EFL-No new league

[donnyguy61]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37998768

[The Red Baron]

As I suspected at the time, the FA's new broadcast deal for the FA Cup has killed this off.

Shaun Harvey really does need to learn the art of Stakeholder Management. He's failed to understand the FA's position in all this and the fact that they would act to protect one of their biggest assets- TV rights for the FA Cup.

It will come back in a year or two in a different guise but the person leading it will have to be better at getting their ducks in line. They could start, of course, by getting the fans onside as much as possible.

Unfortunately we do seem to be stuck with that Ugly Duckling that is the Chaka Khan Trophy. Maybe the EFL should put some effort into getting stakeholder buy-in for that before next season.

[Bentley Bullet]

I had mixed feelings about the idea. The minuses included the loss of income for clubs due to fewer games. But among the plusses were less congested fixture lists and fewer midweek games, meaning clubs would have found cup tournaments less of a detriment to progress in.

Another bonus would have been Rovers not being in the basement league!

[silent majority]

It won't come back. SH, and his fellow EFL managers told us in a recent meeting that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity to change the game. I asked him if he could create a second 'once in a lifetime' opportunity and he said no, and wouldn't want to.

[silent majority]

16.11.2016
Embargo 10am

WHOLE GAME SOLUTION STATEMENT

The EFL Board has today announced that they will cease discussions on the Whole Game Solution with immediate effect after the Football Association (FA) informed them they were no longer prepared to consider rescheduling FA Cup fixtures into midweek slots.
The decision has been taken with significant regret and disappointment and brings to an end the
EFL- led debate on the possibility of the single biggest reform of the English League structure since the inception of the Premier League in 1992.
In order for the Whole Game Solution to be viable, it required the English football authorities to look collectively at the fixture schedules and create additional weekends for League football.
However, after seeking clarification on the FA’s position following the recent announcement of their new international broadcasting deal, the EFL were informed that there was no longer a sufficient advantage for the FA in making the changes.
Shaun Harvey, EFL Chief Executive, said: “As a result of the FA’s decision, the Board has been left with no option but to end the Whole Game Solution discussions as, in its current form, it is no longer viable. If the weekend slots are not available, then there is simply no way we can meet the financial conditions (to be no worse off) as outlined at the very outset.
“The stance the FA has adopted has brought the discussions to a premature end, before fully understanding what the financial outcome from the creation of a new distribution model could be.
“If the FA are willing to change its position then we are, of course, open to re-engaging in what is a hugely important debate that was designed to help shape the future of football in this country.”
-ENDS-
Editor’s Notes:
Whole Game Solution
First announced in May 2016, the Whole Game Solution was designed to tackle some of the primary issues faced by the EFL’s 72 clubs, as well as more widely throughout football by both the Premier League and the FA.
Since the commencement of the debate in the summer, the EFL has been asking its clubs to give full consideration to a number of issues including divisional restructure and fixture scheduling. As part of the consultation, the prospect of Premier League B teams and clubs from other associations playing in the EFL were ruled out. In addition, a number of principles were established to protect the position of EFL clubs. These were:
 Clubs were to be protected financially and should have been preferably in a better financial position as a result of any changes;
 Promotion to and relegation from the Premier League would be retained at three places;
 There would be no relegation out of the EFL in season 2018/19;
 EFL clubs were required to support the final proposal.
The discussion was focused on reorganising the domestic league system into five divisions and a final proposal was due to be developed in time for February 2017 before a vote at the June 2017 EFL AGM.
Primary benefits for the EFL
 To increase distributable revenue to EFL clubs;
 To improve the format of EFL competitions;
 To improve fixture sequencing for EFL clubs;
 To maximise the number of weekend/bank holiday fixtures;
The benefits for the Professional Game
 Increasing the prospect of success for clubs in European competitions;
 Increasing the prospect of success for England Teams at all levels;
 Avoiding problematic fixture clashes with UEFA competitions;
 To create a mid-season break for international players.
About the EFL:
With 72 member clubs across three divisions, the EFL (English Football League) is the world’s original league football competition. It is the largest single body of professional clubs in European football and is responsible for administering and regulating the Sky Bet EFL, EFL Cup and Checkatrade Trophy, as well as reserve and youth football. The EFL, EFL Trust and our member clubs are at the heart of communities across the country, providing shared experiences for all and using the power of sport to improve lives.

