“This is a real opportunity, a historic moment to re-set the recklessness that has existed in the game.”
Gary Neville has suggested that English football has a “real opportunity” to seize back control from the Premier League’s big six clubs.
The ex-Manchester United defender’s comments come after former Sports Minister Tracey Crouch’s fan led review, which recommended changes including appointing an independent regulator, a Premier League transfer levy, golden shares and fan accountability.
Neville – who is a part owner of League Two side Salford City – has backed the review, stating that it can create a ‘reset’ for football following the European Super League saga.
The 46-year-old, who is part of the ‘The Saving the Beautiful Game Group’ action group, has been critical of the owners of United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham, Arsenal and Chelsea in the past.
Now, he has said that an independent regulator is crucial to stop Premier League clubs pulling the strings.
“Joel Glazer, Roman Abramovich, Stan Kroenke, Sheikh Mansour, JW Henry and Daniel Levy should not be in charge of English football,” said Neville, as per The Mirror.
“Does anybody in this country think that those six people should have the biggest influence on the running of English football? Absolutely not.
“They are massive players in the game. They’re at the heart of the quality that we see every single week. But the Premier League can’t even control the Premier League clubs at this moment in time.”
Been so busy talking about the Fan Led Review into Football Governance that I've not actually had the chance to tweet the link to the Report! Here it is! If you haven't got time to read 162 pages (boooo) skip to Annex A to see the full recs https://t.co/Z5bbW66uwG
— Tracey Crouch (@tracey_crouch) November 25, 2021
While the ten per cent transfer levy – which would bring in around £150m-a-year from deals – would potentially be difficult to enforce, it would be a lifeline for League One and Two clubs, as well as teams at grassroots level.
However, some Premier League clubs are thought to be unhappy that there is an expectation for them to ‘bail out’ poorly-ran EFL while they already make substantial solidarity payments.
Neville added: “I would expect the Regulator to come down really hard in respect of if EFL clubs are not able to financially control, monitor and track to ensure sustainable football. I’m not expecting the money to just wash down from the Premier League into an abyss again.
“This is a real opportunity, a historic moment to re-set the recklessness that has existed in the game, chasing that Premier League ‘Golden Ticket’ that brings desperation, so that now clubs leaving the Premier League each season, and not just in a sporting objective disappointed but almost financially devastated.
“We’ve got to take that away and this is a real opportunity to correct that desperation that exists within the game. So that all we see with promotion and relegation and disappointment and elation in a sporting sense and not a financial one.”
Related links:
- Redknapp and Richards joke that Neville and Keane could take over at Man Utd
- Friends x Man United mash-up feat. Gary Neville and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
- Inter Miami manager Phil Neville axes 10 players, but promotes son into first-team
