FA plan ‘will rip out beating heart’ of British football
Luton Town Managing Director Gary Sweet warns that the “beating heart” of football will be “ripped out” if the FA implements a Premier League for B teams.
It doesn’t matter how smart the England kit is, or how many gold stars it may show if the beating heart is ripped out of the body wearing it
— Luton Town FC (@LTFC_Official) May 8, 2014
His comments came after FA Chairman Greg Dyke unveiled new proposals aimed at boosting the number of English players at top flight football, including the introduction of Premier League B teams by 2016-17.
The controversial proposal would be establishing a new League Three in 2016-17 made up of 10 Premier League B teams and 10 teams from the Conference.
Many clubs at the top and bottom of the professional game however have already expressed deep reservations about that plan.
‘Beating heart’
Luton Town Managing Director Sweet tweeted: “It doesn’t matter how smart the England kit is, or how many gold stars it may show, if the beating heart is ripped out of the body wearing it.”
In a cheeky tweet, the club also posted a YouTube video of highlights from their 7-0 win against Arsenal youth team last year.
WATCH: Luton 7-0 Arsenal XI – The goals: http://t.co/k99RRonjBy.
— Luton Town FC (@LTFC_Official) May 8, 2014
In terms of home-grown players allowed in each Premier League squad, the commission recommends a phased reduction in the number of non home-grown players in top-flight squads from 17 to 12 – starting in 2016/17 and reaching that target by 2021.
There is a lot of interest and enthusiasm from the big clubs for this – Greg Dyke
Mr Dyke told a news conference at Wembley that Liverpool, the two Manchester clubs, Stoke and Tottenham had all expressed interest in the plan for B teams in a new league.
He said: “There is a lot of interest and enthusiasm from the big clubs for this. Liverpool, the Manchester clubs, Stoke, Tottenham – they have no problems with me mentioning them on this – so quite a lot of clubs recognise the problem they have got.
‘Black hole’ of English football
“The evidence from clubs combined with our own investigations is the lack of playing opportunities for young English players aged between 18 and 21.
“Many of the clubs we spoke to called this the ‘Bermuda Triangle’ or ‘black hole’ of English football. The gap between the academy and the first team has widened significantly in 20 years.
“A B team is distinct from a feeder club, it is part of that club and as a result of having B teams 18 to 21-year-olds Spanish players play two and half times more competitive football than their English counterparts.”
In terms of work permits, the commission proposes a cap on two non-EU players per squad, and that no players on overseas visas should be allowed to play below the Premier League, nor loaned to any other club in England.
‘Elite player development’
Following the publication of the report, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Sport, Clive Efford, said: “This report focuses the majority of its attention at elite player development – but without improving facilities and the quality of coaching at the grass roots throughout our communities this will all come to nothing.”
“At a time when the wealth in the game has been growing at an eye-watering rate investment in grass roots has been going down.
“This cannot continue and the FA and the Premier League cannot continue to get away with this.”
