THE PHOENIX LEAGUE (Birmingham United F.C.)

Member Name: C_Padd

Product:	Birmingham United F.C.
Date:	04/12/01 (41 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: see advantages

Disadvantages: see disadvantages

First an apology, this opinion will not simply be about Birmingham City Football club, more about a new proposed system that could rearrange the football league as we know it. The new program goes by the name of the Phoenix league, Birmingham are apparently going to one of the forerunners for the new league, and I have some rather strong feelings about them in particular. So basically this is another excuse for me to have a go at something, enjoy!

Like I say there is a new proposed system that could promise to make the most drasric changes since the introduction of the Premiership. It is pretty common knowledge that the amount of money in football is phenomenally large. TV rights have exploded, which was the basis of forming the Premiership to make an exclusive league for the cream of English football. Unfortunately over the last few years the gap between the Premiership and the other leagues has got increasingly large. To do this, these are the supposedly proposed changes, but there has been no official guidelines as yet.

o There would be two tiers of top football, both of around 20 teams both the Premiership. The first league would be the top league with the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and so on competing for Europe. The second level would be a combined team with the top first division teams and lesser Premiership clubs like Bolton, Ipswich, Wolves, Palace and Coventry. Rangers and Celtic may also join the new setup.

o Promotion and relegation between the two would be the same, but the implications would be less severe, less gaps between the wealth of clubs or TV money. Relegation would not be such a large risk or send clubs out of control like Crystal Palace

o The rest of the teams could be split into three regional divisions, effectively the south, north and midlands. Promotion could take the top team into the second tier of the Premiership and there would still be the same structure for relegation, only con
ference teams would fare better as there would be three promotion places


The Phoenix league may come into effect within the next few years if it is a success in negations. The existing TV deals would have to be re-negotiated, probably ending in a fairer deal for all clubs. BSkyB and ITV currently hold the contracts though they should be the main contenders there may be some more bidding. With the failure of ITV to show the second and third division games and poor viewing figures for their live games then the amount of money on offer could be reduced. This would be a poor deal for the lower clubs who depend on this money to survive. The top two leagues may also become isolated in the same way that the Premiership is to division one now, so again the lesser clubs may not be too happy. The theory of the split leagues would allow progress between the divisions quickly if the clubs can get their acts together, with good tactics, managers and players. It would be more targeted towards a Wimbledon rise than a Fulham style rise to the top. Of course the bigger teams will be less likely to want to share the money they currently get, some have worked hard for it and will not give it up without a fight. Either way it is now going to be an easy decision, and I can see a lot of careful negotiating in the near future.

Now onto Birmingham City. The forerunners from division one that want to start up the new Phoenix league are apparently Manchester City, Coventry, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Bradford City, and Birmingham. Wolves were one of the top teams of the 1970s having success in England and Europe, while still to this day have been consistent in the top divisions. Manchester City are new to the first division after a long time in the Premiership before slipping down into division two was a minor hitch. Bradford have enjoyed two seasons in the last three in the Premiership, while Coventry were only relegated last season. That leaves Birmingham:

B
irmingham have never played in the Premiership since it came into being in 1992. Such clubs as Oldham and Swindon have, surely that should give them more of a say in this matter than Birmingham. Ok, so they have both faded away to the second division but they have played there longer than Birmingham have. Birmingham’s last final appearance was the aptly named ‘Worthless Cup’, which they still could not win. They have not put in any really notable FA Cup runs, while their league form leaves a lot to be desired. Also in the last five seasons Birmingham have made the playoffs to get into the Premiership, but they have lost them all. At least they are consistent. Seriously they have a poor record of not playing top class football, other teams have a better claim and there are better teams like Burnely, Palace, Preston or even West Brom have a better claim for the Phoenix league front runners, Birmingham should stop this and let others who can lead the race.

In their defense Birmingham have got a good side, and are one of the teams to beat, this year and in others in the first division. They are consistently near the playoffs, just lacking that punch and luck to get them into the Premiership. They are based in Birmingham, one of the biggest and most expanding cities in the UK, and have a great loyal fan base with the ground to hold a lot of people. I still believe that it is a bit rich for them to be leading the way when they have very little in the way of a record at the very top of the English game.

Back to the Phoenix league I can see plenty of advantages and disadvantages to it: -

Advantages:

1. There would be a much smaller gap between the Premiership and the first division. Relegation from the top would not be such a disaster, and less dangerous financially for clubs who could go bust from the pressures the Premiership puts on clubs. Overall there would be less divisions, and fairer payouts to all clubs from T
V money

2. The potential regional divisions would mean less traveling to long away matches and produce more local derbys. This would give more money to clubs, and make better watching for fans. This is not strictly a part of the proposed Phoenix leagues, but I like the idea, and I think it would go well with the new system and I am not the only one to think this.

3. Rangers and Celtic may potentially join. I would be interested to see how well they cope, I think they would flop only Larsson and a few others are capable of playing in the Premiership while others like Sutton and Thompson are former rejects.

4. Clubs can still get success if they have the right aims. There system promotes excellence, and will lead to fierce competition for promotion slots as there will be less chances to go up. Clubs will have to invest more in quality management and youth players, which again will lead to more interesting games for the supporters

Disadvantages:

1. I fear the new system could leave more clubs isolated than before. The clubs below the two Premierships will be cut off from the rest of the teams, and though there is less of a gap between the top two leagues, there will be an even greater gap between the rest. It could also be a selfish attempt by clubs (like Birmingham) to get themselves in on the act, not thinking about others.

2. The bigger clubs will be reluctant to give up their larger share of the TV money to share with the other teams. Likewise the smaller clubs may end up getting a bad deal as TV money falls.

3. It would not be the same. I cannot remember when the leagues changed last time for the Premiership, I was too young, but I can anticipate the confusion and mess the changes could potentially make. It would just not be the same as I remember it. Silly reason really, maybe I just don’t like change.

To be honest the Phoenix league may just be an illusion and could never happen.
If it does there could be a load of advantages and just as many advantages. It will be a fair deal for a lot of people, but as in human nature people are always going to get greedy and some will always be deprived. Some peoples ideas of spreading the wealth is just adding a few more people to the rich bunch. Sorry to any Birmingham fans who I have insulted, it really was a cheep excuse to get this opinion in. Any comments welcome on other peoples views, Chris

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