• Premier League

Foreign owners want relegation scrapped - Bevan

ESPNsoccernet staff
October 17, 2011
Richard Bevan has sounded a warning for the future of the Premier League relegation system © PA Photos
Enlarge

League Managers' Association chief executive Richard Bevan has warned that some foreign owners of Premier League clubs want to scrap relegation from the top flight.

With the number of foreign owners increasing in recent years, half of the clubs currently in the top half of the Premier League are internationally owned. Bevan is concerned the growing numbers could see them succeed in forcing through a vote to abolish relegation and promotion.

Bevan is hoping that can be prevented by the recent parliamentary inquiry into football governance, which recommended the Football Association adopts a licensing system for clubs.

Speaking at the Professional Players Federation conference in London, Bevan said: "We're very keen that the recent DCMS report is successful in helping the FA get to a stage where they've got a licensing programme for clubs.

"There are a number of overseas-owned clubs already talking about bringing about the avoidance of promotion and relegation in the Premier League. If we have four or five more new owners, that could happen."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Close

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices