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      Government claim fans will not be back into stadiums until coronavirus cases fall as Oliver Dowden demands EFL is saved

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      CULTURE Secretary Oliver Dowden ordered football’s warring factions to come together and save the EFL.
      In a clear statement of intent, Dowden told MPs the Government is prepared to intervene and force wholesale change on the game if it cannot sort out its most pressing issues.

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      Oliver Dowden has promised that action would be taken to save EFL clubsCredit: PA:Press Association

      Dowden agreed that Gareth Bale’s Tottenham weekly salary was “perverse” when the sum could have kept Macclesfield alive.
      He attacked the weekend launch of pay-per-view Prem games and called on BT to make this weekend’s Merseyside derby free to air rather than being screened behind a paywall.
      But he revealed he had been “promised” that action would be taken to ensure “no EFL club goes bust” as a result of the Covid crisis. 
      And Dowden admitted there were “inconsistencies” in the Government policy that has allowed some indoor venues to open to the public while fans are locked out of football stadiums.

      Pressed on his response to Project Big Picture by members of the DCMS Select Committee, Dowden said: “I’ve made clear my deep scepticism and concern about this.
      “This would tend towards a closed shop for effectively the six most powerful clubs in the Premier League.
      “More importantly there is a problem which football is perfectly capable of resolving itself, whereby the Premier League and the EFL just need to get together and do this deal. 
      “From the conversations I’ve had we know the EFL clubs will not be allowed to go bust – and there are resources there – but we need a comprehensive deal.

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      “This is a distraction at best from that and demonstrates we were wise to put in our manifesto the provisions for a fan-led review because it genuinely brings into question the ability of football to govern itself properly.
      “Football can show it can govern itself well is to get this deal over the line, where the Premier League uses its wealth to support the wider football family and the EFL comes properly to the negotiating table.”
      Dowden insisted the Government was not minded to dig into its own pocket to help keep clubs alive, citing his feeling that it would be wrong “to ask a pensioner in Hartlepool to pay her taxes” to spend on the national game.
      The Culture Secretary said he could “accept peoples’ frustration at the inconsistency” in policy over opening up venues.
      Dowden said: “I desperately wanted socially distanced fans in stadiums from the start of October but we had to pause that because of the rapidly rising rates of infection.
      “It’s not just the stadium. it is the journey to and from the stadium both on public transport and people being likely to want something to eat or drink on the way.
      “When we get to the point that we have confidence we have the disease under control so that it is not on a rapid upward curve I would rapidly return to this decision.”
      Dowden’s repeated reference to the “£1billion spent in the transfer window by Premier League clubs” is unlikely to go down well.

      PROPOSED PREMIER LEAGUE CHANGES IN FULL

      EFL given £250m for loss of matchday revenue – deducted from future TV earnings.
      Nine longest-serving clubs have ‘special status’ – with just six votes from those clubs needed to pass a new rule.
      Premier League to go from 20 clubs to 18.
      FA awarded £100m gift to help during Covid-19 pandemic to help non-league game, the women’s game and grassroots football.
      8.5 per cent of annual net Premier League revenue to go to ‘good causes’, including the FA.
      25 per cent of all combined Premier League and Football League revenues to go to EFL clubs.
      Six per cent of Premier League gross revenues to pay for stadium improvements across the top four divisions.
      New rules for the distribution of Premier League television income, overseas and domestic.
      League Cup and the Community Shield to be axed.
      24 clubs each in the Championship, League One and League Two reducing the professional game overall from 92 clubs to 90.
      A women’s professional league independent of the Premier League and FA.
      Two sides automatically relegated from the Premier League every season and the top two Championship teams promoted.
      The 16th place Premier League club plays in a play-off tournament with the Championship’s third, fourth and fifth placed teams.
      Financial Fair Play regulations in line with Uefa, and full access for Premier League executive to club accounts.
      Away tickets for fans to be capped at £20, with travel subsidised, a focus on a return to safe standing, a minimum away allocation of eight per cent capacity.
      Later Premier League start in August to give greater scope for pre-season friendlies, and requirement for all clubs to compete once every five years in a summer Premier League tournament.
      Huge changes to loan system allowing clubs to have 15 players out on loan domestically at any one time and up to four at a single club in England.
      *According to The Telegraph…

      Now will his agreement with committee head Julian Knight that Bale’s wages in the current financial situation were “perverse”, which he described as “an apt observation”.
      Further quizzed over the controversial PPV deal, with fans charged £14.95 to watch each of the 15 games over the next three weekends, Dowden said: “I was not massively impressed.
      “This goes to the whole concern that people have. These other things jar with the idea of coming together during this period of crisis for the country.
      “We had conversations with the broadcasters in the past and will continue to raise these issues with them.
      “If BT were able to make this weekend’s game free to air as a gesture it would be a great thing to do of course.”

