Rick Parry makes decision whether to allow Premier League B teams in the EFL

Rick Parry makes a big decision whether to allow Premier League B Teams competing in the EFL, something Pep Guardiola called for.

The idea, which was core to last year’s rejected ‘Project Big Picture’, and again reiterated by the Man City boss, who is keen on the idea to help their development of young players.

Reading on his comments and how it was reacted, it’s since decided that introducing Premier League B teams into any of the three divisions below the Premier League is “non-negotiable”, the league’s chair Rick Parry has insisted.

Parry says “I just don’t see it” as he commented on the future plans for English football in the wake of forthcoming changes to the European competition structure in 2024.

“Irrespective of my view, it is absolutely not something that our clubs have any enthusiasm for,” Parry said.

“It’s been tried. (Former FA chair) Greg Dyke tried it. (Another former FA chair) Greg Clarke introduced it at the very start of Big Picture and I said ‘that’s non-negotiable, it’s not happening’.

“Frankly, I don’t even see it being on the table. I’ve spoken quite a lot about fresh ideas, new thinking, not having preconceived ideas – but I’ve got a preconceived idea about B teams and that’s not within the boundaries.

“The strength of the EFL is that every one of our clubs sits at the heart of the community. Our clubs put almost as much emphasis on the community as they do on the first team and what happens on the pitch.

“This isn’t about B teams suddenly parachuting in because you cannot possibly replicate that, it’s just misunderstanding what the pyramid is.”

Parry, however, did confirm that “changes are coming” to the EFL Cup – currently named the Carabao Cup.

The former Liverpool chief executive asked: “Could it be that the clubs not in Europe play in it, could it just be an EFL competition? All things are possible.

“We ought to be having this debate realistically now, which is why it was part of Big Picture, because it’s going to hit us in 2024.

“There’s no point trying to have the debate in January 2024, it’s too late. We have to plan now. We have to be realistic. Changes are coming.”

Joe Bray, Manchester City writer for Manchester Evening News, gave his opinion on Pep’s proposal: For the second time in a week, Pep Guardiola has got it completely wrong when trying to discuss what’s best for Manchester City.

“Last week, he caused an unnecessary storm by calling for more City fans to turn up for the next home game. Supporters, understandably, didn’t take too kindly to their manager seemingly taking their loyal support for granted. A clarification, of sorts, was issued by the manager (but no apology) and a line has been drawn under the matter.

“Now, Guardiola has risked another controversy by reigniting a debate on introducing Premier League academy sides into the Football League.

“They’re comments that are likely to go under the radar, namely because Guardiola called popular Wycombe striker Adebayo Akinfenwa a ‘legend’ of the English game. In that assertion, he wasn’t wrong.

“Naturally, the Akinfenwa comments provide an easy – and interesting – headline from a largely unremarkable win against lower league opposition. Fans should be concerned, though, with Guardiola’s decision to bring up a radical restructure of English football. Again.

“In short, Guardiola has misjudged another complicated issue, with his Blue-tinted glasses looking only with Manchester City’s interests in mind.

“Adding under-23 sides to the EFL pyramid would have far more dangerous consequences for the English game than any benefits City would gain. It should be seen as a proposal just as concerning to every English football fan as the European Super League plans were.

“There is, of course, a precedent of academy sides playing league opposition in the controversial EFL Trophy. It’s a competition City have been relatively successful in since taking part, and the experience of facing professional players rather than fellow teenagers has been undoubtedly beneficial for the youngsters at City.

“On the other side of those games, though, is an apprehension from league clubs and a strong unpopularity from EFL fans. Games against academy sides result in consistently low attendances for EFL clubs at a time when they need any penny they can get. Only 860 watched this season’s win at Scunthorpe, and 1,802 were at Doncaster for City’s defeat on Tuesday. Both were comfortably the lowest attendances of the season for those league sides by some margin.

“For a supporter of a league club, playing a Premier League academy holds no appeal, and a night in watching Sky Sports is far more appetising – even in spite of reduced admission prices for those games. Holding such fixtures on a regular basis in a league format would inevitably result in lower incomes for proud, historic league clubs when they need to build support the most.

“City only have to look around Greater Manchester to see the perilous financial positions of their EFL neighbours. Oldham fans are in civil war with their ownership and are rooted to the bottom of the Football League, while Rochdale have had to stave off a hostile takeover this summer after relegation to the fourth tier. Bury couldn’t survive their own financial problems, neither could Macclesfield, while Bolton and Wigan are only just recovering from serious threats to their own existences.

