Lower-League Clubs Criticise FL Plans

Accrington and Bradford are among the lower-league clubs to criticise the new Football League proposals for a shake-up of the professional structure in England.

Football League chief executive Shaun Harvey says the radical plans it has put forward are designed to ease the problem of fixture congestion.

But the proposals have already been criticised by owners and chairmen of lower-league sides, with Accrington Stanley owner Andrew Holt telling Sky Sports News HQ he cannot see "any sense" in them for his club, and Bradford joint-chairman Mark Lawn branding them "ridiculous" for those needing to guarantee matchday incomes.

The Football League wants the Championship, League One and League Two to become 20-team leagues , down from 24, with a new 20-team League Three added, taking the number of clubs in the structure to 100.

And Harvey says that the proposals are designed to all but end midweek league fixtures, because the Football League thinks fixture congestion is hurting the game.

"The fixture list is so congested, it may be counter-productive to the quality of the product that we are seeking to deliver," said Harvey. "Not just to the fans who turn up on a matchday, but to a wider viewing audience.

"Our rebrand is about taking the Football League international."

But Holt, the owner of League Two Stanley, thinks the plans do not make sense within the business model operated by many clubs.

"I just don't recognise it as a sensible plan," Holt told Sky Sports News HQ. "We want more games, we would rather play 50 home games.

"We need revenue, we don't want to lose any games.

"For me, our players will play as many games as we want. We pay them an annual salary, we want them to play games."

And Bradford joint-chairman Lawn said: "We've had this structure for years because it has suited the majority of clubs, so why change it?

"What they don't understand is that currently we have 23 home games. We need the crowds; we don't get the money Championship clubs get.

"Losing four home games means we lose four incomes. It's not so bad for us but for teams like Accrington and York, that's a lot of money. It's ridiculous."

However, the FA have tentatively welcomed the proposals.

A spokesman said: "We have said for some time that English football needs to look again at the congested fixture schedule for the benefit of all."