Champions League expansion could be ‘devastating’, warns Palace's Parish
Proposed reforms to the Champions League would have a “devastating” effect on English football according to the Crystal Palace chairman, Steve Parish, as clubs from around Europe speak up against the plans.
With a decision expected imminently on the new structure of the competition – which would include 100 extra matches and four new “exclusive game weeks” running from Tuesday to Thursday – Parish said that the reforms would probably mean the end of the League Cup in England. “In the middle of a pandemic these decisions are made that may fundamentally change the view of football in domestic leagues forever,” he said. “From the point of view where we sit, this will have quite a devastating effect on domestic competition in England.
“We have three competitions, one of which – the League Cup – is one of the largest financial contributors to the Football League and its 72 clubs. This proposal will probably see the end of that cup in its entirety, or reduced to some kind of youth competition. Where does this all end?”
Parish was speaking at an emergency meeting of the European Leagues organisation and called on clubs from across the continent to find common ground. “This may not be affecting your domestic league maybe as much as it looks like it will affect our domestic competitions, but the creep is never-ending,” he added. “With the assault on the calendar, we are talking about a transfer of value from domestic leagues to European competition. I think it’s very concerning.”
Parish was supported in his remarks by the chair of the Football League, Rick Parry, who said his organisation could lose a third of its revenues if the League
Cup was scrapped. “The calendar clearly poses a major threat to the future of the League Cup and in turn this will have a massive effect on the EFL’s revenues,” Parry said. “We estimate that we could lose up to a third of the revenues that we distribute. That would pose a very real threat to the existence of some of our clubs.”
Clubs from Sweden, Turkey, Germany and the Netherlands, among others, spoke up against what is known by Uefa as Horizon 24, but there remains only a small window for possible change. Uefa has postponed a meeting at which new plans were expected to be voted through, but this week the president of the European Clubs Association, Andrea Agnelli, who represents the interests of football’s biggest clubs, said he expected a decision within two weeks.
The European Leagues president, Lars-Christer Olsson, said the proposed expansion of the calendar would break a memorandum of understanding that his organisation has with Uefa, and proposes a smaller increase in matches of eight in the group stages rather than the currently suggested 10. His organisation is hopeful that changes on access to the Champions League, which would mean some teams qualifying regardless of their league position, could yet be amended.
Olsson called on leagues to persuade their national associations to lobby Uefa for change.
Manchester United have appointed John Murtough as the club’s first football director. Murtough, who joined United in January 2014, is being promoted from his current role as head of football development and he will have overall responsibility for all football matters.
Transfer business will remain driven by Solskjaer and the club’s recruitment department, each of which have a veto. Murtough would only become involved in this regard if there was disagreement between the two. Solskjaer will also continue to report to Ed Woodward, United’s executive vice chairman, with Murtough doing the same.
In a 23-year career, Murtough has previously been the Premier League’s head of elite performance, and had senior academy and development roles at other clubs. United also on Wednesday appointed their former midfielder Darren Fletcher to the post of technical director, another new position at the club. Fletcher returned to United in January as a first-team coach.
“These are hugely important appointments that reinforce the progress we have been making as a club in recent years in our relentless pursuit of success,” said Woodward. “We have already made great strides forward in the way we run our football operations, and the benefits are visible in the resurgent pipeline of academy talent reaching the first team and through our improved recruitment record.
“John has been integral to our progress in these areas and his deep understanding of development ensures the club’s traditions of bringing young players through from academy to first team will continue. This new position is a natural evolution that harnesses his leadership qualities and his years of experience in the game.”
A club statement outlined Murtough’s
precise role and how it will combine with Solskjaer’s: “As football director, John will work day-to-day with Ole to align recruitment and other strategies and to ensure that the first team has the best-in-class operational support it needs to succeed. Ole will continue his role in the recruitment process, supported by extensive scouting and data analytics functions that will continue to report to John. Matt Judge [previously head of corporate development] will also report to John, with a new title of Director of Football Negotiations.
“John will have overall leadership and responsibility for operations and strategy across all football functions, reinforcing the strong foundations already in place. This appointment builds on the work John has already undertaken in recent years, working closely with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and the rest of the football staff to create the structures, processes and culture to deliver sustained success on the pitch. This has included successful overhauls of the club’s academy and recruitment department.”
Murtough said: “This is such an exciting time for everyone at Manchester United with the first team, academy and women’s team all performing strongly, and plenty of development still to come. It’s a privilege to be part of that process, and an honour to lead Manchester United’s football department, working alongside Ole, Casey [Stoney, women’s team manager] and so many other truly outstanding staff all dedicated to delivering success to this club.”
United’s appointment of Murtough ends a three-year search by the club for someone to fill such a post.
Meanwhile, Solskjaer has responded to speculation about Edinson Cavani’s future. The striker’s contract expires in summer, with his father, Luis, claiming on Tuesday that the 34-year-old wants to depart then, potentially for Argentina’s Boca Juniors. Solskjaer said: “We’ll convince him [to stay] when the weather in Manchester improves. I can’t comment on what has been said. I can only say that we’re very pleased with Edinson.
“Now, let’s just make sure he plays as much as possible before the end of the season, scores as many goals as he can, helps the young players - the strikers, the forwards, even the rest of the group with his mentality – then he will make his decision. He knows that we are very fond of what he’s given to the club even though he’s probably played less games than he wanted [due to injury].”