Has anyone seen Sir Ian's article in Sunday Telegraph, ( under premium articles so cannot access it online, but read in paper).
His plan is to extend number of prem teams to 14, playing in 2 conferences of 7. The only difference being that there would only be 12 matches over 14 weeks, followed by play offs; he thinks top 8, but I think top 6, would mean benefit for winning conference and leaves bottom 8 to play for the final Euro spot.
His idea is to reduce the number of matches played to protect the players welfare, but I am in general favour of it as it would mean smaller squad size, and bigger crowds, (easier to sell big matches). Also there would be no overlap with international matches, so those players would not be missing from important club matches at that time, (I cannot believe that the top 2 teams from last year played a league match during 6N).
His plan is:-
Weeks 1-4 Premiership 4 rounds
Weeks 5-7 European competition
Weeks 8-11 development competition with no internationals (IM suggests Anglo-American comp)
Week 8 prep week for internationals players
Weeks 9-11 autumn internationals
Weeks 12-15 Premiership 4 rounds
Weeks 16-18 European competition
Weeks 19-26 development competition second block of fixtures
Week 19 prep week for 6N players
Weeks 20-26 6N
Weeks 27-32 premiership 6 rounds
Week 33 development competition play off 1
Week 34 Premiership play off 1 2Av3B, 2Bv3A, 4Av7B, 4Bv7A, 5Av6B, 5Bv6A
Week 35 European competition play off 1
Week 36 development semi finals
Week 37 Premiership play off 2, 1Av'2B', 1Bv'2A', 4Av5B, 4Bv5A
Week 38 European semi finals
Week 39 development final
Week 40 Premiership final
Week 41 European final
This fits with the September to June season the clubs want and would mean a maximum of 32 matches for any player the current set maximum.
It would also mean that except for injury or performance all players would be eligible to play in all Premiership and European matches for clubs.
Maybe if the other 2 leagues followed suit, (they have 14 teams in each league) then a proper season structure could be put in place.
His plan is to extend number of prem teams to 14, playing in 2 conferences of 7. The only difference being that there would only be 12 matches over 14 weeks, followed by play offs; he thinks top 8, but I think top 6, would mean benefit for winning conference and leaves bottom 8 to play for the final Euro spot.
His idea is to reduce the number of matches played to protect the players welfare, but I am in general favour of it as it would mean smaller squad size, and bigger crowds, (easier to sell big matches). Also there would be no overlap with international matches, so those players would not be missing from important club matches at that time, (I cannot believe that the top 2 teams from last year played a league match during 6N).
His plan is:-
Weeks 1-4 Premiership 4 rounds
Weeks 5-7 European competition
Weeks 8-11 development competition with no internationals (IM suggests Anglo-American comp)
Week 8 prep week for internationals players
Weeks 9-11 autumn internationals
Weeks 12-15 Premiership 4 rounds
Weeks 16-18 European competition
Weeks 19-26 development competition second block of fixtures
Week 19 prep week for 6N players
Weeks 20-26 6N
Weeks 27-32 premiership 6 rounds
Week 33 development competition play off 1
Week 34 Premiership play off 1 2Av3B, 2Bv3A, 4Av7B, 4Bv7A, 5Av6B, 5Bv6A
Week 35 European competition play off 1
Week 36 development semi finals
Week 37 Premiership play off 2, 1Av'2B', 1Bv'2A', 4Av5B, 4Bv5A
Week 38 European semi finals
Week 39 development final
Week 40 Premiership final
Week 41 European final
This fits with the September to June season the clubs want and would mean a maximum of 32 matches for any player the current set maximum.
It would also mean that except for injury or performance all players would be eligible to play in all Premiership and European matches for clubs.
Maybe if the other 2 leagues followed suit, (they have 14 teams in each league) then a proper season structure could be put in place.