ChelseaBoy

Agree, Can you imagine David Sullivan and the Gold brothers turning down an invitation for West Ham to play in any ESL? No neither can I. It's the same with Leeds owners and probably half of the 14 that were so outraged not to be asked and now want the other 6 punished.... again to help their own cause not for the good of football. I am agaisnt a closed shop, but UEFA/FIFA have been proven to be corrupt so will not take any lessons from either. It is a moot point about any clubs moving South and I would have thought it will come to a head if there was a vote for Independence. Then the decision is whether you want to continue in a league operating outside of the UK?

Iterative improvement year on year and honest endevour is something good to aim for after the mess of the last 5-7 years.

And that comes down to money to attract the better players while producing quality youngsters around them. But it isn't easy. They have messed about with the structure many times over the last 10 years, but has anything really improved or actually gone backwards? Certainly Aberdeen, Hearts and Hibs have all gone backwards leaving Gers and that other lot as the only two possible SPL winners. But that in itself does not make a weak league as it;s the same in many European leagues, Portugal with Benfica or Porto, Spain with Barca and Real (occaisionally with Athletic but usually not) Germany largely Bayern, France, PSG and Italy with Juve or the two Milan sides - across Europe their isn't many leagues except the EPL that has 4 or 5 candidates for the title. How do you improve the Scottish League to make it more competative and attract more investment?

Humorous look at the weeks ESL fiasco and the other benign influences stalking football today. https://www.spiked-online.com/2021/04/22/why-i-have-finally-stopped-watching-football/ Must admit, during an Ashes series or other test match series I am so glad of a break from football and all it has become.

Never can tell for certain with UEFA - not the most transparent of organisations. "Spanish media publication Mundo Deportivo, is reporting that the Premier League Big Six teams have not withdrawn because of the pressure from fans, pundits, players, and managers. It goes on to report that the teams left the European Super League because they were ‘offered’ a lot of money by UEFA and not due to ‘threats’ from the stakeholders of the game. I wouldn't dismiss anything after the events of the last 72 hours :)

Well its not the daily star.

From Football 365. UEFA reportedly offered the Premier League clubs who signed up for the Super League ‘significant’ money to withdraw from the breakaway competition. Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham, Arsenal and Chelsea announced their intention to join the Super League on Sunday night, but have already withdrawn from the competition. The outrage of the fans, pundits, players, managers, other clubs and stakeholders is thought to have been a major factor in their decision to back out and John W Henry claims the project would never have gone ahead without the support of the Liverpool fans. But according to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo (via Caughtoffside) there was another key factor in the U-turn from the Premier League six. The report claims it wasn’t quite the righteous win for football we had hoped, with the six not reversing their decision due to ‘threats’ but because they were ‘offered a lot of money’. With the future of the Champions League and Europa League threatened, UEFA dug into their pockets for a solution. Mundo Deportivo adds that the Spanish trio of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are seen as the ‘main enemy’ of UEFA and the money was not offered to those clubs.

Naw, the money was held in trust, if the holding company disolves then the clubs get their money back. Perez just gets back Madrid's contribution.

The decision was taken by owner Roman Abramovich and the Chelsea board after witnessing negative global reaction to the Super League. There was a fear that it could do reputational damage to a club which prides itself on its anti-Semitism and community work. Questions were raised internally as to whether fans would respond to the club if it continued with a proposal which has gone down so badly. The decision was made earlier on Tuesday before protests started outside Stamford Bridge. It is understood Chelsea was not one of the main drivers of the Super League idea, but felt it had to get on board when it was presented to them late last week.

i did realise, though latterly lol

It is a moot point now, as it will not happen.

Was talking UK specific, i.e. Arsenal, Utd, Liverpool

Pat Nevin..... I'm not even mildly surprised that Chelsea have pulled out. I said yesterday morning that I didn't think they wanted to get on that train, but didn't want to get left at the station.

Stop Press...... BBC Sport understands that Chelsea are preparing documentation to request withdrawing from the European Super League.

Dont think there is that level of animosity compared with say the Glaziers or Fenway as Abramovich didnt levy the club with debt. There will be protests however as the Chelsea Independant Supporters Club is demonstrating as is two other groups. Interestingly, the supporters own the Chelsea pitch (not the stadium) and as such could take legal action against any activity that takes away domestic football from that site. The club tried to buy those shares a few years back offering £1k per share on a £100 float price.

Possibly Sky/BT would not bid, but would expect the domestic rights to be much cheaper than current rates if thoe 6 were barred in any form, the upshot is less money from TV and sponsors. You only have to look at the shirt / club sponsors to the top 6 in the PL. They are all corporate giants, whereas others in the PL have online betting and other much smaller deals. The sponsors will go where the audiance is.

Agreed, but fan base alone does not attract the sponsors. TV companies would pay half the rate now for access to the PL without those 6 in the competition. You can see by the fact that JP Morgan has put up £3.5bn and they are the first and probably not the last investor. I would hate to see this come off and think if players, managers and supporters unite they together with legislation could halt this move. Disagreed - Never want to see Sellik in the PL, and surely it would go against their Independence support for both Scotland and certainly Ireland !!!

Not forgetting the Welsh clubs operating in the English league pyramid. Personally i would love to see Rangers play in the EFL/PL at whatever level they start leaving Sellick to be the biggish fish in a tiny pond. I don't want the EFL to invite them and would hope they would refuse based on their hostility to all things British. Unfortunately, those clubs are second level appeal in terms of audiences for BT Sport. A Fenerbache v Anderlect would not cover the cost of televising it.

Can't see that happening. FFP was their shot at that and it didnt work. Through the decades there have been clubs that have had more disposible income through investment or benefactors than others. In the 30's it was Arsenal. Sunderland were once called the "The Bank of England" club back in the late 40s. Man Utd used to buy every good striker each season in the 70's and 80's and Liverpool had the Littlewoods Pools family behind them during the same period. Blackburn had access to funds in the early 90s and other clubs like Everton and Newcastle have spent the last few years trying to secure new onwers with funds, with Everton succeeding recently. What you cannot have is the tail wagging the dog, so i would stipulate that clubs (all clubs) are part of the cultural fabric of the area they operate in and have the governing bodies and governments/local authorities grant clubs special status that prevents any new owners from acting in a way that harms the supporters or the club. If it is a governing body sanctioned competition then fine, if not then the rules should prevent them taking part. We have to ensure the mainly american owners understand that European football isn't built on a franchise model and never will be. MK Dons withstanding.

I expect Sir Kier only attended Ruggers and Gymkhana's when a lad, so has no idea what he is talking about, but felt he had to comment.

The league is crazy talk, and celtic being asked is even crazier

Were you on the Buckfast Compo?

Can't see it happening as the domestic leagues will take court action. Also UEFA and FIFA will not recognise the competition.

Lol on Sutton, what a clown. Failed at Chelsea too.

Thanks, did we say £20 or a denomiation of the SNP's micky mouse currency ?