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    Ed Woodward refutes Project Big Picture “power grab” suggestions

    PBP included propositions for a considerable improving of English football.

    Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward stated Project Big Picture was “not a behind closed doors power grab” at a recent fans online forum conference.

    PBP, which United and Liverpool assisted establish, included propositions for a considerable improving of English football, and a ₤ 250million rescue plan for EFL clubs to improve them in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic.

    There was criticism of the project for appearing to focus excessive power in the hands of the ‘big 6’.

    Manchester United and Liverpool assisted establish the strategy (Martin Rickett/PA)

    Information ended up being public on October 11, and 3 days later on it was all concurred by Premier League clubs that they would not back the plans, as they rather continued deal with a “strategic plan” including all 20 teams.

    A proposed ₤ 50m rescue plan for League One and League 2 was declined by EFL clubs in mid-October, prior to it was revealed on Thursday that the Premier League and EFL had actually concurred a ₤ 250m plan.

    Speaking at the fans’ online forum event on November 20, minutes from which were posted on United’s website on Thursday, Woodward stated: “We have actually been pressing the remainder of the Premier League to supply emergency situation help to the EFL on a no-strings-attached basis and we will also stay at the leading edge of conversations about reforms to enhance the long-term financial sustainability of the whole English football pyramid.

    ” A strong Premier League and a financially robust and sustainable pyramid are both important to the health of the national game which’s the concept we will continue to pursue within the tactical review recently introduced by the Premier League.

    ” Those goals were at the heart of our participation inProject Big Picture It is essential to show that this was an operate in development. It was not a behind closed doors power grab; only draft propositions and a conversation file.

    “The next step would have been to roll them out to all stakeholders in search of consensus.”

    Woodward also discussed United being “at the centre” of conversations about the future of European club competitions, stating: “The majority of my time in this regard is focused … on the conditioning of existing UEFA club competitions.

    ” The dialogue concentrates on them continuing to be primarily midweek games having little or no influence on the Premier League. Our company believe that any changes to European competition post -2024 should be complementary to flourishing domestic leagues.

    “Other domestic leagues feel the same way, reflected in conversation with our counterparts in other clubs and countries. We expect progress with UEFA through the ECA (European Club Association) to be made in coming months.”

    Arsenal invited fans back to the Emirates Arena on Thursday (Adam Davy/PA)

    Fans have actually started to go back to some arenas on a restricted basis this week after the nation went into a tier system once again, although games at Old Trafford– as a tier 3 venue– stay behind closed doors.

    Woodward stated at the fans online forum that United were “confident in our ability to host fans in a safe, socially-distanced environment once we get the go-ahead.”

    Woodward also worried the belief there was at the club in boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

    United’s most recent game had actually seen them bounce back from beats to Arsenal and Istanbul Basaksehir with a 3-1 win at Everton– they have actually consequently beaten West Brom, Basaksehir and Southampton prior to losing 3-1 to Paris St Germain on Wednesday.

    “We recognise there’s more hard work ahead to achieve the consistency needed to win trophies,” Woodward stated.

    Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has the assistance of Ed Woodward (Martin Rickett/PA)

    “But we see positive signs on the pitch and the training ground that reinforce our belief in the progress being made by Ole, his coaching team and the players.”

    He added: “I informed this online forum in April that we stayed dedicated to enhancing the squad, while being disciplined in our costs during the pandemic.

    ” I think we have actually provided on that, with the additions we made during the summer taking our overall net costs to over 200m euros (₤ 180m) since summer 2019– more than any other major European club over that duration.

    “We will continue to support Ole with a planned, long-term approach to recruitment, focused on the summer windows.”

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