I think the fly in the ointment is not the maths but the notion of healthier lower leagues benefitting those above.

It really is a double-edged sword any owner of a Prem club will juggle the jam tomorrow scenario with the possibility of "healthier" lower tiers producing another Liverpool of the late 50s or attracting a Mansoor or Abramovich type that nicks their place at the top table.

There has been nothing to stop broader protection of the game by the elite since professional footy existed but the underlying ethos is based on infantile "king of the castle" rules so seeing your opponent writhe in agony far and away trumps giving them a helping hand.

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That was a lovely read, Paul.

I can't help but notice it's a very communist idea in an extremely capitalist world. The theory's great, and I truly am a fan, but sharing the wealth is a risk not many would take. Everton, maybe. Liverpool and Man Utd, doubt it.

Thanks Chris. It is my belief that the Premier League would benefit over the long term through a stronger pyramid of lower leagues below it, especially in increasing the talent pool and providing a market for their younger players.

It's somewhat similar to a major manufacturer investing into its supply chain. But more than anything else it creates fairness which can only improve the professional game in England.

One of your points asks for 10M per club, 200M in total, but not all clubs receive the same amount. Could you show that figure in some sort of percentage and if it covers only payments for broadcasting EPL games. Is the next step a continental style "B" team attached to a Premier League team or should all clubs individuality be maintained and their outgoings be controlled by their income in some sort of FFP system.

I'm not an advocate of B teams Alan, I think the pyramid has to be clubs independent of influence from individual PL clubs but supported collectively by the PL. The model could be tweaked to reflect the difference in payments PL clubs receive - that wouldn't be a problem for me, but might be for the larger clubs

Paul

As always your posts are a joy to read and also well researched, and your proposals to try and support the pyramid below the Premier league is well thought out. But I have believed for a long time that there isn't enough money to support leagues 1 and 2 being fully professional. Most are loss making and this was before Covid struck, so with no supporters being allowed into grounds it just makes it impossible for these clubs to survive.

I would like to see leagues 1 and 2 being semi professional at best, and I would split these 2 divisions into regional divisions. This would greatly reduce their travel costs, and eliminate any overnight stays in hotels. I also think with Premier league teams having a 25 man registered group, it again gives the money clubs a bigger advantage, also maybe if that could be lowered to a 20 man group. This would also free up places for the Under 23 players to make up the group when injuries occur which will reduce the 20 man limit.

I would also like to go back to clubs not being able to have boys on their books under 15, as I don't see any advantage having boys as young as 7 being taken on by Premier league clubs. Since we have moved from a time when only boys about to leave school could sign to this new era of young children being coached by Premier clubs, I have seen no overall improvement in player advancement.

Paul, I started reading and was thinking, what about the policing of it. then came to your Governance paragraph.

There’s so many shysters around who would be like piranha fish to use this money in selfish or reckless ways. The policing of it would have to be draconian.

I like the idea and it is an equitable solution to a problem that is not going away.

The biggest hurdle is that the likes of Man Utd and Liverpool don’t want equitable solutions without unchallengeable control and payback. They want a bigger share of tv rights and increased revenues. They have professionals spending night and day figuring out how they can do it.

Paul, I think Tony has made a few valid observations, as far as the RS either end of the East Lanc road is concerned, what's in it for them? Where is the trade-off? The grab for power dressed up as support for the lower leagues was distasteful and clearly transparent for what it was.
Given if a Euro Premier league does eventuate, where does that leave the EPL, never mind the EFL.. strangely if the "Big six" leave the EPL, then the time would be right to redistribute/restructure the leagues and that may well benefit all. Balanced against that would be the reduced (?) TV rights value for any EPL post-departure of the high-value tickets (6)
Distribution to the lower divisions brings with it concerns for good management of the money at a club level, one has to remember most lower league clubs are run almost like an amateur / semi-professional club with well-meaning but limited administrations. High revenues attract opportunists so the management would have to be rigorously controlled.
But I think it would be a prime opportunity to secure the game in the UK (add in a few Scottish clubs perhaps?)
One thing is certain, its all going to change.

Thanks for your comments - almost all of which I agree with. It is impossible to cover every angle in a 1200 or so word article but initially the principle of sustainable PL funding for the lower divisions, the removal of parachute payments, and equal financial support for all clubs in a division must be something that few can object to if they genuinely have the interests of the football pyramid at heart.

I genuinely would like to challenge all the PL clubs as to why such a principle would not be in the interests of the wider game and ultimately in the PL clubs interests as well long term.

It is an enormous shame that none of the media are prepared to offer such challenges to the current structure and recently proposed alternatives.

Governance would be an issue I accept that, but it is not insurmountable with independent leadership, monitoring, regulation & the power to sanction future offenders

Perhaps, slightly off-topic, but some interesting observations by 'wallicus'?. which includes a Twitter remark, “No one hates Everton quite like Evertonians.”

Everton Cringe?

Hello Paul,
I am still digesting the situation and this is of substantial help. Thank you for your thoughtful analysis. I'll weigh in more as I educate myself on this.

Paul - Having asked myself how many years can this go on my appetite for a sustainable solution is greater than ever. And yours is as good as any I’ve heard - but as others have pointed out - it’s the eliciting support from and governance of those with less egalitarian vested interests that make your solution unlikely to ever see the light of day.

The pandemic has only accelerated the inequality of the pyramid. What will it take to disrupt the model? We’ve accepted without a fuss the onset of empty stadia, promotion/relegation decided by modelling, huge town clubs disappearing from the league and the Big Picture Trojan horse - as long as the model’s income is mainly reliant on support via a replica kit and Sky subscriptions following the big 4/5/6 - there is seemingly no harm done if they lose the odd Bolton or Bury.

Debating how to settle the incomplete 19/20 season there was concern from some about the ‘integrity’ of the EFL fixtures. Seems a quaint concept now as we now know operation power grab was in development at the same time.

Quite how we take money away from those most rich and powerful hustling for more is the conundrum.

As always Paul an interesting and well-researched read. As you allude to, I think the biggest opposition to this plan is not simply the utterly shameless likes of the RS and Manure. It’s also the perennial Premier League survivors like Burnley who may be concerned about strengthening traditionally bigger (and thus more attractive) clubs below them.

The idea of an independent panel is another which is interesting...the problem is I can just imagine it looking a bit like the commentary line-up for a BT game, where we all end up incredulous at the RS bias.

Whatever the outcome, something needs to change soon because it’s surely a matter of months before another lower-league club goes bust.

Paul, to take up one of your points: the creation of a 'pyramid' below the Prem. to supply talent upwards. I had some involvement in a similar process in cricket. The ECB created a 'Premier League' in each county, which would hoover up amateur players from below and then 'hone' them for the fully professional game in the County Championship.

For many years the only Premier League in Lancashire was the Liverpool Competition. It's now about 20 years since the ECB changes, so there is some evidence to go on.

How many players from the 'Comp' Premier League, have come through and had a significant career with Lancashire [say 5 years or more]? I'm only aware of one [Paul Horton]; there are a couple of others who've played for other counties.

So, if the cricket 'pyramid' has produced one player for Lancashire in 20 years, what makes you think the soccer pyramid will be any more successful?