MONEY BRAWL
Fury as EPL fans reject plan
THE Premier League big six head into a showdown meeting of all 20 clubs today with their own fans having rejected Project Big Picture.
In what promises to be a summit brimming with anger at the proposals driven by Liverpool and Manchester United, the most powerful teams in the country are facing a full-scale revolt and a barrage of criticism after:
Their own fans put together a joint statement saying they are “totally opposed” to the plan.
● One Premier League chief executive said: “It’s sad that 25 years of good work has gone down the drain in 24 hours”.
● There were calls for EFL chairman Rick Parry to resign amid angry recriminations from the Premier League.
● A revelation the Premier League offered just £25million to bail out crisis-hit EFL clubs despite top- flight clubs spending £1.2billion in the transfer market
Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester City, Uni ted and Liverpool supporters trusts put out a jointly- signed statement calling for the secret plan to be scrapped immediately.
The statement read: “While the six clubs we support are widely reported to be the instigators of Project Big Picture, it is important we state very clearly we do not support the proposals in their current form.
“By floating this latest plan, those behind it are acknowledging football needs to be reformed.
“It’s something we have been saying for many years. There are some suggestions in this plan that have merit.
“But we are totally opposed to concentrating power in the hands of six billionaire owners and departing from the one club, one vote and collective ethos of the Premier League. This part of the proposal must be dropped if other elements are to be given serious consideration.”
That will come as a huge embarrassment to Liverpool and United who drove the talks with Parry while the other four clubs took part in the secret talks.
A Premier League chief said: “Tensions have never been so high, everyone wants to know the truth on this one on exactly who has been involved and to what extent.”
It is also understood the Premier League are furious with the EFL, relations are at an all time low and chances are fading of a bail- out agreement to help League One and Two clubs.
But that comes despite Gillingham chairman Paul Scally insisting Premier League bosses have offered just £25m – when the EFL are asking for £250m.
Scally said: “The Premier League haven’t come up with any ideas in the last six months. They’ve offered just £25m which wouldn’t get 24 clubs through six months.
“When you consider the clubs have just spent £1.2bn in the transfer window and they’ve offered £25m for the whole of the Premier League. It was dismissed out of hand.”