      Ally McCoist can’t believe that Premier League clubs won’t financially help EFL clubs More

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      Premier League clubs set to make £50m bail-out offer to League One and Two clubs to save stricken EFL due to coronavirus

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      PREMIER LEAGUE clubs are set to make a £50million bail-out offer to keep League One and Two clubs alive.
      But there will be NO money available for Championship clubs.

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      Top flight teams will offer cash-strapped League One and Two sides £50mCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      And the top flight outfits are also expected to demand the head of English Football League chairman Rick Parry.
      The majority of Premier League clubs are furious at Parry for conducting secret negotiations with Liverpool and Manchester United that saw the EFL chairman become the public face of Project Big Picture.
      EFL clubs have come out in support of Parry, pointing to the promise of £250m immediately coming from the Premier League to the lower three divisions as a result of the plan.
      But there is fierce resistance among the Prem sides to handing over any money to Championship clubs – many of whom have wealthier owners than the top flight sides.

      The top tier sides do recognise there is an expectation from the fans and pressure from the Government on them to help keep the lower league clubs alive.
      And that will lead to what is expected to be a ‘take it or leave it’ offer to Leagues One and Two.
      That approach seems likely to divide the lower division sides with some determined to back Parry and Project Big Picture and others admitting self-interest and their own survival might prevail.
      Gillingham chairman Paul Scally conceded: “If there was no alternative, of course I would take it.”

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      Some Premier League clubs could call for EFL chairman Parry to quitCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      However, Championship clubs would be 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.
      But the fury of the clubs towards Parry will mean a vote is expected to formally call for him to step down from the EFL.

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      Aston Villa chief executive Christian Purslow slammed the former Prem boss as he said: “I think it’s amazing that the head of EFL, which is already receiving nearly £400m per year, would’ve chosen to go live with a plan without discussing it directly with the Premier League.
      “I applaud the notion that the Championship, League One and League Two want to engage with the Premier League.
      “But the way to do that is to talk to the chairman and chief executive of that league through the front door, not to head over to Florida and Boston and discuss it with only two teams.”

      Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden says he fears Premier League reform plans are a ‘power grab’ More

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      Football League clubs will ‘disappear in six weeks’ amid crippling coronavirus pandemic, says Leyton Orient chief

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      FOOTBALL LEAGUE clubs could ‘disappear within five to six weeks’ without financial help, according to Leyton Orient chief Nigel Travis.
      The League Two chairman outlined a bleak forecast for the EFL as the coronavirus pandemic cripples teams with fans barred from games.

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      Leyton Orient chief Nigel Travis (left) says Football League clubs could disappear within weeks without helpCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Travis backed Liverpool and Manchester United’s radical restructuring plans, coined ‘Project Big Picture’, as a “great proposal”.
      The changes would reform the English football pyramid and, crucially, see clubs given a £250million bail-out to mitigate the impact of Covid-19.
      Travis told BBC Radio 5 Live: “If clubs don’t get something soon you will see clubs disappear, I would predict, within five to six weeks.
      “One thing I need to quash is, this isn’t about the pandemic, this is about a crisis in football that goes back many years.

      “Before the pandemic, 75 per cent of clubs were losing money – that can’t continue.
      “The pandemic has, if you like, exacerbated the problem and we need to get it fixed.
      “I know you are talking about ‘Project Big Picture’ – this is a great proposal as far as we are concerned. It is certainly very promising and clubs need it.
      “Something like this has to go through.”

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      EFL chairman Rick Parry is backing the controversial proposals but the FA have threatened to use their ‘golden share’ power in order to veto the changes.
      And the government slammed the proposals as a ‘power grab’ and threatened to tear up the FA’s control over the game if the reforms go through.
      Travis added: “The real villains here are the Government. They’ve thrown football into a difficult situation. They said the Premier League has to bail out the EFL.
      “I understand that but now they are complaining about what is coming out of some creative people.
      “Just to be brutally honest, I live in Boston [US]. I know [Liverpool owner] John Henry.

