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Proposed reforms to The Football League

Stifler

by Stifler
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Stifler

Stifler

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The football league is proposing changing to 4 leagues (not including Premier League) instead of 3 leagues of 24. This means a further 8 teams will be added, but it's not known if they will be from the conference or Premier League B teams. Relegation and promoting to both the Premier League and the conference will remain the same.

This is all aimed at reducing or taking away midweek games with the hope of selling it internationally.

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The Football League has distributed a discussion document to its member clubs ahead of its summer conference and AGM next month

Clubs are being asked to consider the re-organisation of the domestic league system into five divisions of 20 teams from the 2019/20 season.

 

Under the proposal, The Football League would become a four division competition below the Premier League, including a new League Three, with 100 clubs competing across the professional game. In addition, the League Cup and League Trophy will be retained with the latter potentially having a revised format include a group structure of three games before becoming a knockout competition thereafter.

 

At this point, the Board of The Football League is offering no recommendation other than asking clubs to give the matter their full consideration, taking into account the following:

 

- Football League Clubs should be in a financially no worse, or preferably better, position as a result of any changes;

- Promotion to/relegation from the Premier League must be retained at three places;

- There would be no relegation out of The Football League in season 2018/19;

- Football League Clubs must support the final proposal.

 

The proposal stems from English football’s collective concerns about the fixture calendar and enjoys the 'in principle' support of executives from the Premier League and FA. The Premier League is due to take a report to their Clubs at their summer meeting, while the FA Executive needs to consult with its Board.

 

The congested fixture list remains one of the game’s biggest concerns with insufficient dates available in each season to sensibly accommodate both League and Cup fixtures without significant clashes. The League’s proposal seeks to achieve a new, innovative approach to the fixture calendar and will need ‘whole game’ support as this concern is not unique to The Football League and is shared for differing reasons by both the Premier League and FA.

 

If implemented , the proposal would The number of midweek matches reduce from next season’s nine in the Championship, seven in League One and six in League Two to just one in the Championship, League Two and the new League Three and none in League One in 2019/20.

 

In considering these matters, the football authorities have identified the following objectives:

 

Football League Objectives:

 

- To maximise the number of weekend/Bank Holiday league fixtures;

- To remove where practical fixture congestion and scheduling conflicts;

- To protect/improve financial distributions/income generation for Football League clubs;

- To maintain the Football League Play-Off Finals as the last event of the domestic season.

 

Premier League and FA Priorities:

Increasing the prospect of success for Clubs in European competitions;

Increasing the prospect of success for England Teams at all levels;

Retaining the value and status of the FA Cup Competition;

Avoiding a ‘problematic’ fixture clash with UEFA Competitions;

To achieve a fixture schedule where the FA Cup Final is played the week after the last round of Premier League fixtures.

 

The Football League believes there are any number of potential benefits for Football League clubs in reducing the number of fixtures, the importance of which will depend on a club’s individual circumstances.  In all circumstances clubs should not be disadvantaged by the proposed changes.  Benefits include but are not limited to:

 

- The importance of each individual fixture will increase;

- Reduced travel costs to four games which are often at a distance;

- Midweek travel for fans vastly reduced.

- Potential to reduce squad size;     

- Increased importance of reserve team football;

- Enhanced recovery time/match preparation.

- Increase in sale of season tickets due to reduction in midweek games;

- Increased profile on League One, Two & Three at different stages of the season;

- Statistically greater chance of promotion (and relegation);

- At least six new Clubs (30%) to play each season.

- No relegation out of the Football League in 2018/19;

- Different formats for the Football League Trophy available;

- Opportunity to standardise promotion/relegation.

 

Any final decisions on this proposal would not need to be made by Football League clubs until their AGM in June 2017 enabling full consultation with clubs and stakeholders, including fans.

 

Read more at http://www.football-league.co.uk/news/article/2016/a-whole-game-solution-3119809.aspx#a10xFlcxso3u8wA1.99

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Stifler

Stifler

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Personally think it is a good idea, will help smaller clubs compete and reduce the number of games in the current divisions of 24 teams.

It's a good idea, but only if the new places are taken up by real clubs, not B teams.

The football league clubs don't want B teams, the fans don't want B teams, no need for B teams.

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Stifler

Stifler

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Taking away 3 home games from clubs lower down would really hurt their income

They are to be compensated for it, no doubt the extra TV income would filter down. Also I guess it's possible that the Johnston Paint trophy could be expanded to include more games.
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Stifler

Stifler

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The season where they reduce from 24 to 20 will be fun like....6 down, 2 up or something?

I guess they may do it in stages, like 4 down 3 up instead of making the cut off point huge.
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Guest neesy111

Guest neesy111

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Taking away 3 home games from clubs lower down would really hurt their income

They are to be compensated for it, no doubt the extra TV income would filter down. Also I guess it's possible that the Johnston Paint trophy could be expanded to include more games.

It won't make it up.

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Stifler

Stifler

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Taking away 3 home games from clubs lower down would really hurt their income

They are to be compensated for it, no doubt the extra TV income would filter down. Also I guess it's possible that the Johnston Paint trophy could be expanded to include more games.

It won't make it up.

One of the proposals is to have a league system in the first round of the League cup before the knockout rounds to help retain a respectable amount of games.
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afar

afar

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No way they will give up the extra gate money without a struggle, not sure what the split is now but a trip to SJP, Villa Park and Elland Road for the likes of Burton Albion will be huge to those clubs.

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Greg

Greg

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No way they will give up the extra gate money without a struggle, not sure what the split is now but a trip to SJP, Villa Park and Elland Road for the likes of Burton Albion will be huge to those clubs.

 

They don't get a penny. Gate receipts only shared in cup games.

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afar

afar

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No way they will give up the extra gate money without a struggle, not sure what the split is now but a trip to SJP, Villa Park and Elland Road for the likes of Burton Albion will be huge to those clubs.

 

They don't get a penny. Gate receipts only shared in cup games.

 

Ah ok, still the home games against those teams will attract bigger crowds even if it's just the away following.

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Bimpy474

Bimpy474

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Championship clubs are worried about losing revenue from 8 less games a season, which is fair enough.

 

And in regard to 100 clubs filling 5 divisions, if and when the leagues are reshaped there would be 8 clubs promoted from the National League, the season before the change to make the numbers right.

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Stifler

Stifler

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The last thing we need is more teams IMO.

We have plenty of well supported non-league clubs and developing clubs hoping to get into the league. You just have to look at the likes of Doncaster, Fleetwood, Wimbledon, and York to see how their are clubs who are viable league clubs. Doncaster came all the way from the Conference to the Championship in a few years, Fllwtwood are devoting into a decent league team. Last night we had Acceington Stanely and Wimbledon in the League 2 play offs, both clubs who are replacements to their original clubs. In Wimbledon's case their rise has been rapid. York city are on the verge of building a new stadium to house increasing supporter numbers. Closer to home we have Gateshead who ideally want their own stadium to house their steady following.

England is unique in the sense that we have hundreds of well supported clubs and are possibly the only country in he world that can support then. It's are duty to continue supporting them.

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Stifler

Stifler

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Championship clubs are worried about losing revenue from 8 less games a season, which is fair enough.

 

And in regard to 100 clubs filling 5 divisions, if and when the leagues are reshaped there would be 8 clubs promoted from the National League, the season before the change to make the numbers right.

Top 7 promoted, then teams finishing 8-11 in the play offs. Gateshead will still find a way to fuck it up.
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