Premier League bail out for EFL

Quoted from diehardmariner

I'm an absolute purist.  If I had my way it would all be one league system in this country, all under one ruling body.  The Champions go into the Champions Cup and the winners of the cups go into the Cup Winners Cups.  That's it.  It's silly having half your top flight playing in European competition.

Don't forget the Inter City Fairs Cup

I'm with diehardmariner on this whole issue.

I think we can all see what the Premier League is doing; what it wants; where it wants to be. It's changed the face of the game and the way it's governed means it's hard for fans of clubs at our level to identify with it.

Poojah made a great comment along the lines of possibility. The route to the top still exists, and that's enough.

But quite honestly, because we're so far detached from the likes of Liverpool, Manu and Man City, they can have their European super league as far as I'm concerned. They can have their little jerk circle.

Because to me, what matters is playing in a football league system that's honest and straightforward. Let the Prem disappear up their own arses. We'll remain, restructure what we've got, work to rules that don't encourage teams to overspend and get back to the days when the best team in the land isn't the one that's the richest.

Obviously that's not going to happen, but that's the dream. Reinvent the old-fashioned four-tier league, and cut the greedy gits from it. So what if it's not all over the TV screens? I want to be able to go to the matches.

Quoted from RichMariner

I'm with diehardmariner on this whole issue.

I think we can all see what the Premier League is doing; what it wants; where it wants to be. It's changed the face of the game and the way it's governed means it's hard for fans of clubs at our level to identify with it.

Poojah made a great comment along the lines of possibility. The route to the top still exists, and that's enough.

But quite honestly, because we're so far detached from the likes of Liverpool, Manu and Man City, they can have their European super league as far as I'm concerned. They can have their little jerk circle.

Because to me, what matters is playing in a football league system that's honest and straightforward. Let the Prem disappear up their own arses. We'll remain, restructure what we've got, work to rules that don't encourage teams to overspend and get back to the days when the best team in the land isn't the one that's the richest.

Obviously that's not going to happen, but that's the dream. Reinvent the old-fashioned four-tier league, and cut the greedy gits from it. So what if it's not all over the TV screens? I want to be able to go to the matches.

Out of interest, just how far back do you think that would be?

Frankly rather than the elite giving the smaller lower league clubs the crumbs from their table and holding them to ransom by demanding all sorts of favours and concessions in return I'd rather see the sick and unsustainable teams go out of business thus avoiding a Macclesfield, Bury et al every season. Many clubs are simply unsustainable end of.

Quoted from Ipswin

Frankly rather than the elite giving the smaller lower league clubs the crumbs from their table and holding them to ransom by demanding all sorts of favours and concessions in return I'd rather see the sick and unsustainable teams go out of business thus avoiding a Macclesfield, Bury et al every season. Many clubs are simply unsustainable end of.

Clubs always have been up and down it’s a cyclical thing. If the football world had not been like that then clubs like Wimbledon would never exist, Hull would have gone bust in the 1990s. I remember seeing Accrington the first time they went bust. The first bald headed player I ever saw was Seddon their centre half. By the end of the season their record was expunged. Yes it is down to ownership and we may see changes if and when things return to a semblance of normality. But I would still far rather watch a local side than some bunch of overpaid and overrated foreigners who were only signed to line somebody’s pockets and play a game that looks more like FIFA 2021 than football.

Quoted from TheRonRaffertyFanClub

. But I would still far rather watch a local side than some bunch of overpaid and overrated foreigners who were only signed to line somebody’s pockets and play a game that looks more like FIFA 2021 than football.

I'm sure fans of 'local sides' will still be able to watch their clubs even if they are unable to continue at their current levels due to a cash crisis exaccerbated by Coronavirus they just won't be in Div 3, 4, the conference or other leagues at level 8 downwards. They will have to live within their means instead of teetering on the financial brink all the time, they won't be signing pros they can't really afford as players will be part time etc. and they will owe the Premioer League intercourse all

Quoted from Ipswin

I'm sure fans of 'local sides' will still be able to watch their clubs even if they are unable to continue at their current levels due to a cash crisis exaccerbated by Coronavirus they just won't be in Div 3, 4, the conference or other leagues at level 8 downwards. They will have to live within their means instead of teetering on the financial brink all the time, they won't be signing pros they can't really afford as players will be part time etc. and they will owe the Premioer League intercourse all

Quite possibly Swin. The part time argument has been around many years now. Do you remember it in reverse when Lincoln first went out of the league in 1986? They stayed full time and walked it, Halifax did the same, Boston too. That’s a sort of psychological issue as much as anything, if a club does the reverse and goes p/t then it looks like it’s giving up the ghost on playing at a higher level.

I think we should go back to jumpers for goal posts....... but unfortunately as much as we all yearn for a less commercial game where you can climb the divisions on merit and hard work it’s never coming back.

As much as a bail out would put a plaster on things I think the EFL and the FA should look at their own governance rules in terms of club ownership & financing as the issue sits closer to home rather than at the top table.

Quoted from TheRonRaffertyFanClub

Quite possibly Swin. The part time argument has been around many years now. Do you remember it in reverse when Lincoln first went out of the league in 1986? They stayed full time and walked it, Halifax did the same, Boston too. That’s a sort of psychological issue as much as anything, if a club does the reverse and goes p/t then it looks like it’s giving up the ghost on playing at a higher level.

Its the fascination /fixation with 'playing at a higher level' (irrespective of financial implications) that I just don't get. What is it about being in the Football League? So what if your side is playing Shithole City instead of Manchester City? (more likely to win a few) so long as it continues to exist.Surely that's what matters

99% of fans of smaller / lower league clubs just want to be able to watch and support 'their' (local) team irrespective of whether it's in the Football League or Lindsey Sunday League on Ploggers

The more I think about it the more I don’t like the ida of a PL bail out. It fear it will come with strings. Besides if the PL has got money to burn, why should it be treated differently from other business sectors? If they’ve got too much money, clearly tax is not progressive enough.

Better, if anything, the money comes from the state (and taxation), if society is seen to benefit by the continuance of lower league football.