There’s zero chance it’s happening quickly. Fallout from this needs to be sorted, but I’d say it’s dead. Certainly the value of the club will take a huge hit, no matter what Ashley thinks, and he doesn’t do that.
FC Porto - the side with more league titles and European trophies than Spurs, Arsenal and Man City combined rejected the chance to join. Great to hear.
That's not actually true. For 2019-2022 for the PL the domestic revenue is still higher than international revenue. However I think these clubs have seen the trends and assumed that overseas is the growth area and overseas fans have less loyalty to the PL and just want to see high quality games. I don't have a problem with the Premier League being like any other league though. It is not going to collapse if the Big 6 leave - it will just need a reset. Quality players will still be available - these will by necessity be more homegrown, and the big 6 may siphon up the best of them and the players playing in PL will have to accept a lower salary structure. The people who are really going to suffer are the owners of non-big 6 teams, who will have suddenly seen their assets devalued, but frankly who cares. It will get rid of chancers like Ashley who saw it a means of making good money, with no ambition. I suspect that the ESL is going to come crashing down quite quickly though if the fans of those clubs start to create enough noise and the government threatens to get involved. I would suspect that Liverpool will be the first of the English teams to express doubts and I think the rest will quickly follow suit.
City, definitely. And definitely NOT ManU. Would actually imagine Spurs are the other one, even though Levy's a ****head; think it's the Yank influence that wouldn't waver, Glazers, Kroenke, Buck, Henry.
Agree that there is zero chance this will happen quickly. PIF will need to reassess the landscape and what their investment means. I wonder if it will make the Premier League more interested in it though. Without the so called 'Big six to block it, and the need for more investment.
I also find it very odd that there are no german teams in it....in my opinion the Bundesliga is a far better league than Serie A. Bayern are a far bigger club than Spurs/Arsenal. Only 4 of the big 6 from this country actually occupy a top 6 place in our league at the moment, Arsenal languishing in 9th FFS. Years ago it was the top 4 until certain new owners came along and threw money at clubs...now all of a sudden it's a top 6, shows how ****ing fickle the PL are.
If Man City pull out it will crumble. The others need their financial clout. I get the impression that Real and Barca see it as a means to solve their financial woes. Both are in catastrophic debt. I personally hope both go to the wall.
I would welcome back any team that dropped out of this in the next few months, BUT.... Even if Man City announce today that they are pulling out there still needs to be consequences for having signed up to it in the first place. I think one solution would be for the PL clubs today to impose a 20 point penalty immediately to all 6 clubs, followed by a further 6 point deduction for every week/gameday that they are still involved. Man City could still win the title if they pulled out today but they would need to fight for it. Any team still signed up for it at the end of the season should be automatically relegated and any points deductions carried over to next season. Any team still signed up to it the day before next season's fixtures are due to be published should be expelled and the leagues adjusted to replace them.
Welcome back? Mate they aren't even leaving. They're leaving the championship league not the premier leagues
In my opinion, by signing this knowing the rules and consequences they effectively gave up their right to be in the league. So yes - welcome back.
That is what the football reforms here are trying to achieve. If that reform happens the US owners are finished.
The guily six have broken FA and PL rules. They knew they were breaking the rules by agreeing and so deserve to have the book thrown at them. I think the reality has finally dawned on them.
The Government can. National Trust? English heritage? Align football clubs to a special heritage status in legislation and these owners can do **** all.