“Guardiola’s idea would make it even tougher for clubs up against it. Clubs who have given City a number of talented players and staff in recent years, and helped develop some of their brightest youngsters. Clubs who have been more successful than City as recently as the start of the century, and who have bruised the Blues’ ego when coming toe to toe on a level playing field in various competitions.

“Forcing academy sides into their leagues would be an act of complete arrogance from an elite club who often do well to remember their roots from the same leagues Guardiola would like to rip up and restructure. 20 years ago, it would be City opposing such plans.

“It’s worth remembering that Guardiola did clarify that he is not here to change anything when raising the issue. But it’s not the first time he’s brought it up. The idea of ‘B Teams’ is commonplace in Spain, and Barcelona B was his breakthrough in coaching. It is part of the culture in Spain and has a workable place in a country with a smaller league pyramid than England.

“There is also some merit to the ideas. City’s youngsters are too good for the academy leagues, and there’s not an opportunity to slowly incorporate them into the first team. City have done well to develop youngsters in senior training, resulting in six debuts on Tuesday, and they have used the loan market to develop other talents well.

“But what Greater Manchester does not need is more clubs. The struggles of those that are still standing show there are arguably too many already. City’s success – and that of United, too, of course – is enough of a competition to these EFL clubs.

“If Guardiola really understands City fans, as he claims, he should also understand the passion that exists further afield in lower leagues. Therefore, he should be aware of how dangerous ‘B Teams’ would be to the EFL pyramid. He can’t keep using City’s journey through the leagues as evidence of their proud history while simultaneously advocating a plan that would threaten the existence of many clubs in the same position City have been. He can’t praise the likes of Wycombe and Cheltenham and Burton while also supporting measures that would make those clubs less competitive.

“As the European Super League backlash showed, football fans value the history and tradition of the sport in this country. They won’t let the big corporations who sit at the top of the Premier League put that under threat, even if they support one of those clubs.

“Maybe City should continue to do what big clubs have always done. Use the EFL to blood their young talent with loans, giving them that regular exposure to men’s football, just as Guardiola wants.

“Guardiola has identified a problem with a clear solution – help yourself and help the EFL clubs through the loan system at the same time. The game time he wants for his youngsters exists through carefully-planned loans.

“Replacing those clubs and providing direct competition to them is absolutely not the answer. Guardiola should know better.”

Fans gave their reaction as Rick Parry makes a decision whether to allow Premier League B teams in the EFL…

@B_and_A_Fanzine: Would love the answer to be EFL owners seeing disastrous attendances in EFL trophy this season now fans are back have forced his hand to make a commitment… But I doubt it

@k_w_a_k: It is good that even someone as appalling as Parry has to pretend he is against B-teams in the league. Wouldn’t trust him on anything, ever, mind. But it shows the strength of feeling against the shitty idea, that he feels he can’t go against.

@VintageCobbler: Parry should have departed in disgrace after the ESL fiasco. Not fit for purpose and not suitable for the EFL.

@uglygame: I would never sell out the EFL, says man who worked on secret plan to give the Big 6 total control of English football.

@jwar123: Don’t trust any of to them.

@mdaniel8812: League Cup could easily be all Non-Euro premier league teams, topped up with the top 6/7 from the national league if needs be. Would give loads of clubs the chance of a wembley final.

@Emzyl23: Rightly so, shit needs to stay far away from English football.

@Calvey94: Taking out all of the clubs in Europe or all of the PL sides would destroy the league Cup, it would quickly mirror the Trophy with clubs not bothered and TV money for the EFL being slashed as Sky won’t want to pay the money they do now for it

@CAFCbigC: Bring back a proper reserve league .. like the old combination the prem league under 23 can play in that

@Jannetts_: I think there’s merit to the idea, playing EFL first teams is better for player development than youth sides. Villa have one of the best crops of youth in the country and they’re the best U21 side in the EFL trophy so far. Great learning for them so I think the trophy should stay

@watson_THFC: Yes but the football league isnt just for premier league clubs to use to improve their youth sides. The 72 clubs already in it have their own following and dont want prem youth teams dropped into their league and thats fair enough

@stephenharkin1: It’s shit. They bring virtually no away support. Totally spoils the atmosphere.

@aboxer11:
PL Owners: Us big teams need more money, we’re going to break-away.
PL Owners: Us big teams are worried about the integrity of the League because of wealthier owners coming in.
PL Owners: Us big teams want B Teams in the EFL.
Can we just enjoy what we have?

@BenTheRover97: Good, Pep can piss off

@tractor_girl99: I bloody hope not Let’s not ruin the dreams of non league clubs wanting to get into the EFL

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— G (@fentonpompey) October 11, 2021