BREAKING NEWS: Project Big Picture is officially DEAD: Premier League clubs REJECT the Man United and Liverpool-led plan to shake up the top flight and agree to ‘a strategy review but not a major shake-up’
- Premier League clubs rejected the Project Big Picture proposals in a meeting
- Top-flight clubs met virtually on Wednesday to discuss the radical proposals
- The plans would see more funding for EFL clubs and competitions scrapped
- But the clamour for the ‘Big Six’ to have more power angered top-flight clubs
- Instead all 20 clubs have reportedly agreed to an imminent ‘strategy review’
Project Big Picture is officially dead after Premier League clubs rejected proposals put to them by Manchester United and Liverpool during an emergency meeting on Wednesday.
The top flight met to discuss the radical plans for a shake up of English football for the first time via video conference.
But the 20 clubs swiftly rejected the proposals and instead agreed to a widespread strategy review and also gave the green light to a new bailout offer to the EFL after their opening attempt was rejected.
Premier League clubs have rejected Project Big Picture plans during Wednesday’s meeting
Liverpool’s John W Henry (L) and Manchester United’s Joel Glazer (R) were behind the plans
Liverpool and Manchester United, as well as EFL chairman Rick Parry, wanted a radical restructure of English football that would have led to increased funding for the EFL, a reduction of top-flight clubs from 20 to 18 and scrapping the Carabao Cup among other things.
But the proposal also outlined how the Premier League’s ‘Big Six’ would acquire more power in decision-making and that caused anger within the top flight and other levels of the football pyramid.
During a two-hour meeting on Wednesday, the proposals were quickly thrown out.
A Premier League statement, signed off by all 20 clubs and due to be released in full on Wednesday afternoon, reads: ‘All 20 PL clubs have agreed that Project Big Picture will not be pursued or endorsed by the PL or FA’.
The new EFL bailout offer, worth around £50million, will include an option for the funding only to go to the League One and League Two clubs but Championship teams can veto that.
The EFL rejected the Premier League’s initial £150million rescue package – a £40m grant and £110m loan dependent on a series of conditions.
The Premier League did agree to make another bailout offer to clubs in League One and Two
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said a rescue package was a condition of Project Restart
The lower divisions would have had to give top-flight clubs control of the calendar, their spending levels and post-Brexit work-permit arrangements, as well as scrapping the League Cup and accepting there will be no promotion from the Championship in the event of curtailment unless 75 per cent of fixtures have been completed.
The EFL have been seeking a bailout from the Premier League to help them cope with the Covid-19 crisis since May, when a rescue package was made mandatory if the Government was to support Project Restart.
Parry has made it clear the lower divisions need £250m to ensure all the clubs can keep paying their players and therefore playing matches in the absence of gate receipts this season.
The rejection of Project Big Picture comes as a huge blow to Manchester United and Liverpool though.
It is thought the rejection kills the plans instantly with a strategy review involving all 20 Premier League clubs to take place soon.
Premier League clubs were unhappy that EFL chief Rick Parry held talks with top-flight clubs
It is claimed the meeting was ‘civilised’ and at least 14 of the 20 top-flight clubs were opposed to Project Big Picture.
It emerged on Tuesday night that EFL clubs were split over whether to support the plan with meetings of the three divisions on Tuesday ending without a firm agreement.
As reported by Sportsmail, Championship clubs are understood to have offered chairman Parry their support while clubs in League One and League Two were far more critical of the proposals.
There were fears the Premier League’s clear anger at Parry’s involvement in secret talks with Liverpool and Manchester United could have scuppered the bailout they are seeking to survive for the rest of the season.
As many as seven clubs in League One and Two need extra funding to ensure they can pay all their players this month so are wary of further antagonising the Premier League.
