Former Bolton Wanderers chairman, Phil Gartside, lost his battle with cancer yesterday. During Bolton’s 18 year Premier League tenure, Gartside wanted Celtic and Rangers in the league, as part of a reorganisation which would have seen a second tier Premier League created.
His motivation was the realisation that English football’s model was inherently dysfunctional. Teams like Bolton would over-commit to the player contracts necessary to keep them in the league, but with everyone else doing the same thing, it was only a matter of time before they finished in the bottom three. Less than 3 years since relegation Bolton face a winding-up order this month over a £2.2m debt to HMRC.
‘The Gartside Plan’ for league reorganisation found little support among his Premier League peers. Each passing TV deal poured ever-more money into the Premier League but the model remains dysfunctional. Those relegated regularly face dire consequences – and that’s before the bubble bursts.
As English and Welsh clubs who have dropped out of the Premier League continue to deal with the consequences, Europe’s mega-rich clubs are unhappy with their return from Champions League football. The relative democratisation of Champions League qualification, introduced by Michel Platini, which sees more clubs from smaller countries reach the group stage, is seen as a problem to some of Europe’s richest.
They want games against Manchester United, not Dinamo Zagreb. So do TV companies and sponsors. The football industry in Europe operates a series of EU sanctioned cartels. These sanctioned exceptions were granted on the basis that football is a sport, not a conventional business. The more top clubs act like businesses, not sporting institutions, the more reason to tear down the walls of these carters.
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Recently started posting, now and again after a wee sojourn hoping things would have settled down and the ‘nastiness’ name calling a thing of the past. However its as bad as ever. The blog is now dominated by 2 distinct camps the ‘board can do no wrong’ uber sycophants and the ‘we’re doomed’ sack the board brigade (official wing). It is becoming overly tedious bhoys.
In case anyone wishes to know my stance, I align myself with the ‘slight pessimists’ in the Celtic support , RD – wrong choice, lack of a decent scouting network, obvious poor / wrong investment in playing staff, the board ,seemingly, in collusion with those trying to re establish the old firm football order at any cost whilst, again seemingly, willing to condemn their own support at every opportunity.
THE GREEN MAN SAYS SACK THE BOARD on 12TH FEBRUARY 2016 10:00 AM
Mr Pastry
Three years ago…we were good enough to beat Barcelona…now we cant beat Malmo,Molde,Ross County, Aberdeen.
It is on the park where it matters.
As for PL…..he is being called to account because we are going backwards.
Or is he above personal responsibility?
I see the intelligentsia are clapping like seals….thats no surprise….you could tell them any old nonsense, and they will swallow it.
Me….I think you are trying too hard.
If you think your analysis will in any way stop valid criticism….you are well wide of the mark.
It just sounds like excuses.
HH
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Methinks thou doesn’t protest too much …. HH