The biggest shake-up of English football for a generation "was under way on Thursday after plans to introduce a fifth division and increase the number of league clubs to 100 were unveiled," according to Ben Rumsby of the London TELEGRAPH. Proposals to move to a 20-team-per-division system across the professional game "were tabled as part of an overhaul of the calendar which could also see FA Cup ties played in midweek, replays scrapped and the creation of a winter break." The Football League "announced the plans, the most revolutionary since the Premier League was formed almost 25 years ago, which are designed to cut fixture congestion and improve the country’s fortunes on the international stage." They "would see the Championship, League One and League Two all cut from 24 to 20 clubs -- in line with the Premier League -- and a new 20-team division formed below them." One of the biggest hurdles to overcome "may be convincing clubs to vote for a plan that would slash the number of them fighting for promotion to the Premier League each season" (TELEGRAPH, 5/19).
ON THE AGENDA: In London, Owen Gibson wrote the proposed changes, decided by the Football League board and agreed in principle by execs at the FA and the Premier League, "will be discussed by the existing 72 clubs at their summer meeting next month." A vote "will not take place until summer 2017." The plans "would require the approval of 65 of the 72 Football League clubs and will be sold to them on the basis of a guarantee they will not lose out financially despite playing four fewer home matches per season." Football League CEO Shaun Harvey said that "the changes could be the catalyst for further discussions around the fixture calendar that would help the English game, including a winter break" (GUARDIAN, 5/19). In London, Andy Sims reported the plan "raises the prospect of seven teams being relegated from the Championship" in '18-19 to allow for three to be promoted, while no clubs would drop out of League Two in that campaign. Two teams "would be promoted from the National League and six other sides would be added to the newly-formed League Three, taking the total number of professional clubs to 100." The six additional clubs "are likely to also come from the National League, although the proposals will reopen the debate on Scottish giants Rangers and Celtic playing in England." Should the proposal get the green light, Harvey "also plans for discussions on implementing a winter break, scrapping FA Cup replays and moving entire rounds of the FA Cup to midweek slots." The future of the Community Shield "will also be considered" (INDEPENDENT, 5/19).
MIXED REACTIONS: The BBC reported the proposal "attracted mixed reaction from Football League clubs. Accrington Owner Andrew Holt said it had "no merit," while Leyton Orient Chair Barry Hearn believes it "has value." Other club bosses complained that "they had not been told about the plan before it was announced on Thursday." Harvey said the Premier League and the FA have backed the idea in principle because "they can see potential benefits on an international basis." Bradford joint-Chair Mark Lawn believes that "the current system should not be changed." Lawn: "We've had this structure for years because it has suited the majority of clubs, so why change it?" Brentford CEO Mark Devlin thinks the Football League should be praised for an "innovative and far-reaching approach." He said, "These proposals are a really good start for how we can tackle some of the problems Football League clubs are facing" (BBC, 5/19).
EXPANSION PLANS? The Scotland DAILY RECORD reported English Football League chiefs last night "refused to rule out the Old Firm being invited to join a new expanded set-up down south." Six extra clubs and Celtic and Rangers "could finally get their wish to join the English set-up." Harvey "refused to kill off the Old Firm’s hopes but conceded that such a move would be difficult." He said, "The whole discussion can be had. But I suspect the wider this gets drawn, the harder it would be to deliver to our clubs and the rest of the stakeholders in the game." Celtic supremo Dermot Desmond "claimed in September last year that it was inevitable the Hoops and the Light Blues will be playing in the English Premier League" (DAILY RECORD, 5/19).
