Reds: Some merit in the Big Picture

NOTTINGHAM Forest say they will keep an open mind over the controversial Project Big Picture plan.

The proposals, led by Liverpool and Manchester United and publicly supported by EFL chairman Rick Parry, were announced this week.

They include an immediate £250m bailout for EFL clubs starved of match day income by the coronavirus pandemic and a further £100m to the Football Association.

The EFL would also receive 25 per cent of future Premier League media revenues under the proposals, something Parry says would help to ensure the long-term sustainability of the competition.

However, it also suggests reducing the Premier League from 20 to 18 clubs and scrapping the Carabao Cup.

Critics of the plans say they put too much power in the hands of the top flight’s “big six” clubs because of proposed changes to the voting structure and that it would remove the competitiveness of the league which, for years, has made it so attractive.

There may be implications for Forest’s ambition to return to the top flight but Project Big Picture might also be the best proposal yet for saving lower-league clubs who are in danger of going under because of restrictions imposed during the Covid-19 crisis.

With that in mind, Forest said in a statement that Project Big Picture should not be simply dismissed out of hand.

“Nottingham Forest can confirm that it has received an initial high level briefing on the current position in relation to Project Big Picture along with other EFL clubs,” said the statement.

“The club’s preliminary view is that there are many aspects of the proposals which appear to be in the long-term interests of football and are worthy of further discussion and negotiation.

“It is obviously vital that any longterm settlement secures the immediate future of the football pyramid but it must also look after the interests of fans, the women’s game and the role of football in our communities.

“There are no doubt governance issues which will require debate but the club considers that these issues should be capable of resolution in the interests of the game and that this debate at the top of football should not obscure the potential benefits of the proposal which will impact on a much wider community.”