[bobjimwilly]

The question now is: is Shaun Harvey the best person to take the EFL forward?

[Dagenham Rover]

It won't come back. SH, and his fellow EFL managers told us in a recent meeting that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity to change the game. I asked him if he could create a second 'once in a lifetime' opportunity and he said no, and wouldn't want to.

“If the FA are willing to change its position then we are, of course, open to re-engaging in what is a hugely important debate that was designed to help shape the future of football in this country.”

[silent majority]

It won't come back. SH, and his fellow EFL managers told us in a recent meeting that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity to change the game. I asked him if he could create a second 'once in a lifetime' opportunity and he said no, and wouldn't want to.

“If the FA are willing to change its position then we are, of course, open to re-engaging in what is a hugely important debate that was designed to help shape the future of football in this country.”

He's being polite, but as he expressed in our meeting it was a 'one-off' opportunity. Furthermore, as I said at the beginning, the FA had only ever been contacted as a competition organiser, not as the governing body. And neither had the National Game Board.

Far too many hurdles in such a short time span.

[The Red Baron]

If someone does want to pick up a similar plan in the future then I suspect the EFL will not want to be the ones who make all the running.

But as I said earlier, they simply HAD to have the FA onside. Maybe they thought they did, but hadn't considered the risks involved surrounding broadcast deals.

With my Project Management hat on, I'd love to conduct the post-mortem on this one!

[The Red Baron]

PS. And this probably kills off the notion of a winter break as well. For the reasons that the FA consider weekend FA Cup ties vital in selling the product to broadcasters, the same applies to the PL.

[DonnyOsmond]

Decided at the end of the day my money and not by clubs or fans opinions. Shows the state of the English game.

[The Red Baron]

The EFL don't help themselves sometimes:

http://mobile.efl.com/news/article/2016/efl-checkatrade-trophy-update-3419509.aspx

As if the publicity over WGS isn't bad enough, they decide today is a good day to dish out some fines. Ironically in most cases these will be for playing too many youngsters.

Fortunately we have managed to "box clever."

[1879Rovers]

Absolute shambles under Shaun Harvey. I await his next idiotic decision.

[The Red Baron]

Pardon the pun, but Hats off to Luton for their response.

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/luton-town-checkatrade-trophy-efl-3419548.aspx

[glosterred]

Now this has been put to bed, I wonder if this will allow those boycotting the Checkatrade games to support their team?


COYR

[The Red Baron]

Now this has been put to bed, I wonder if this will allow those boycotting the Checkatrade games to support their team?


COYR

I can't speak for others but I don't think it makes any difference. In any case, B Teams in the League have been off the agenda for a little while.

The competition is still a Dog's Breakfast, as highlighted by "Under-21" sides being allowed to play players in their 30s, while L1 & L2 sides have been punished for playing too many youngsters.

[drfchound]

Is this tournament suddenly any more credible ?

[Sammy Chung was King]

Are sky covering this cup at all?, because it wouldn't be bad on terrestrial tv.

[drfchound]

I doubt that the viewing figures would be very good.

[The Red Baron]

Are sky covering this cup at all?, because it wouldn't be bad on terrestrial tv.

Sky do cover it but they tend only to show the later stages.

[Sammy Chung was King]

I doubt that the viewing figures would be very good.

I'd watch it. I used to have setanta and watched loads of non league games on it. I preferred a lot of those games to the premier league offerings. I saw Martyn Woolford playing for York back then and a few more who are now professionals.