      PROPOSED PREMIER LEAGUE CHANGES IN FULL

      EFL given £250m for loss of matchday revenue – deducted from future TV earnings.
      Nine longest-serving clubs have ‘special status’ – with just six votes from those clubs needed to pass a new rule.
      Premier League to go from 20 clubs to 18.
      FA awarded £100m gift to help during Covid-19 pandemic to help non-league game, the women’s game and grassroots football.
      8.5 per cent of annual net Premier League revenue to go to ‘good causes’, including the FA.
      25 per cent of all combined Premier League and Football League revenues to go to EFL clubs.
      Six per cent of Premier League gross revenues to pay for stadium improvements across the top four divisions.
      New rules for the distribution of Premier League television income, overseas and domestic.
      League Cup and the Community Shield to be axed.
      24 clubs each in the Championship, League One and League Two reducing the professional game overall from 92 clubs to 90.
      A women’s professional league independent of the Premier League and FA.
      Two sides automatically relegated from the Premier League every season and the top two Championship teams promoted.
      The 16th place Premier League club plays in a play-off tournament with the Championship’s third, fourth and fifth placed teams.
      Financial Fair Play regulations in line with Uefa, and full access for Premier League executive to club accounts.
      Away tickets for fans to be capped at £20, with travel subsidised, a focus on a return to safe standing, a minimum away allocation of eight per cent capacity.
      Later Premier League start in August to give greater scope for pre-season friendlies, and requirement for all clubs to compete once every five years in a summer Premier League tournament.
      Huge changes to loan system allowing clubs to have 15 players out on loan domestically at any one time and up to four at a single club in England.
      *According to The Telegraph…

      “He and I have not personally discussed this but I am supportive of the proposal because this is going to save clubs like Leyton Orient and many other clubs in League One and Two.
      “The reality is you need to save football and this is the only and best proposal I’ve seen. The government did a great job with the furlough programme but they’ve given the EFL no chance other than to negotiate with the Premier League.
      “As of a week ago, as far as I know, all the Premier League came up with was £50m – that is not enough.
      “The £250m that has been talked about and the 25 per cent share is clearly going to create a sustainable model and that’s what we need in football.
      “If there are better proposals, I would love to hear them.”

      Ally McCoist can’t believe that Premier League clubs won’t financially help EFL clubs More

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      Paul Scholes named Salford City manager as Man Utd legend takes over at Class of 92’s League Two club

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      PAUL SCHOLES has been named as Salford’s interim manager after the club’s Class of 92 owners sacked Graham Alexander.
      A statement released on Monday confirmed the former Manchester United midfielder’s appointment.

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      Paul Scholes (left) watched on with Gary Neville and Roy Keane as Salford drew on SaturdayCredit: PA:Press Association

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      The Manchester United legend is among a consortium of former Old Trafford favourites who co-own the clubCredit: SALFORD CITY FC

      Scholes, 45, was part of the consortium to buy 50 per cent of the minnows back in 2014.
      The Class of 92 venture, including David Beckham, Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt, and Phil Neville, even saw the ex-England star take caretaker charge of a game in 2015.
      Their funding quickly elevated City to League Two, where they sit fifth in the table.

      But Neville and Scholes watched as two late goals pegged their side back to a draw at home to Tranmere on Saturday, leading to Alexander’s dismissal.
      According to the Mail, Scholes was reluctant to take over and club development manager Warren Joyce is expected to step in and help when he completes a period of self-isolation.
      His only serious venture into management came last year in a seven-game stint at Oldham.
      Once thought to have sold his Salford stake when accepting the offer to coach the Latics, he won only once and fell out with owner Abdallah Lemsagam.

      Fans of ambitious Salford were surprised to see Alexander, 49, sacked after an unbeaten start to the league season.

      Paul Scholes will act as the interim head coach while the club looks to secure a new manager.
      Salford CityClub Statement

      The Scot led the club to promotion from the National League in his first campaign, their fourth rise in five years, before an 11th-placed finish in 2019-20.
      Salford supporter Broughton posted online: “Wow I didn’t see this coming. Gutted.”
      While Andrew commented: “It’s like he was trying to get sacked with those subs at the weekend.”
      Another Twitter user wrote: “If you lot actually had fans, I’m sure they’d be devastated. Baffling decision this.”

      A club statement read: “Salford City Football Club announces that manager Graham Alexander has left the club with immediate effect. The club met with Graham this morning and after discussion have agreed to part company.
      “The club would like to thank Graham for his contribution and all his hard work. In his first season he guided the team to Wembley, resulting in promotion to League Two and in his second season he reached the Leasing.com Trophy final.
      “The club would like to wish him all the best and success in the future. First team coach, Chris Lucketti, will also leave the club.
      “Paul Scholes will act as the interim head coach while the club looks to secure a new manager. Warren Joyce, currently in isolation, will join Paul once he is able to.”

