of fewer games on revenue.