Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has admitted that he is glad the door has been opened for plans to come into force which will protect the English footballing pyramid and admits it is United’s ‘duty’ to protect smaller clubs.
Speaking ahead of his side’s important Premier League clash tomorrow against Newcastle United, Solskjaer has weighed in on the recent revelations that alongside Liverpool, United were also making plans on how to reignite top-flight English football in the wake of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
It was revealed earlier this week by the Telegraph that both United and arch-rivals Liverpool were in the process of planning ‘Project Big Picture’ which is a new proposal designed to restructure the age-old procedures of England’s top-flight footballing leagues, including the one-club, one-vote system.
The project came under intense criticism from fans, journalists and pundits who feared the Premier League giants’ ambitions of forming an exclusive ‘top-six’ hierarchy were a major threat to football’s integrity.
The @premierleague is the most vibrant, competitive elite division in the world. Drama and tests everywhere. 7-2. That special 20-club competitive dynamic and appeal risks being ruined by Glazer, Henry & Parry. So good luck to the 14 facing the damaging Big Six power grab today.
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) October 14, 2020
In addition to the above, there were also major concerns that the proposed funding to the EFL’s lower leagues were just being offered as an incentive for smaller clubs to agree to the terms within the ‘Project Big Picture’ proposal.
After increasing concerns, it was later confirmed that ‘Project Big Picture’ has been rejected and United and Liverpool’s plans will now be forced back to the drawing board, as per the Telegraph.
Speaking in a scheduled press conference earlier today, United manager Solskjaer was asked for his thoughts on the proposal, the Norweigan (as quoted by Sky Sports) said: “It’s a definite that we, as one of the bigger clubs, have a responsibility to protect the football pyramid or smaller clubs.
“I think we’ve seen lately the effect this pandemic has had on many smaller clubs.
“For me, the fans – that’s the key thing for me, that we want to get the fans back in the stadiums, which will help the other clubs.
“I’m just very glad that we’re looking into [it] and we’re trying to help, and the talks have started. And let’s make the powers that be decide how we’re going to do that.”
