I have said it before and here again I am for the restructure of the English Football League to four divisions of 20. However, I totally agree there is no place for any involvement of the Premier League teams be it B teams or U23 squads.
The EFL clubs met to discuss the proposals for the first time on last Thursday discussing the Football League expanding their membership from 72 to 80 teams the new members coming from the National League/Conference. Clubs will vote on the planned changes in June 2017 with 2019-20 earmarked for the changes if agreed.
Before then you can expect some heated debate about the restructure. I see no reason for changes in promotion between the Premiership and Championship with the play-offs. The rest I have no idea … I read somewhere why not cancel promotion and relegation just move the teams up or down. I think that could mean eight teams demoted from the Championship making the league 16 and then adding four from Division 1. It would be an interesting season.
Lower league clubs have concerns about the financial implications of moving from 23 home games to 19 if the switch to 20 teams per division goes ahead. It will help cut the number of mid-week league games that would lead to some cash savings. Attendances tend to be higher on Saturdays making up some of the losses for playing fewer games it could work.
On a winter break, which looks more and more like happening the Championship, could well join the Premier League move towards adopting it. The lower leagues below the Championship have rejected any idea of a winter break. My comment on the subject is a simple one. I am and always will be against a winter break in football it is always touted as the saver of international football like England with win the Euro and World Cup.
I have a feeling if the Premier League do get their winter break it won’t be rest full. The club owners will probably suggest a warm weather training camp and a couple of friendlies just to get them ready for the reopening of the season.
The door for now is shut on the Old Firm clubs, Celtic and Rangers coming south of the border with a ticket to join the EFL. Being a fan of a Welsh club (Cardiff) within the English system I have always been open to it if done right. In my ideal world, they would have to start in the National Division/Conference. If they were, they would generate a large income for clubs with their fan base visiting grounds and sharing on gate money visiting Celtic and Rangers.
While all this is going on the Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish opened the old chestnut of Premier League 2. Admitting the financial ramifications of relegation from the top flight now are "scary" and believes a Premier League 2 could be an option if the gap to the Championship continues to grow. I find this very annoying with the only reason for this idea is to keep the money from TV flowing into their pockets.
When it was first talked about the teams beside the relegated three from the Premiership would go into the Premier league 2 not the Championship. The other 17 teams who would make up the league would be invited by invitation. Meaning cherry picking the bigger and well-supported clubs from the English Football League with an invite to Rangers and Celtic. I am up sure if there would be promotion/relegation between the Championship. If it were to happen, it would just be one big stitch up.
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