EPL club Manchester United Owner the Glazer family "discussed the possibility of individual selling of overseas television rights" with Fenway Sports Group Owner John Henry "and his colleagues at Liverpool before club chief executive Ian Ayre floated the subject this week," according to Kelso & Wilson of the London TELEGRAPH. Ayre's "suggestion that the biggest clubs in the league abandon the Premier League's collective selling model and exploit their overseas rights individually has met with opposition from the league and clubs concerned that it would ultimately weaken the competition." ManU yesterday "distanced themselves from the comments," but the Glazers and Liverpool's ownership are believed to have "discussed the implications of such a move during talks earlier this year." Sources indicated that Liverpool believes it is "not a lone voice among Premier League owners even after the lack of public support yesterday for Ayre’s comments." The Glazers "have made no formal move to challenge the collective model, but the very fact the issue has been discussed with Liverpool’s owners Fenway Sports Group, even in abstract terms, indicates that it is on their radar." EPL club Chelsea Chair Bruce Buck and EPL club Arsenal CEO Ivan Gazidis "spoke in favour of the collective selling of rights at last week's Leaders in Football conference at Stamford Bridge" (London TELEGRAPH, 10/13).
NOT SO FAST: EPL club Wigan Athletic Chair Dave Whelan called Ayre's comments "diabolical." Whelan said, "I just can't believe what he has been saying." Whelan said, "They are thinking, 'How can we get more money?' You won't get more money by killing the heart and soul of the Premier League and killing the heart and soul of football in England. ... What we have is the finest league in the whole world and what Liverpool are calling for would absolutely wreck it. The likes of Wigan, Bolton, Blackburn, Wolves, Sunderland and Newcastle couldn’t compete." He added, "Luckily the thoughts of (Liverpool’s) American owners don’t go across the Premier League. They still have to go through the Premier League and hopefully common sense will prevail here" (LONDON TIMES, 10/13). Whelan said Liverpool wants "to create a European Super League and this is the first step towards trying to do that." Whelan: "The next step will be to only receive money when your game is shown on television, the top six are on television all the time, so they will receive all the money. If this happened, it would lead to the destruction of the Premier League, I have no doubt about that" (London TELEGRAPH, 10/13).
ON YOUR OWN: ESPN SOCCERNET's Harry Harris reported EPL club Manchester City does "not consider the selling of individual overseas television rights as viable." Man City said the change, which would require the backing of 14 of the 20 EPL clubs, is "not on our agenda." A team source said, "Clearly with a 14 club vote in favour necessary to make the change, that is not really something worth even considering as a possibility" (SOCCERNET.ESPN.com, 10/12). A Chelsea spokesperson said, "We are supportive of the Premier League on this and want to continue with the way they sell (TV rights) collectively." In London, Owen Gibson wrote, "The public stance of other big clubs will come as a disappointment to Liverpool, who were understood to believe that others would support them." Gibson: "Without the support of those who stand to benefit most the idea would be dead in the water, because none of the league's smaller clubs would vote for something that would hugely disadvantage them" (GUARDIAN, 10/12).
BIGGER PIECE OF A SMALLER PIE: In London, Martin Samuel writes the "swiftest way to thwart this proposal is a howl of outrage from Liverpool supporters; and it must come quickly if the emotion that swirls around Anfield on match days is to be considered sincere." Samuel: "Ayre’s thinking is flawed, logically as well as morally. Liverpool would not be better off negotiating an individual deal; they would have a greater percentage, but of a smaller pot. If they succeeded and the clubs went it alone, the TV companies would at last be able to put football in its place. ... There would be buyers for matches involving the elite, or deciders at the top and bottom of the League, but some games and teams would find no taker. The price would be forced down. Yes, Liverpool might get a bigger cut: but overall income would be reduced" (London DAILY MAIL, 10/13).
TESTING HIS POWER: The BBC's Paul Plunkett writes under the header, "Liverpool Future Looks Bright Under John W Henry." Plunkett notes it is "clear Henry has delivered one year in. He has brought [manager Kenny] Dalglish back, invested in players, respected the traditions of the club and listened to the supporters, the heartbeat of Liverpool" (BBC.co.uk, 10/13). In London, Ian Herbert notes Henry is a "commodities trader who has mastered the intricacies of the futures market to build a vast personal fortune, so it would not be wise to bet against" his intentions. Herbert: "But British football's response to his club's suggestion that they might pursue their own international TV rights deals reveals he is in a trade to test even his commercial powers" (London INDEPENDENT, 10/13).
