Verbal Posted 6 November, 2009 Share Posted 6 November, 2009 Phil Gartside, the Bolton chairman, is about to upset the apple cart again by proposing a two-tier premier league. The reason is that, outside of the top four or five, the costs of competing in the league - and the Sword of damocles that relegation has become - have wrecked the finances of clubs like Hull and Pompey, and will wreck many others to come. He put this idea up a couple of years ago, but suggested then that there wouldn't be any relegation to or promotion from the Championship. Now he's dropped that idea. But he's proposing that any club with enough points to be promoted from the Championship must also prove that it has a big enough supporter base and good enough facilities to actually qualify for promotion. That last bit is good for us, I'd have thought. But do we really want a two-tier league? http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/nov/06/premier-league-two-division-gartside Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevegrant Posted 6 November, 2009 Share Posted 6 November, 2009 He's proposed it a few times and each time it's reported that they'll discuss it at the next board meeting and then all of a sudden the idea gets swept under the carpet. I'm not expecting any different this time. Scudamore has already stated that Celtic and Rangers won't be invited to join the Premier League (amusingly stating that he's a traditionalist and that Scottish teams should play in Scotland, failing to recognise the irony having proposed the 39th game nonsense), and Gartside is only bringing it back to the table because Bolton's financial situation is up the ****ter and they need the fallback option a PL2 could bring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Verbal Posted 6 November, 2009 Author Share Posted 6 November, 2009 He's proposed it a few times and each time it's reported that they'll discuss it at the next board meeting and then all of a sudden the idea gets swept under the carpet. I'm not expecting any different this time. Scudamore has already stated that Celtic and Rangers won't be invited to join the Premier League (amusingly stating that he's a traditionalist and that Scottish teams should play in Scotland, failing to recognise the irony having proposed the 39th game nonsense), and Gartside is only bringing it back to the table because Bolton's financial situation is up the ****ter and they need the fallback option a PL2 could bring. But talk of breakaways are back on the agenda among the big clubs too, some of whom see bigger pots of gold elsewhere. And in any case, the actual and unprecedented collapse of clubs in the Prem will surely focus a few minds this time around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crab Lungs Posted 6 November, 2009 Share Posted 6 November, 2009 I wonder how Gartside would feel if they said 'OK, you're right... two-tiered Premier League it is. Oh, and by the way, Bolton will start in the Championship. Good Luck!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickG Posted 6 November, 2009 Share Posted 6 November, 2009 I don't think the Scottish teams will ever be in the English league. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miserableoldgit Posted 6 November, 2009 Share Posted 6 November, 2009 But talk of breakaways are back on the agenda among the big clubs too, some of whom see bigger pots of gold elsewhere. And in any case, the actual and unprecedented collapse of clubs in the Prem will surely focus a few minds this time around. TBH the sooner that the "Big" clubs **** off the better. Their only interest is the money that they can earn from European games. They play weakened teams in the LC and are starting to do it in the FAC. As far as they are concerned, the PL is just the thing that they have to play in to qualify for the CL. It makes me laugh when the Chelseas and Arsenals complain that they are playing too many games so they propose a smaller PL (as has happened before) to the detriment of other teams. They are playing too many games because the European Cup went from a knock-out competition to the Champions League, bringing in the top four from each league rather than just the Champions. Sadly these money grabbing bastards are killing the game. I have absolutely no interest in watching the CL or generally PL games on Sky. Give me Saints at SMS anyday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eastcowzer Posted 6 November, 2009 Share Posted 6 November, 2009 TBH the sooner that the "Big" clubs **** off the better. Their only interest is the money that they can earn from European games. They play weakened teams in the LC and are starting to do it in the FAC. As far as they are concerned, the PL is just the thing that they have to play in to qualify for the CL. It makes me laugh when the Chelseas and Arsenals complain that they are playing too many games so they propose a smaller PL (as has happened before) to the detriment of other teams. They are playing too many games because the European Cup went from a knock-out competition to the Champions League, bringing in the top four from each league rather than just the Champions. Sadly these money grabbing bastards are killing the game. I have absolutely no interest in watching the CL or generally PL games on Sky. Give me Saints at SMS anyday. Well spoke, MOG, I heartily concur. Sky TV are also responsibl, as well, with the wall to wall coverage. and their fixation with replays from evert angle, bar the GK's fundamental. If there is nothing controversial, then you can bet your boots that Keys will create some thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miserableoldgit Posted 6 November, 2009 Share Posted 6 November, 2009 (edited) Just listened to a very good play on Radio 4 called "The Tony Kay Scandal" which was about the betting scandal that came to light in the 60`s. Well worth a listen when it is available on i-player. Please ignore this post! Posted in wrong place! Edited 6 November, 2009 by miserableoldgit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Micky Posted 6 November, 2009 Share Posted 6 November, 2009 Just listened to a very good play on Radio 4 called "The Tony Kay Scandal" which was about the betting scandal that came to light in the 60`s. Well worth a listen when it is available on i-player. Why on earth would anybody on here be remotely interested in a betting scandal though..? