Ferguson against relegation scrap plans

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has branded plans to scrap relegation from the Premier League as ‘suicide’ for the clubs in lower divisions.

On Monday, League Managers’ Association chief executive Richard Bevan revealed that several foreign owners of top-flight clubs want to rid the process of relegation and promotion from the division.

With more and more Premier League clubs being taken over by foreign investors, Bevan worries that there could be a vote to do away with relegation, with such a move requiring the backing of two-thirds of clubs in the top-flight, as well as the Football Association.

However, the Red Devils manager believes such a decision would be denying teams in the lower leagues the chance to carry on their history in England’s top division.

“I don’t see where the end product comes in,” the Scot told reporters. “There are at least eight teams in the Championship at the moment with great history.”

“What do you say to those eight teams, they can never play in the Premier League?”

“You may as well lock the doors. It would be absolute suicide for the rest of the teams in the country, particularly the Championship.”

Clubs such as Nottingham Forrest, Leeds United and both Sheffield outfits would be restricted by making further steps in the Premier League and Ferguson believes it is the only place a team can fully achieve their ambitions.

“All these great teams are the nucleus of the Premier League many years ago,” he said.

“The only place you can make money and realise your ambition is the Premier League. You can’t take that away from clubs.”