BIG SIX FURY AT FIVE-SUB SNUB

THE Premier League’s smaller clubs may live to regret their defiance in the face of the Big Six’s demands to be allowed five substitutions this season, a proposal that was voted down twice in two separate shareholder meetings this summer. The Big Six’s anger at being unable to force through a change adopted in the rest of Europe’s top leagues is understood to have emboldened Liverpool and Manchester United in demanding governance and voting reform, which was a key part of Project Big

Picture and will be up for discussion when the Premier League begin their strategic review in the next few weeks. The Big Six remain unhappy that the smaller clubs could outvote them on what they see as a key issue, which they fear could harm their chances in the Champions League and Europa League because they are playing by different rules in domestic competition. One of the most controversial elements of Big Picture was a governance change that would give the Big Six a block vote veto, a demand that is unlikely to disappear.

SKY SPORTS and BT Sport could lose money from their foray into offering pay-per-view matches, which begins with Southampton’s visit to Chelsea today, as their costs will only be covered if they attract enough paying customers. While the exact revenue distribution formula varies according to the number of subscribers, Premier League clubs are aiming to raise about £40million from the venture, a projection which would also enable the broadcasters to make a small profit.