Project “Big Picture” dead in the water

Plans for a raft of new changes to the English football pyramid, which would have seen one of the biggest shake-ups of the professional game since the formation of the Premier League in 1992, were shot down almost as soon as they had been proposed.

Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, Sam Wallace unveiled details of the plans, which included giving nine clubs (the Premier League’s longestserving teams: Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, Everton, West Ham and Southampton) preferential voting rights over the league’s major decisions. The other changes, which were proposed by Liverpool and Manchester United before being rejected at a meeting of the 20 clubs in England’s top flight in October included:

• The Premier League to be reduced from 20 teams to 18, with the club finishing 16th joining three Championship sides in the play-offs. • Scrapping the EFL Cup and Community Shield. • A payment of £100 million for the FA. • Parachute payments for teams relegated from the Premier League to be replaced by a £250m rescue fund for the English Football League. • Radical changes to the loan system, allowing Premier League sides to send up to four players to a single EFL club.

• 25 per cent of Premier League TV income

to be distributed amongst the EFL.

• A new fan charter aiming to reduce ticket prices, subsidise away travel and introduce safe standing.

Premier League clubs however soon agreed that Project “Big Picture” would not be “endorsed or pursued”. A £50m rescue package for clubs in League One and League Two was also later rejected, meaning discussions over financial support for the EFL continue to take place.