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      Chelsea plot double transfer swoop for Grimsby Town youngsters Louis Boyd and Ben Grist but face fight with Liverpool

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      CHELSEA are reportedly plotting a double transfer swoop for Grimsby Town youngsters Louis Boyd and Ben Grist – but face competition from Liverpool.
      The two Premier League clubs have had their interests piqued by the talented pair as they appear in League Two for Ian Holloway’s team.

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      Louis Boyd comes off the bench for his debut in the EFL Cup against Harrogate, where he became Grimsby’s youngest goal scorer and appearance makerCredit: Twitter@EFL_Trophy

      Boyd became the club’s youngest-ever debutant and goalscorer when he came off the bench against Harrogate Town in the EFL Trophy last month.
      He was only 15 years and 324 days old when he found the net in that match.
      The teenager then got his league debut when he came off the bench in the final 20 minutes against Walsall four days after his cup heroics.
      Fellow midfielder Grist, also 15, was left on the bench for the Harrogate game, which Grimsby drew 2-2 but then won 7-6 on penalties.

      The Athletic report that Chelsea, Liverpool and other Premier League teams are monitoring the pair – who are also working towards their GCSEs.
      It is believed the financial pressures inflicted by the Covid-19 pandemic could force Grimsby to sell two of their prized academy assets.
      The club estimates their losses this season will come to £700,000.
      The Mariners, bottom of the EFL, have only managed to play three league games this season following a positive coronavirus test within the squad which forced their training ground to be shut down.

      League Two fixtures versus Cheltenham Town and Bradford City, and an EFL Trophy fixture at Hull City, all had to be postponed.

      They returned to action on the weekend, drawing 0-0 at Bolton.
      The domestic window closes on Thursday, meaning that any interested Premier League club must buy Boyd and Grist by then – or will have to wait until next year.
      If the pair were to move to Chelsea, it is likely they will join the club’s many players out on loan.

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      Government threaten to tear up FA’s control over football if Prem follow ‘backroom’ Project Big Picture to reduce league

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      THE GOVERNMENT has threatened to step in to football amid radical plans to change the game.
      It was revealed at the weekend that Manchester United and Liverpool are leading the charge for a massive overhaul of English football.

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      Secretary of State Oliver Dowden has hinted that the government could intervene in footballCredit: PA:Press Association

      Reds owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) have authored a spectacular ‘Revitalisation’ document in a bid to give the Premier League its biggest shake-up since its 1992 inception.
      The Telegraph claims the document proposes an 18-team top flight, the axing of the League Cup and additional funding made available for the Football League.
      A statement from the Prime Minister read that the proposal ‘does not command support through the Premier League’.
      It continued: “It is exactly this type of back room dealing that undermines trust in football’s governance.

      “We strongly urge PL and EFL to continue to work constructively to come up with a deal.”
      Now Secretary of State Oliver Dowden has hinted that the Government could intervene and take control of governance of the Beautiful Game.
      Dowden is scheduled to speak at a select committee today about plans for fans to return to sporting venues.
      Speaking on Sky News on Monday morning, Dowden said: “If we keep having these backroom deals and all these other things going on we will have to look again at the underlying governance of football.

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      “We promised in the (general election) manifesto a fan-led review and I must say the events I have seen the past few weeks have made this seem more urgent again.
      “Unless the clubs and the Premier League and the EFL can get together urgently in order to support the game through this difficult period of time it does raise genuine questions about the governance of the sport.”
      Manchester United have given their support to the document – in the works since 2017 – called ‘Project Big Picture’.
      And the North-West giants – fierce rivals on the pitch – expect the rest of the ‘Big Six’ clubs to support the move.
      Liverpool and United are hopeful Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham will all get on board with their proposed changes.
      Above all other changes, the clubs have proposed to give struggling EFL clubs £250million to help them survive the coronavirus pandemic.
      Moving forward, Premier League clubs will give a massive 25 per cent of their income to teams in the Football League.
      The move is said to help end the ‘revenue chasm’ between the Premier League and Football League.

