Mixed reaction to overseas plan
Sunderland manager Roy Keane has backed the new proposal
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Friday, 08, Feb 2008 05:20
The Premier League's plans to play an extra round of matches overseas from January 2011 have met with a mixed response from clubs and fans.
Yesterday, Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore announced that proposals to play one additional game per club from the 2010/11 season onwards would be examined.
The idea would mean all 20 teams are entered into a ballot to play one other club three times that season, with the extra game being hosted by a foreign city, possibly in the Far East, Australia or the United States.
Some individuals at the top clubs have pledged their wholehearted support for the proposal, including Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill who described it as "surprising and innovative".
Sunderland boss Roy Keane was also in favour of looking into the idea more closely.
"I think it's good, change is good," he said, but also highlighted one of the potential problems.
"Why not do it? As long as you don't have to play [Manchester] United, Liverpool, Chelsea or Arsenal," he continued.
"People will be critical and say there are concerns about supporters, but the way our supporters are I'm sure they will turn out in their numbers. Even if it is on the moon, they'll be there."
"If our fans get plenty of notice, you can guarantee a fair few of them will make the trip - especially of we play Newcastle."
Similarly Everton chief executive Keith Wyness has given his backing to the plan.
In a debate on TalkSport radio station, he denied accusations of American-style franchising, claiming the Premier League are "trying to think outside the box".
"It is simply a case of the fact that there is a massive global interest, whether we like it or not, in the Premier League and a lot of those fans around the world do want to watch it and be part of the experience," he explained.
"I think we would be able to do some sort of special discount packages to a lot of fans and so I know a lot of our fans would definitely want to go.
"I think that if it was happening today in the Bundesliga, or La Liga or Serie A then we would all be saying ‘well hey Premier League, you've missed an opportunity'."
However, a note of caution was sounded across the opposite side of the Mersey.
Liverpool chief exec Rick Parry called on a more in-depth look at the proposals before he would led his support.
"As a club, we would say the plans would need further examination," Parry said.
"My personal view is that it raises concerns over the integrity of the competition.
"You're talking about the introduction of a new dimension and new rules regarding playing a team three times and the seedings of certain teams."