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Liverpool owner Henry denies relegation talks

Comment: 0 October 21st, 2011 by: admin

John Henry, the American owner of Liverpool FC, has rejected claims that a number of foreign Premier Club owners are considering an attempt to eliminate the systems of relegation and promotion.

Earlier this week League Managers’ Association chief executive Richard Bevan revealed to the public that the notion was being discussed by a number of American and Asian club owners.

Speaking to the Associated Press, Henry insisted that the allegations made by Bevan were ‘complete nonsense’, and that the idea ‘hasn’t been discussed’.

Henry’s statements go against those of Bevan, who said that the subject was indeed being talked about.  He was not specific, however, on the names of the owners considering the idea.

‘There are a number of overseas-owned clubs already talking about bringing about the avoidance of promotion and relegation in the Premier League’, Bevan had said during the Professional Players Federation conference held in London.

‘If we have four of five more new owners, that could happen,’ he added, speaking of the possibility of other clubs being sold to foreign investors.

Based on the current regulations, such a change would require the support of 14 of the 20 Premier League clubs.

It would also need the approval of the Football Association, whose permission is stated by league rules as mandatory for ‘the making and adopting of or any amendment to…promotion to and relegation from the league.’

Currently nearly half of the Premier League clubs – including Arsenal, Aston Villa, Manchester United, Sunderland, Liverpool, Blackburn and Queens Park Rangers – are under foreign ownership.

Bevan’s report has caused a number of individuals from either side of the argument to react.

Manchester United coach Sir Alex Ferguson called the idea of eliminating relegation as ‘absolute suicide for the rest of the teams in the country, particularly the Championship.’

Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore, meanwhile, had Henry’s sentiments and accused Bevan of being false.

‘There’s never been any serious debate about it at all,’ he told Sky Sports News.  ‘It’s a complete nonsensical starting point; it’s scaremongering of the worst order in my view.’

Scudamore continued, insisting that his conversations with the club owners have never seen the issue of relegation brought up.

‘You just can’t make statements without being able to back it up and I’m probably the person with the most evidence,’ he said.  ‘I speak to the clubs on a regular basis; I speak to all the owners foreign and English and there’s no appetite whatsoever.’

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