      PROPOSED PREMIER LEAGUE CHANGES IN FULL

      EFL given £250m for loss of matchday revenue – deducted from future TV earnings.
      Nine longest-serving clubs have ‘special status’ – with just six votes from those clubs needed to pass a new rule.
      Premier League to go from 20 clubs to 18.
      FA awarded £100m gift to help during Covid-19 pandemic to help non-league game, the women’s game and grassroots football.
      8.5 per cent of annual net Premier League revenue to go to ‘good causes’, including the FA.
      25 per cent of all combined Premier League and Football League revenues to go to EFL clubs.
      Six per cent of Premier League gross revenues to pay for stadium improvements across the top four divisions.
      New rules for the distribution of Premier League television income, overseas and domestic.
      League Cup and the Community Shield to be axed.
      24 clubs each in the Championship, League One and League Two reducing the professional game overall from 92 clubs to 90.
      A women’s professional league independent of the Premier League and FA.
      Two sides automatically relegated from the Premier League every season and the top two Championship teams promoted.
      The 16th place Premier League club plays in a play-off tournament with the Championship’s third, fourth and fifth placed teams.
      Financial Fair Play regulations in line with Uefa, and full access for Premier League executive to club accounts.
      Away tickets for fans to be capped at £20, with travel subsidised, a focus on a return to safe standing, a minimum away allocation of eight per cent capacity.
      Later Premier League start in August to give greater scope for pre-season friendlies, and requirement for all clubs to compete once every five years in a summer Premier League tournament.
      Huge changes to loan system allowing clubs to have 15 players out on loan domestically at any one time and up to four at a single club in England.
      *According to The Telegraph…

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      Millwall chief issues stark warning on devastating damage to communities if clubs go under

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      MILLWALL chief Steve Kavanagh believes the impact on communities will be devastating if EFL clubs go to the wall.
      The Lions bigwig has called on the Government to act swiftly to save Covid-crippled clubs from going bust.

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      Millwall chief executive Steve Kavanagh has highlighted the community work done by football clubsCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      His stark warning is that, if they do, many communities across the country could be ravaged by emotional and economic depression for years.
      Speaking to SunSport as part of the Save Our Clubs drive highlighting the work clubs do on and off the field, Kavanagh said: “We’re not just talking about our national sport, the community work done by clubs in this country is vital. It has been for years.
      “Boris Johnson came  to The Den to see it first hand when he was Mayor of London and was highly impressed.
      “And when you take into consideration lockdown and what clubs, including Millwall, did to support their local communities, society and the vulnerable who were scared and did not have food . . . the work that went on was incredible.

      “We sheltered the homeless, we delivered more than 5,000 free dinners to children and care packages to the vulnerable and needy.
      “We didn’t just deliver food packages, with them we  delivered cooking lessons to ensure people could sustain themselves with good food, not just ready meals.
      “We also stored PPE for the NHS, while other clubs allowed stadiums to be used as testing centres.
      “Despite having absolutely no income, Millwall, through our chairman John Berylson, pledged £300,000 to our community trust during this period when we were on our knees.

      “Our community work is valued at more than £10million to Lewisham and the local area. And that is replicated all over the country.
      “If clubs are lost, that will be lost — and that would result in real damage to society.
      “And that’s before you get into job losses in and around football clubs.
      “The Government has to start recognising what football actually does — and not just continue taking from it all the time.
      “It needs to understand what we do for communities outside of actually playing, which is extremely important in itself for wellbeing. And it needs to help.”
      Millwall, who have spent more than £100,000 reconfiguring The Den to make it safe to host matches, have been hit hard by the ban on fans attending matches.
      American Berylson is having to pump in £1m a MONTH to keep them afloat.
      And Kavanagh admitted: “Unfortunately, we have had to make some staff redundant. It’s been really, really sad.
      “But I’m having to try to run a business which is haemorrhaging money and have no idea when its income streams will be returning.”
      The PM plus Culture, Media and Sports Secretary Oliver Dowden have announced rescue packages for the arts — but not our national sport.
      Kavanagh added: “The Government is not treating football fairly and in line with other entertainment businesses.
      “I can’t believe we haven’t lost more clubs in the EFL. That’s a testament to the club owners and chairmen.

      “They’re all putting their hands in their pockets to keep clubs and their community assets alive by feeding the vulnerable and schoolkids, sheltering the homeless and helping the NHS.
      “What worries me is I don’t know where the breaking points for these owners and chairmen are. Even with John.
      “I don’t want to over- dramatise that but when does he say enough is enough? I hope to God I never find out.”

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      Steve Kavanagh, right, is worried that entire areas could be hung out to dryCredit: PA:Empics Sport

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