Premier League clubs reject Project Big Picture plans led by Manchester United and Liverpool during two-hour emergency meeting as top-flight sides agree to a strategy review and to make another bailout offer to the EFL
- 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’
Premier League clubs have rejected the Project Big Picture 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 on Wednesday.
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 met on Wednesday to discuss Project Big Picture for the first time
Liverpool owner John W Henry (L) and Manchester United’s Joel Glazer (R) are behind the plans
Liverpool and Manchester United, as well as EFL chairman Rick Parry, are behind a radical restructure to English football that would bring increased funding for the EFL, reduce the top flight from 20 to 18 and scrap the Carabao Cup among other things.
But the proposal also outlines how the Premier League’s ‘Big Six’ would acquire more power in decision-making and that has caused anger within the top flight and other levels of the football pyramid.
According to The Times, the new EFL bailout offer will include ‘an option for the funding only to go to the League One and League Two clubs’ but Championship teams can veto that.
Premier League clubs will offer a £50m bailout to help struggling League One and Two clubs, according to The Sun.
The EFL rejected the Premier League’s initial £150million rescue package – a £40m grant and £110m loan dependent on a series of conditions.
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.
Liverpool and United’s owners held conversations with EFL boss Rick Parry over the plans
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.
The Times also claim 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.
