FA chairman Greg Clarke calls for 'unity and transparency' amid Project Big Picture talks

Clarke says talk of a breakaway league was mooted during talks in the spring.
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FA chairman Greg Clarke has called for unity and transparency among clubs in the wake of Project Big Picture being leaked, while also revealing a breakaway league has been mooted by sides in the past.

In a letter to the FA Council, who are due to meet on Thursday, Clarke explained his concerns regarding the proposals of Project Big Picture.

The plan, devised by Liverpool and Manchester United, would see EFL clubs receive a £250million bail-out, but at the expense of power being in the hands of the Premier League’s ‘Big Six’.

Clarke has now called for unity and transparency regarding the current crisis, adding too that everyone must think long-term rather than short.

The FA chairman has also revealed how a breakaway league has been a mooted threat in the past.

“To maintain this position, it is important that we all work together,” wrote Clarke in a open letter published on Tuesday.

“Both the Premier League and the FA support a wide-ranging discussion on the future of the game, including its competition structures, calendar and overall financing, particularly in light of the effects of COVID-19.

“Our perspective is that we have a fantastic league structure and pyramid that is the envy of the world. While we should always be open to evolve, to move the game forwards, changes have to be done in the right way and with a long-term perspective in mind.

“We are fully aware that there are huge financial pressures throughout the game and collectively we need to work hard so that our clubs survive the pandemic. However, we must separate this need from discussions about the potential long-term structure of our wonderful game.

“With the knowledge of senior Board members and our CEO, I participated in the early stages of discussions which were disclosed last weekend. It is very important stakeholders discuss resolving some of the strategic issues facing our game such as, for example, fixture congestion.

“However, in late spring, when the principal aim of these discussions became the concentration of power and wealth in the hands of a few clubs with a breakaway league mooted as a threat, I of course, discontinued my involvement and counselled a more consensus-based approach involving all Premier League clubs and its Chair and CEO. Our game needs to continually seek to improve but benefits need to be shared.

“We, the FA Board and Council, have to ensure that any changes would be to the long-term benefit of the whole of football and we have substantial controls to help ensure that the best interests of the game are served by any new proposals.

“In addition, to the Special Share in the Premier League, which prevents certain changes being made to the constitution without the FA’s consent, it is also the FA’s responsibility to sanction competitions in England – including any proposed new competition – as well as being responsible for licensing clubs, through UEFA, to play in Europe. Additionally, UEFA look to us to nominate the league, and therefore the clubs, that will play in their competitions.

“Let’s continue to work together to determine what is best for English football, with full dialogue between all key stakeholders.

“However, there is more to our game than economics. Change must benefit clubs, fans and players; not just selective balance sheets. In these difficult times unity, transparency and common purpose must override the interests of the few.”

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