Stoke boss not keen on Gartside idea

27 April 2009 11:15
Bolton chairman Gartside wants to introduce a second tier of the Premier League to offer a bigger financial safety net to clubs dropping out of the top flight.[LNB]He wants two leagues of 18 teams, with Glasgow Rangers and Celtic moving south of the border, and put forward his proposal at Thursday's chairman meeting.[LNB]Pulis has not yet spoken to his chairman, Peter Coates, about the idea and the pair will look at Gartside's plan in detail before deciding whether to back it or not.[LNB]However Pulis is not keen on Gartside's idea for only one team a season to be promoted from the Football League.[LNB]He told TEAMtalk: "The most important thing in English football is to keep the pyramid system so there is always a chance for the so-called smaller clubs to come through the leagues.[LNB]"It wasn't so long ago that Stoke City were playing in the Third Division and if there had been no promotions we wouldn't be where we are now. [LNB]"I still think we have the greatest leagues in the world. We have without doubt the deepest depth of quality and there should always be the opportunity, from non-league right the way through, to be successful.[LNB]"I think Phil Gartside is protecting himself as much as anything but I've maybe of the other view because I've worked down in the lower leagues. There are some good people down there and there should always be the opportunity for their clubs to live the dream."[LNB]Pulis is equally against the idea of inviting Rangers and Celtic to join the new league, insisting it would set a dangerous precedent.[LNB]"Where do you stop then?" he asked. "Are you going to bring Cardiff and Swansea straight in as well? Aberdeen, Hearts, Hibs? I just don't know where you stop, I mean what about the Irish clubs?"[LNB]Gartside needs the approval of the Football Association, their Scottish counterparts, the Football League and UEFA to get his controversial plan the go-ahead.[LNB][LNB]

Source: Team_Talk