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Richard Scudamore: FA's B teams would damage Football League pyramid Richard Scudamore: FA's 'B' teams would damage Football League pyramid
(35 minutes later)
The chief executive of the Premier League, Richard Scudamore, believes the Football Assocation's proposals to introduce Premier League 'B' teams into the Football League could "damage" the structure of its pyramid. The chief executive of the Premier League, Richard Scudamore, believes the Football Association's proposals to introduce Premier League "B" teams into the Football League could "damage" the structure of its pyramid.
On Thursday, FA chairman Greg Dyke revealed the England Commission's plans to address the lack of opportunities for homegrown players at elite domestic level, with the 'B' team proposal its headline recommendation. On Thursday, the FA chairman Greg Dyke revealed the England Commission's plans to address the lack of opportunities for homegrown players at elite domestic level, with the "B" team proposal its headline recommendation.
However Scudamore, who has been CEO of the Premier League since 1999, believes that it would cause major problems for lower league clubs.However Scudamore, who has been CEO of the Premier League since 1999, believes that it would cause major problems for lower league clubs.
"I have some real concerns we shouldn't be looking to infiltrate and damage the pyramid and therefore I would like to think we should exhaust all other options, all other ideas," he said."I have some real concerns we shouldn't be looking to infiltrate and damage the pyramid and therefore I would like to think we should exhaust all other options, all other ideas," he said.
"The commission report has hit upon an issue that we are all faced with – a big challenge as to how do you take this huge investment that we make in youth up to the age of 18? How do you get all that talent through and convert it into first-team players able to hold their own in the Premier League and able to compete for England?"The commission report has hit upon an issue that we are all faced with – a big challenge as to how do you take this huge investment that we make in youth up to the age of 18? How do you get all that talent through and convert it into first-team players able to hold their own in the Premier League and able to compete for England?
"That's a challenge we recognise. We know we have to address it and we are going to sit down and yet again re-examine everything we do in terms of trying to overcome that challenge."That's a challenge we recognise. We know we have to address it and we are going to sit down and yet again re-examine everything we do in terms of trying to overcome that challenge.
"So I have no issue with the identification of, if you like, 'the problem', but I have been on record very recently as saying I think the English pyramid is one of our unique strengths and I would like to think we would be able to come up with a solution which doesn't mean the decimation or the infiltration or the damage really of something precious.""So I have no issue with the identification of, if you like, 'the problem', but I have been on record very recently as saying I think the English pyramid is one of our unique strengths and I would like to think we would be able to come up with a solution which doesn't mean the decimation or the infiltration or the damage really of something precious."
In February, the Premier League revealed its own plans to introduce a 'B' league, involving 16 of the elite clubs and six from the Football League to play a season-long Under-23 competition with four older players allowed. It was hoped that this could help bridge the gap between academies and first teams in a similar way to the FA's proposals. In February, the Premier League revealed its own plans to introduce a "B" league, involving 16 of the elite clubs and six from the Football League to play a season-long under-23 competition with four older players allowed. It was hoped that this could help bridge the gap between academies and first teams in a similar way to the FA's proposals.
Despite the discrepancy, Scudamore maintains that the Premier League is still "hugely supportive" of the FA.Despite the discrepancy, Scudamore maintains that the Premier League is still "hugely supportive" of the FA.
"The starting point is our clubs play in the FA Cup and they enjoy playing in the FA Cup and they want to win the FA Cup," he said."The starting point is our clubs play in the FA Cup and they enjoy playing in the FA Cup and they want to win the FA Cup," he said.
"We absolutely encourage and make sure clubs release players when they are supposed to release them for England duty and fundamentally that's the most supportive you can be.""We absolutely encourage and make sure clubs release players when they are supposed to release them for England duty and fundamentally that's the most supportive you can be."