Woodward: Project Big Picture was not ‘behind closed doors power grab’

Joe Williams
Ed Woodward Man Utd

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

PBP, which United and Liverpool helped develop, included proposals for a significant reshaping of English football, and a £250million rescue package for EFL clubs to boost them amid the coronavirus pandemic.

There was criticism of the project for appearing to concentrate too much power in the hands of the ‘big six’.


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Details became public on October 11, and three days later it was unanimously agreed by Premier League clubs that they would not endorse the plans, as they instead continued work on a “strategic plan” involving all 20 teams.

A proposed £50m rescue package for League One and League Two was rejected by EFL clubs in mid-October, before it was announced on Thursday that the Premier League and EFL had agreed a £250m package.

Speaking at the fans’ forum event on November 20, minutes from which were posted on United’s website on Thursday, Woodward said: “We have been pushing the rest of the Premier League to provide emergency assistance to the EFL on a no-strings-attached basis and we will also remain at the forefront of discussions about reforms to improve the long-term financial sustainability of the entire English football pyramid.

“A strong Premier League and a financially sustainable and robust pyramid are both crucial to the health of the national game and that’s the principle we will continue to pursue within the strategic review recently launched by the Premier League.

 

“Those objectives were at the heart of our involvement in Project Big Picture. It’s important to reflect that this was a work in progress. It was not a behind closed doors power grab; only draft proposals and a discussion document.

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

Woodward also spoke about United being “at the centre” of discussions about the future of European club competitions, saying: “Most of my time in this regard is focused…on the strengthening of existing UEFA club competitions.

“The dialogue focuses on them continuing to be predominantly midweek games having little or no impact on the Premier League. We believe that any changes to European competition post-2024 must be complementary to thriving 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.”