PREMIER League chiefs have declared Project Big Picture “dead” after today’s club meeting.
The two-hour summit ended with the Prem clubs agreeing to make a £50m bailout offer to keep League One and Two clubs alive.
Manchester United owners the Glazers backed the new plansCredit: Getty Images – Getty
But there will be NO money available for Championship clubs.
And despite the determination of Liverpool and Manchester United to keep their grand proposals alive, League bosses have agreed to make a formal denunciation which ALL clubs have been agreed to sign up to.
League chiefs were this afternoon drafting an emergency release that was signed off by the clubs before it was published.
And a final statement from the Premier League read: “All 20 Premier League clubs today unanimously agreed that Project Big Picture will not be endorsed or pursued by the Premier League, or The FA.
“Further, Premier League Shareholders agreed to work together as a 20-club collective on a strategic plan for the future structures and financing of English football, consulting with all stakeholders to ensure a vibrant, competitive and sustainable football pyramid.
“Clubs will work collaboratively, in an open and transparent process, focusing on competition structure, calendar, governance and financial sustainability.
“This project has the full support of The FA and will include engagement with all relevant stakeholders including fans, Government and, of course, the EFL.
“Also at today’s meeting it was agreed to make available a rescue package which aims to ensure that League One and League Two clubs will not go out of business as a result of the financial impact of COVID-19 and be able to complete the 2020/21 season.
Rick Parry cause widespread anger among Prem clubs for backing the projectCredit: PA:Press Association
“League One and League Two clubs rely more heavily on matchday revenue and have fewer resources at their disposal than Championship or Premier League clubs and are therefore more at risk, especially at a time when fans are excluded from attending matches.
“This offer will consist of grants and interest-free loans totalling a further £50 million on top of the £27.2m solidarity payments already advanced to League One and League Two this year, making a total of £77.2m.
“Discussions will also continue with the EFL regarding Championship clubs’ financial needs. This addresses Government concerns about lower league clubs’ financial fragility.
“Football is not the same without attending fans and the football economy is unsustainable without them. The Premier League and all our clubs remain committed to the safe return of fans as soon as possible.”
That move comes after the clubs agreed on their bail out package for the lower two divisions, even though Championship sides could use their own veto power to block the funds being accepted.
The Prem sides recognised the expectation from the fans and pressure from the Government on them to help keep the lower league clubs alive.
That saw what is effectively a “take it or leave it” offer to Leagues One and Two.
The danger, though, is that Championship clubs are able to block any deal with the lower tier clubs.
Under EFL rules, the Championship must be in favour for any policy to be agreed by the entire League and the 24 clubs would be certain to vote unanimously against a deal that cuts them out.
However, the Prem sides believe that the Championship teams will be cast in the role of signing a death warrant for clubs that have just been handed a gallows reprieve and that they will back down from forcing a further confrontation.
The decision came as part of an at-times divisive virtual meeting of the 20 Prem “shareholder” clubs who voiced their anger and indignation at EFL chairman Rick Parry.
Parry has become the Prem’s public enemy No1 for fronting the Project Big Picture proposals drafted by Liverpool and United.
A number of clubs are understood to have lined up to condemn the Prem’s first chief executive for his part in the plot.
Suggestions of a likely vote calling for Parry to stand down seem not to have materialised as the clubs recognised they have no formal right to dictate EFL policy.
Trevor Sinclair is worried about smaller clubs under Project Big Picture plans
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
