Gartside plan to revolutionise the Premier League – not likely to happen though

This coming Thursday could see the beginnings of a major change at the top of the English game. The Premier League chairmen will discuss a plan to increase the Premier League to two divisions. Each division would contain sixteen teams and included within those thirty-two teams would be Scotland’s old firm pair of Celtic and Rangers.

Brain-child

The plan is the brain-child of Bolton chairman Phil Gartside and for it to become a reality, he will need the support of at least fourteen of the twenty Premier League chairmen on Thursday.

The main benefits of the plan seem to be that the top players would be playing less games and there would be more free weekends for International preparation and games. It would also be financially better for the teams who currently drop out of the Premiership and face a potentially fatal drop in income.

Competitive

Other benefits include the fact that the age old arguments about how Scotland’s big two would fare in England would be finally answered and the increase in money for those two clubs might make them more competitive in Europe. The increase in revenue that the old firm would bring will go some way to make up the money clubs would lose by twelve more teams coming under the Premier League umbrella.

It all sounds pretty good, but is it likely to happen?

Well, there are one or two obstacles in the way. UEFA have always said that teams will not be allowed to play in Leagues outside their own country. That is a strange stance to take as Welsh clubs like Cardiff and Swansea already play in the English leagues. However, it is a stance they have consistently taken.

Guaranteed

Although there would be many benefits for Celtic and Rangers, they would, of course, not have their guaranteed European qualification every year as they do now.

Another minor obstacle is that the Football Association, the Scottish Football Association and the Football League would all have to give their approval as well. I can’t see that happening.

Also, clubs such as Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal would almost certainly lose income if the plan came to fruition and are therefore pretty unlikely to vote in it’s favour.

Unlikely

Other clubs who feel that their Premier League status is pretty secure would also be unlikely to think it is a good idea. In fact, the only chairmen likely to support the proposal are those in similar positions to Mr Gartside.

We shall all have to watch this space but I doubt whether anything is likely to change in the short term or even the medium term.