‘Project Big Picture’ – What controversial plans mean for the future of football

Updated 11/10/2020 at 12:59 GMT

English football is reeling from Sunday’s sensational report in the Telegraph that Manchester United and Liverpool are behind plans to reshape the structure and finances of English football - but what does 'Project Big Picture' mean for the future of English football? And what exactly do the plans entail?

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer takes a selfie with Avram Glazer and Joel Glazer owners of Manchester United

Image credit: Getty Images

A report in the Telegraph claims that Manchester United and Liverpool are spearheading ‘Project Big Picture’, a move designed to radically transform the English game and accelerated by the financial crisis imposed by the coronavirus pandemic.

But what precisely does ‘Project Big Picture’ entail, and what does it mean for the English national game?

6 hours ago

Reduction in the Premier League from 20 clubs to 18
24 teams in Championship, League One and League Two, so overall professional clubs drop from 92 to 90
Two teams automatically relegated from the top flight and two promoted from the Championship. Then the 16th-placed Premier League team and third, fourth and fifth in Championship to form play-off tournament for final spot
League Cup and Community Shield abolished

£250m given to EFL to “compensate clubs for lost revenue”
£100m given to the FA to help cover losses during coronavirus pandemic
8.5% of annual net Premier League revenue to help pay for “good causes”, including the FA
25% of what remains to go to EFL clubs, with parachute payments stopped
Away tickets capped at £20