Source: Team_Talk
Gartside seeking support for idea
Gartside is set to make his proposals to Thursday's chairman's meeting after months of behind-the-scenes negotiations.
Believing there is a significant body of Premier League clubs fearful of their futures should they get relegated out of the top flight at some stage, the Bolton chairman is set to put forward a plan that would see a second tier added to the competition, including the introduction of Glasgow giants Celtic and Rangers.
In theory, the addition of Scotland's big two should generate more enthusiasm from broadcasters, allowing the Premier League to make up the financial shortfall that would inevitably follow the addition of an extra 16 teams to the current 20, making up two leagues of 18.
It would also offer a safety net for clubs, such as Bolton, who are involved in an annual scrap for safety.
Given Charlton were on Saturday relegated to League One, with at least one former Premier League club set to join them, the laudable aim of reducing the vast gulf in income between the top two divisions certainly has merit.
Presently the Premier League make parachute payments to relegated clubs of £11.5m a season for two seasons if they fail to bounce back in those seasons.
The figure is supposed to compensate in a shortfall in income from the Premier League, whose current TV deal is worth £1.8billion over three years, seven times the Football League's £88million annual contract.
However, there are a significant number of obstacles that would need to be overcome, not least getting the agreement of the Football Association, their Scottish counterparts, the Football League and UEFA, all of whom would have to give their approval.
Whether the inclusion of Celtic and Rangers could create a greater revenue stream from broadcasters is open to considerable debate given Setanta are experiencing major problems honouring all their present contracts, even if the Premier League and FA remain in a reasonably strong position with the Irish-based broadcaster.
In addition, UEFA president Michel Platini seems unlikely to sanction any alteration to the status quo and still allow Celtic and Rangers to qualify for Europe.
Platini did offer special dispensation to Cardiff last year when they reached the FA Cup Final but that was based on the amount of time the Bluebirds have been part of the English league.
It is also by no means certain Gartside could generate the support of 14 Premier League clubs as required under statute, given the 'big four' would almost certainly reject the idea as it would affect their income.
Others, such as Aston Villa, Tottenham and FA Cup semi-finalists Everton, may take a dim view of the idea too given it is unlikely they would ever go down, although the same could also have been said of Newcastle until this season's disastrous effort.
Yet even clubs such as Fulham and Wigan, whose owner Dave Whelan has campaigned for a salary cap, may find it difficult to accept such an idea as, while happy for the change, may struggle to cope with a large cut in TV money, which makes up the bulk of their overall revenue, knowing all current contracts would still have to be honoured.
"We haven't seen any proposal and therefore are unable to comment," said a Premier League spokesman.
