Foreign owners 'want end to Premier League relegation'

[Happy Fox]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15336398.stm

Several foreign-owned Premier League clubs want to scrap relegation, according to League Managers Association chief Richard Bevan.

If more clubs are sold to foreigner investors, they may have enough votes to force through the change.

But Bevan hopes that a government-led inquiry can help prevent the proposal.

"We're very keen that the report is successful in helping the Football Association introduce a licensing programme for clubs," he said.

"Because there are a number of overseas-owned clubs already talking about bringing about the avoidance of promotion and relegation in the Premier League.

"If we have four or five more new owners, that could happen."

Hopefully this will never happen

[Amin]

You have got to be kidding me? How would that work?

[Finchy]

Yay Wigan in the Premiership for eternity.

[I am Rod Hull]

So some owners could have a team full of non league players, finish bottom every season and still get the SKY cash ?

Of course they want to end relegation...

They`d probably try to get it to two teams relegated first, IMO...

[Father Ted]

Football is coming to a slow, painful death.

[davieG]

If put to a vote even the non-foreign owners would vote for it, they're all in it for the money and that would guarantee them a longer term return. If we were in there I'd imagine our owners would be for it.

It could also signal the start of a form of franchising as the less attractive clubs were eventually voted out and replaced by 'bigger' clubs.

[J.Lisemore]

Only a matter of time before the game is fvcked up completely.

[Asha]

In a way, this wouldn't be a completely bad thing.

If the premier league was 'locked' then we could properly break away, and from the negatives it would bring - and the Championship would become the new top flight, in effect.

[Asha]

Football is coming to a slow, painful death.

This is true.

I think the thing to do at this point, is to just accept that and try to reduce our enthusiasm so that when football does fuck itself in the arse, it won't be so devastating. If, for anyone on here, football is actually the be-all-and-all of existence - I'd be really worried for you.

[Jon the Hat]

They want a franchise system I guess, so whoever pays the most for the license gets to operate a "club" in the premiership. Cash is king and all that.

I think there is a good chance it will eventually happen, and that the result will be one type of football on TV and a different type for the ordinary fan.

[I am Rod Hull]

Man Utd being renamed rebranded as the "Red Devils" and moving to New York....

[purpleronnie]

Football is coming to a slow, painful death.

I thought it died here years ago.

Time to pack it in and move onto the MLS.

[leicsmac]

Have any of you ever read 'Playing on the Edge' by Neil Arksey?

Yes, it is a kids book, but it paints a dystopian footballing future around fifty years from now - only a few big football clubs left (6, I believe), all the rest have disappeared or become direct feeder clubs, corporations put out football teams, only 2 professional leagues (corporate one and the few remaining 'big clubs), the 'big' clubs have so much monetary power they and their owners influence political decisions and are able to get away with pumping their players full of steroid-like drugs...and every time I hear a story like this, or hear of more and more money being concentrated at the top of the football pyramid, I wonder how prophetic Mr Arksey may turn out to be with the picture he paints in that particular book.

I fear for footballs future, if decisions like this are even at the discussion phase.

[MrSpaM]

So in effect they are trying to cut the premiership out of the english league structure.

So who gets to decide which clubs "deserve" to be in the premier league? Or are they suggesting you would have to buy your way into it?

[Fox92]

What is happening to OUR game?

[purpleronnie]

What is happening to OUR game?

I wish it was ours.

[davieG]

So in effect they are trying to cut the premiership out of the english league structure.

So who gets to decide which clubs "deserve" to be in the premier league? Or are they suggesting you would have to buy your way into it?

That would be the obvious aim.

[Guest MattP]

Was always going to happen, we have become obsessed with foreign ownership here.

I'd be more worried when they start trying to relocate football clubs. We sold out and we will get what we deserve.

[marko]

Was always going to happen, we have become obsessed with foreign ownership here.

I'd be more worried when they start trying to relocate football clubs. We sold out and we will get what we deserve.

Like MK Dons.

You can bet it's the likes of Venky's that are instigating this.

[Fox92]

I wish it was ours.

Very true, and sad.

[Yojoe36]

Hence, will destroy the game of football.

Football is going to be dead in 15 years

If this passes (obliviously won't) then I would no longer watch football

[Corky]

I doubt some of the fans currently in the Premier League want this.

Would you want to finish bottom of the division every year?

[davieG]

I doubt some of the fans currently in the Premier League want this.

Would you want to finish bottom of the division every year?

Cov were happy to for nigh on 25 years

[Corky]

Cov were happy to for nigh on 25 years

Sadly they didn't quite finish bottom

[The Doctor]

I doubt some of the fans currently in the Premier League want this.

Would you want to finish bottom of the division every year?

It's a sad state of affairs, that what the fans want means **** all.

What the owners, of plenty of clubs, want is money and if staying the premiership brings that money in then they will probably vote for something which guarantees their place there.