Project Big Picture: Arsene Wenger warns ‘smaller clubs will die’ if nothing happens
Written by News on 13/10/2020
Arsene Wenger warned a £250m bailout will not save EFL clubs and says problems run “much deeper” than the quick-fix outlined in Project Big Picture.
The proposals – drawn up by Liverpool’s owners and backed by Manchester United – reveal a plan to overhaul the English game and place the majority of power into the hands of the biggest clubs, ending the Premier League’s current one-club, one-vote system.
A spokesperson for Boris Johnson condemned the plan as “backroom dealing” which “undermines the trust in football’s governance”, while the Premier League said a number of the proposals would have a “damaging impact on the whole game”.
- Project Big Picture Q&A: A non-starter or football’s future?
- FA against Project Big Picture; PL clubs have serious concerns
But EFL chairman Rick Parry backs the changes, which include lower-league sides receiving a £250m package, as well as 25 per cent of television deals negotiated by the Premier League.
He is expected to meet with clubs from the Championship, League One and League Two on Tuesday to explain in detail how he believes Project Big Picture will affect them.
Former Arsenal manager Wenger – who is FIFA’s chief of global football development – has questioned Parry’s claims they provide “long-term sustainability” for the clubs under his jurisdiction.
“If nothing happens, the smaller clubs will die. I don’t think that one payment will sort out the problem. The problem is much deeper than that,” Wenger said – speaking to Geoff Shreeves at a special event for Sky VIP customers on Monday.
“The money certainly has to be shared, the income of the top clubs has to be shared a fraction more with the smaller clubs.”
The majority of top-flight clubs have serious concerns about Project Big Picture while the FA, which has the power to veto any fundamental changes to the Premier League thanks to the ‘golden share’, is unlikely to back the proposals in their current form.
Wenger insists “you cannot ignore completely the tradition inside the country” and said the origins of the plans will “create a reluctance and a negative approach”.
“Overall the solution has to come from the federation, from the government, from the Premier League – to find a compromise to sort out the problems that already existed before coronavirus,” he said.
Allardyce: Project Big Picture ‘extremely dangerous’
Former England manager Sam Allardyce, who played and managed in all four divisions, warned the proposals could prove to be “extremely dangerous” and provide even more authority to an already powerful big six.
He urged EFL clubs to resist the attractive prospect of an immediate £250m bailout.
“It’s looking like the vote goes to nine of the longest-serving clubs and I think that just nine of the longest-serving clubs doing the vote on the future of football can be extremely dangerous,” Allardyce told Sky Sports News.
“While this package may look attractive now because we are in the pandemic, and it may look pretty good for the EFL, but certainly it won’t look good for some of the Premier League clubs that are already there – one coping with going from 20 to 18 (clubs) to start with and two giving more power to the big six in voting rights.
“A number of owners I have worked for have told me they have had those problems over many years when they have gone to the executive meetings at the end of the season that the big six really want more money, and more money for themselves sadly.
“I think we have the richest league in the world already, we have the most competitive league in the world already, and I think we may end up diluting that and not being as big of an attraction across the world because if the big six draw away even further then there is no competitive edge against them.
“It is the repetitive ‘who is going to finish in the top six?’. It may be even going that way a little bit now so we have got to try and keep the edge and keep the Premier League very, very competitive.”
While parts of the plan have been backed by Forest Green Rovers owner Dale Vince and advisor to Preston’s owner Peter Ridsdale, the contents of the plan have been widely denounced by others in the game.
Allardyce, while refusing to be drawn on whether it constitutes a cynical ploy by the big-hitters, did say any change has to be right for football as a whole and he has concerns – especially about the lower divisions.
“I think it is extremely clever timing, the timing is extremely good,” Allardyce added.
“But is this for the future of football, or does it just help the big six? That is the question everybody has to ask themselves.
“Of course money gives you power and the power lies in the Premier League because they have the most money. They have already dictated across the board on football changes up to now. Is this the right football change for football as a whole?
“I am a football person. It runs in my veins; it runs in my blood. I have managed in all four divisions, including the Premier League, and I have played in all four divisions. I worry greatly about this pandemic by having no government support, how many of these league clubs will survive?
“While at the early stages you look at the £250m bailout, it’s going to be very attractive in the short-term for those football clubs to agree to it but you have got to look at the long-term future.”
Lambert against Project Big Picture
Ipswich Town boss Paul Lambert says he can’t see any pros in favour of Project Big Picture.
The Scot says he doesn’t believe the proposals are healthy for football and feels it is motivated by the Premier League’s top clubs wanting a better chance of winning the Champions League.
Lambert also questioned whether the money promised to the lower leagues would be enough to help English football through the pandemic.
He told Sky Sports News: “I think the governing body, the Premier League should look after it. I don’t think you can have a split [of clubs]. I don’t think it’s healthy for the game.
“The windfall for the EFL, which is a lot of money, but is it going to sustain it during the pandemic? I am not sure. If it is £350m spread over the lower leagues, I am not sure it’s going to work.
“(Liverpool and Manchester United) They know exactly what they want to try and do but is it fair on other clubs? Probably not. Where is the benefit from this whole scenario? There isn’t one at the minute because there are so many controversial things coming out of it.
“I don’t see what the pros are for it. The pros to cut the Premier League to 18 teams is to give them more scope to win the Champions League? Everyone wants to win it. My argument against that is there is so many teams get in the Champions League now.
“I don’t think it becomes a valid tournament when teams finish fourth and fifth in the division and can qualify for Champions League football. The Champions League should be what it is, the winners of the league and maybe second and third. I just don’t think it is the right format.”
‘EFL needs change or clubs will suffer’
Rotherham chairman Tony Stewart has predicted “dire disaster” as early as this month with at least six EFL clubs going bust if financial help is not forthcoming.
“For a long time now the wealth of money that comes into football is not distributed in the way it should be. The good news is it’s been highlighted,” he told Sky Sports News.
“I think Rick Parry has more or less said things have got to happen. There were talks before the Covid disaster and now it’s coming to a head.
“We welcome a change, an opportunity to be able to compete and to run it more like a business than a charity where we have donors coming in from all over the world and we are losing sovereignty – more and more English and British chairmen are going by the wayside because they can’t afford to put on a community sport for their town, their city.
“So I welcome the change. If things don’t happen soon I know for a fact more than half a dozen EFL clubs will go by the wayside, and I’m not exaggerating.
“If nothing does happen – and I’m talking in the month of October – dire disaster will happen to clubs all around the UK.”
Project Big Picture Q&A: A non-starter or football’s future?
Project Big Picture has drawn a mixed response across the game. Why do the EFL want it? Why are the Premier League worried? Who is driving the plan? What are the radical reforms? What has the reaction been?
(c) Sky Sports 2020: Project Big Picture: Arsene Wenger warns ‘smaller clubs will die’ if nothing happens