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junction 9 Posted 6 November, 2009 Share Posted 6 November, 2009 It is a sad time for English football when you read of proposals like this. It's getting to the point where the matter of playing the sport of football on a Saturday afternoon will be an secondary affair compared to the importance of running a multi million pound commercial venture such as a football club. Where will we be in 10 years and will the fans that support these super clubs actually want to be there? Somebody (FIFA) should make a stand and immediately cut player wages by three quaters and put a cap on it. Return the sport to the fans, make it affordable and reduce the gap between CL clubs and the rest of us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Micky Posted 6 November, 2009 Share Posted 6 November, 2009 It is a sad time for English football when you read of proposals like this. It's getting to the point where the matter of playing the sport of football on a Saturday afternoon will be an secondary affair compared to the importance of running a multi million pound commercial venture such as a football club. Where will we be in 10 years and will the fans that support these super clubs actually want to be there? Somebody (FIFA) should make a stand and immediately cut player wages by three quaters and put a cap on it. Return the sport to the fans, make it affordable and reduce the gap between CL clubs and the rest of us. Radical as **** - but I totally agree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St Landrew Posted 6 November, 2009 Share Posted 6 November, 2009 Phil Gartside, the Bolton chairman, ... put this idea up a couple of years ago, but suggested then that there wouldn't be any relegation to or promotion from the Championship. Now he's dropped that idea. But he's proposing that any club with enough points to be promoted from the Championship must also prove that it has a big enough supporter base and good enough facilities to actually qualify for promotion. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/nov/06/premier-league-two-division-gartside My first reaction is that he'll need to look to his own fanbase. Bolton's average crowds aren't that big at all, and often there are wide open spaces at The Reebok. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Micky Posted 6 November, 2009 Share Posted 6 November, 2009 My first reaction is that he'll need to look to his own fanbase. Bolton's average crowds aren't that big at all, and often there are wide open spaces at The Reebok. On the pitch or off the pitch...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyNorthernSaints Posted 6 November, 2009 Share Posted 6 November, 2009 My first reaction is that he'll need to look to his own fanbase. Bolton's average crowds aren't that big at all, and often there are wide open spaces at The Reebok. My thoughts too. You could also include Blackburn and Wigan who don't have a big fan base. Burnley also only has a small population i think of 80,000 but to be fair took nearly half of it to play off final. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CB Fry Posted 6 November, 2009 Share Posted 6 November, 2009 Gartside wants to be careful what he wishes for. What he'd end up with is not a second tier Premier League, but just another version of the Championship. The top 14/16/18 in the new Premier League are not going to give up any European Places, and Sky will just give more money for exclusive rights to the games in that division. That's all they really care about, and world wide that all the markets in Asia, Africa etc care about. The rest of English Football is low-cost schedule filler. Sky would probably encourage some chump broadcaster to stump up over the odds for Premier League 2 because they know those games won't pay back and said Chump broadcaster will be lumbered and then bust, just like Setanta with a load of monday night games involving Bolton and Blackburn no-one cared if they saw or not and ITV Digital before that. Bolton v Blackburn, Wigan v Wolves, Coventry v Birmingham and, yeah, Saints v Fulham is of minimal interest beyond the fanbase of each club. Sky will not pay over the odds for those games. A second tier "Premier League" is just nonsense. There's Premier, then there's nothing. It'll be worth jack **** and Gartside and his dull old club will be more out of pocket than they are now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 6 November, 2009 Share Posted 6 November, 2009 I wonder how Gartside would feel if they said 'OK, you're right... two-tiered Premier League it is. Oh, and by the way, Bolton will start in the Championship. Good Luck!" that was what I was thinking.. "great idea phil, now fuk off and move over for saints to come back" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SW5 SAINT Posted 6 November, 2009 Share Posted 6 November, 2009 My first reaction is that he'll need to look to his own fanbase. Bolton's average crowds aren't that big at all, and often there are wide open spaces at The Reebok. Bolton's crowds are not much better than pompeys, and that is saying something! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krissyboy31 Posted 6 November, 2009 Share Posted 6 November, 2009 I don't think the Scottish teams will ever be in the English league. I think it's inevitable and sooner rather than later. The TV money is the only thing that's keeping most PL teams afloat and no TV company is going to sink anywhere near as much money into Scottish football, therefore the old firm are going backwards at a rate of knots. The likes of Wigan and Gartside's own team Bolton have a much bigger revenue than the old firm, despite the latter's world-wide fan-base and the only way for them to claw back the gap, is for them to join the English Leagues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_clark Posted 6 November, 2009 Share Posted 6 November, 2009 I think it's inevitable and sooner rather than later. The TV money is the only thing that's keeping most PL teams afloat and no TV company is going to sink anywhere near as much money into Scottish football, therefore the old firm are going backwards at a rate of knots. The likes of Wigan and Gartside's own team Bolton have a much bigger revenue than the old firm, despite the latter's world-wide fan-base and the only way for them to claw back the gap, is for them to join the English Leagues. I wonder if Celtic and Rangers fans will be so keen to play in our leagues when they both go 10 years without a trophy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krissyboy31 Posted 6 November, 2009 Share Posted 6 November, 2009 I wonder if Celtic and Rangers fans will be so keen to play in our leagues when they both go 10 years without a trophy. But to be honest, the ones they win now are only tin-pot ones. They could just play a two legged match and the winner declared Scottish champions (and cut out all the rest of the dross). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mack rill Posted 6 November, 2009 Share Posted 6 November, 2009 that was what I was thinking.. "great idea phil, now fuk off and move over for saints to come back" Lets not Run before we can Walk! A DullDays;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teamsaint Posted 6 November, 2009 Share Posted 6 November, 2009 same as the phoenix league that Rupes was keen on- and there is good logic in it. It would be financially sensible for most of the "bigger" clubs outside the giants to have financial security. It might be tough for those falling outside the 2 PL divisions though. On a slightly different subject, why do four go up from L2 to L1, but only 3 from L1 to the CCC when they are all the same size? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 6 November, 2009 Share Posted 6 November, 2009 Lets not Run before we can Walk! A DullDays;) seeing pompeys **** poor support...maybe you could make way for Leeds Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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