Foreign owners 'want end to Premier League relegation'

[FaninOz]

Why am I not surprised!!!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/15336398.stm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Several foreign-owned Premier League clubs want to scrap relegation, according to League Managers Association (LMA) chief Richard Bevan.

If more clubs are sold to foreigner investors, they may have enough votes to force through the change.

But Bevan hopes that a government-led inquiry can help prevent the proposal.

"We're very keen that the report is successful in helping the Football Association introduce a licensing programme for clubs," he said.

"Because there are a number of overseas-owned clubs already talking about bringing about the avoidance of promotion and relegation in the Premier League.

"If we have four or five more new owners, that could happen."

Nearly half of the Premier League's 20 clubs are under foreign ownership, with rules stipulating that if changes are to be made to the format, 14 clubs must vote in favour of any new reforms.

Blackburn joined the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea in this class when they were taken over by Indian-owned Venky's Group last season.

The claim by LMA chief executive Bevan comes a week after the government demanded changes to the way that football is run.

Sports minister Hugh Robertson said that an FA-led licensing system would be brought in to safeguard against issues such as financial mismanagement, asset-stripping owners and tax avoidance.

The government also asked for rules to manage club debts and an overhaul of the FA board.

Last Wednesday, Liverpool's managing director Ian Ayre also said the Premier League's overseas television revenues should be skewed in favour of big clubs.

[Lord Kangana]

Isn't nearly half the same as less than half?

[TANGODANCER]

Football isn't about money, it's just the love of the game. Course it is.

Somebody said, donkeys' years ago, that businesses were no longer run by Chief execs, but by accountants. How very true it turned out to be.

[Lord Kangana]

Businesses have always been run by accountants. Its just they are now run by accountants who lack imagination.

[thebish]

Football isn't about money, it's just the love of the game. Course it is.

Somebody said, donkeys' years ago, that businesses were no longer run by Chief execs, but by accountants. How very true it turned out to be.

If that means that business are shaped by what they can afford - then surely that has always been the case and SHOULD always be the case!!

[bobo the clown]

To be fair wasn't the first to proposse this, openly, our very own Phil Gartside ?

I admit to seeing the sense, from the clubs point of view, but not the rightness nor fairness of it. There aren't too many clubs never had that nightmare period down in the lower reaches.

[BWFC_Insane]

To be fair wasn't the first to proposse this, openly, our very own Phil Gartside ?

I admit to seeing the sense, from the clubs point of view, but not the rightness nor fairness of it. There aren't too many clubs never had that nightmare period down in the lower reaches.

He was. Though he claims, he just said it to try and stir up a debate about the financial gap between the top 2 divisions, rather than it being something specific he wanted to happen!

[William the White]

His proposal was a prem league B. Two leagues of 18, wasn't it? Promotion and relegation betwen them. but not between Prem B and League 1.

I was opposed on principle. But attracted by the though that Leeds were in the third tier forever if it had gone ahead.

[jaffka]

Stupid crap idea

[Cheese]

To be fair wasn't the first to proposse this, openly, our very own Phil Gartside ?

[The Axman]

Stupid crap idea, but, however, if the upper levels of footy ever go down the path of goal-line technology, instant TV replays for refereeing decisions, extra officials, promotion from Premier Leagues into Euro-Leagues, seperate TV rights for the chosen few, etc. then you might just find that soccer has evolved into two sub-species and the final evolution would be the barrier of no promotion between the two.

[boltonboris]

Which leaves nothing to play and then the demise of the sport

[Wandering Willy]

Which leaves nothing to play and then the demise of the sport

Aye - unless something is done to level the playing field for the teams permanently in the PL.

The NFL is a non relegation league but they use the draft system to attempt to give some advantage to the previous season's worst sides. We have no draft system in football leaving perhaps cash as the only equaliser. So more for finishing last than first? Not going to happen.

Keep it as it is.