Why Black Cats must resist proposals in current guise
The first thing to say about 'Project Big Picture' is that in this guise, it has seemingly little to no chance of being implemented.
While the proposal seems to have been largely backed by EFL clubs (though there have been some vocal dissenters), and clearly benefits the Premier League's 'big six', the remaining 14 top-tier clubs will surely prevent it. The proposal, in essence, asks them to cede power to the clubs both above and below them. To give up valuable voting rights to fellow Premier League teams, while financially strengthening the Championship clubs, who could replace them in a matter of months.
It appears destined to fail and yet it nevertheless remains a vital topic for debate for those with an interest in the game in general, as well as Sunderland’s short and longterm future. The need for a financial bailout in the EFL is severe (Project Big Picture’s biggest selling point is that it’s the first to simply be there, in writing), and so there can be no doubt our pyramid is heading for fundamental change in some capacity.
Where Sunderland stand on the Project Big Picture proposals had been unclear.
C h a r l i e M e t hv e n w a s quoted in Bloomberg, not necessarily supporting the proposals, but hardly rejecting them out of hand, either.
“This is the first serious attempt that we have seen to answer the major strategic issues facing the football pyramid,” he said, before urging the Premier League and the Government to produce a proposal of their own.
"Because as the rest of us sit here trying to save clubs with big cost bases and almost no revenues,” he said. “They have spent three months doing precisely nothing to help except hold endless meetings the only purpose of which seems to be to kick the can down the road, through the long grass and into a ditch, preferably never to be seen again.”
Fans have no indication as to whether they should take this as a club view.
Yet he still speaks publicly on club matters and though
leadership has passed to Jim Rodwell and other members of the board, there has been no clarity or updates on key matters to supporters for months.
That goes for the club takeover, still not discussed in any capacity, the financial impact of COVID-19, and the crucial positions at the club which are still vacant. It perhaps underlines why even though there have been some seismic changes behind the scenes in recent months, many supporters remain steadfast in their view that only a change in ownership can make any fundamental difference.
Rodwell has subsequently spoken to Sky Sports News about the proposals, outlining his and the club’s view as ‘cautiously optimistic’, drawing references to the proposed promotion and relegation changes as one major issue.
Project Big Picture, without a doubt, has some genu i n e l y revo lut io n a r y a n d fundamentally positive ideas.
Firstly, there is the obvious short-term financial boost thatwouldcomefromaninjec
tion of £250m at a time when revenues are cripplingly low due to the pandemic.
Even more significant is the conversation, long overdue, that this has initiated surrounding parachute payments. Under the Big Picture proposals, they will be abolished and the media revenue shared with the EFL will grow to 25%. This, theoretically, would suit a Sunderland side stepping into the Championship. Particularly if accompanied by a salary cap in the second tier, it could reduce some of the eye-watering, reckless owner spending that we have seen in recent years.
It is clear why this would appeal to the current regime and certainly, it would make the step up less to the Championship less daunting than it currently appears.
For the game more generally, reducing the gulf between the top-two tiers is a worthwhile endeavour that can help bring the game back from the brink financially.
In the long-term, though, these proposals are potentially ruinous for the clubs with big fan bases that for whatever reason, do not find themselves right in the top elechon of the Premier League at this particular moment.
This applies as much to an Aston Villa, a Leeds United or a Sheffield Wednesday as much as it does a Sunderland.
From the reduction of the Premier League to 18 teams, to the changing voting rights that would include a potential veto on any club takeover, this is a concerted attempt to cut the so-called 'big six' off from the rest of the pyramid.
It's an attempt to all but prevent another Leicester City-esque title triumph. An attempt, even, to prevent another club joining the pack in the way that Manchester City did after their transformative takeover in 2008.
Above all else, it also gives these clubs the power to gently row back on their financial commitments at any stage they deem necessary.
A n oth e r s m a l l e r but equally key point is the threat of flooding the EFL with loan players from Premier League Academies. This would only exacerbate the stockpiling problem that has cut Sunderland's operation adrift from their competitors.
It may seem fanciful or naive right now to imagine a scenario in which Sunderland are again trying to push their way into the top half of the Premier League. That, though, should always be the long-term goal for a club of this size and potential.
Any attempt to undermine that in the future should be resisted and for that reason, Sunderland surely cannot be in support of it in its current guise. If it's the case that some of the financial proposals are seen as a starting point for talks, then that is a separate issue and some of them have worthwhile goals.
The power grab that comes with it, though, is bad for the game and bad for the Black Cats. That the issues seem remote to Sunderland in its current guise should be seen as irrelevant to anyone with a long-term interest in the club.