An unnamed Premier League owner has said that most clubs are against the proposal of Project Big Picture, claiming only six clubs supported it.
The owner spoke ahead of a shareholder meeting.The 20 Premier League clubs are currently involved in a virtual meeting to discuss the proposals.
“We are 100 per cent against the plans. If there was a vote now I would be surprised if more than six supported it. I can guarantee you the majority of club owners are against it.
“Who knows, somebody might be able to come up with a compromise but there is no way we could support what’s on the table now,” he said.
It was reported that the proposals would give special status and preferred votes to the so-called big six clubs, which include Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City, and Tottenham.
A few days ago, the English Football League (EFL) confirmed that the majority of its clubs supported the plans following meetings with chairman Rick Parry.
After individual talks with the chairman of the EFL on Tuesday, the “overwhelming majority” of EFL clubs indicated a willingness to discuss the proposals.
“The proposals, which look to address the long-term economic imbalance across the football pyramid while also addressing the short-term financial need created as a result of Covid-19, received strong support, with an overwhelming majority of clubs indicating a willingness to discuss the proposals further on the basis that the primary benefits for the future of the English pyramid are clear.
“It was agreed that the proposals must be addressed and discussed in detail across all stakeholders for the benefit of the English game, and while there are no specific timescales for what happens next, there is a clear need for progress in this matter as quickly as practically possible,” a statement from the EFL reads.
Eleven EFL clubs could go out of business by the end of the season without fans and without a financial bailout from the government.
Project Big Picture can bring massive change to Premier League
Parry, who is a supporter of the controversial Project Big Picture proposal, revealed a detailed plan which would see the biggest restructuring of the Premier League since its conception in 1992. However, it has been opposed by fans of the division’s ‘big-six’ teams.
According to the new proposal, income to lower-league clubs would increase, as well as an advanced £250m parachute payment.
It was gathered that Parry’s remarks have frustrated the Premier League and that could jeopardize a potential bailout. A board member of a Premier League club says the feeling among the majority of teams in the division is that Parry should now resign.
Big concern expressed over Project Big Picture
Menawhile, Aston Villa chief executive Christian Purslow expressed his worries over the proposed changes to a successful Premier League model in light of Project Big Picture
“I don’t know so much about Premier League Big Picture. I’m looking forward to the Premier League meeting today to hear the details from Manchester United and Liverpool.
“I must say I would be concerned about changes to such a successful and commercially outstanding league at a time when football needs all the success it can get to deal with financial problems,” Purslow told Sky Sports News.
He stated further that the club won’t be pushed into the proposals, adding that it is already in public dormain.
“We have an effective mechanism for discussing things, all 20 clubs have an equal five percent share in the league, we meet frequently. The unity of the league is its strength.
“After a healthy discussion we will see two things; everyone in the Premier League understands the short-term priority is to help cash problems further down the pyramid, over the long term it will be a catalyst for a much broader discussion on the structure of English football.
“I feel strongly that we need to look at the relationship between the Premier League and the Championship and other long-standing issues which predate the pandemic.
“I think we will see a willingness to get those issues on a table. What is unusual about this project is that it is being discussed by the head of the EFL and two owners outside of the boardroom – that’s not the way I would have gone about it.”
