Super League collapse set to test Premier League resolve
REFORMS MAY HAVE IMPLICATIONS FOR TOON TAKEOVER BID
THE Premier League is considering reforming its owners’ and directors’ test after the collapse of the European Super League - as the Newcastle takeover consortium assesses the implications of a frenzied 48 hours in football.
The Newcastle takeover consortium was - understandably - implacably opposed to an idea which was, in effect, launched partly to prevent a transformative buyout of a club the size of United’s.
With a diminished Premier League and Champions League and no clear route to the premier and most lucrative tournament in football under these plans, the whole basis of the Saudi-powered takeover would have been undermined.
While the willing has remained steadfast from takeover parties, there will be a sigh of relief the Supr League has been seen off.
Mehrdad Ghodoussi, the increasingly vocal social media partner of Amanda Staveley, spoke out against it while Jamie Reuben, who would be on the board of Newcastle after a takeover, also struck out against it.
However, fans will feel justified in their summer criticism of the Premier League’s approach to the deal, which Staveley always claimed had partly been torn down due to the desire of the established clubs not to have a well-renumerated competitor to challenge them.
One report claimed Daniel Levy, one of the architects of the ESL plan who apologised to supporters on Tuesday night, had been a key lobbying force against the Saudi takeover in the summer.
The remaining 14 clubs showed solidarity in facing down the challenge of the so-called big six and there is now talk of reforming the Owners’ and Directors’ Test, which was already being examined in the wake of the Newcastle fiasco.
One of the ideas thrown about in an electrified Premier League meeting was to bind a commitment to the priniciples of English football into it.
That would be readily accepted by any of the people involved in the Saudi takeover, who want to work within the existing framework to transform United.
One industry expert said: “It is still very fresh. The dust will settle on this and the ramifications could be huge for football in the country.
“The feeling is the basis of the case - the separation of PIF from the state - is unchanged but the sands have shifted around it now.
“While it may not directly impact
arbitration, the pressure for transparency will be there and you could argue lobbying from the ‘big six’ might not be quite as readily heard.
“On the other hand, will there be pressure to keep out another foreign owner with deep pockets who might look to do something similar?
“In the short-term, Nick de Marco and his team will have to prove the same things they were looking to prove before but if the arbitration does not win this probably opens up other avenues.
“I am sure the lawyers will be examining everything which has happened in the last few days very keenly.”
Newcastle’s silence on the matter - even if they have made it clear privately they were furious about the deal - is frustrating.
United were understood to be implacably opposed to the Super League proposal but - apart from a light-hearted Tiktok post taking aim at the idea - have yet to release any form of official communication on the issue.
It is to be hoped there will be some sort of response as this would be one issue the hierarchy and supporters would be united on.
The other - the proposed change of ownership - remains at the forefront of everyone’s minds as we reflect on a close shave for the
English game which was ultimately stared down by fan power.