Member

For many of us, it is evident that there are issues to be debated about the present state of the game. Without being dragged too far into the detail, there are some stresses and strains in the pyramid today. On the positive side, several smaller clubs with limited spectator revenues are now performing well in the Premier League, and we continue to see remarkable attendance rates at matches and television viewing figures. Matches, as has been said today, are generally finely balanced. Despite this, it remains very difficult for all but a few Premier League clubs to make an impact on the top six positions of the league. For the second season in a row, it is likely that the three promoted teams will be relegated after one season in the Premier League; and, as last year, the combined number of points of the bottom three teams could be heading very close to a record low. These are signs that the competitive balance is moving in the wrong direction with regard to individual leagues and the Premier League as relative to the Championship.