As 'Project Big Picture' looms into view for the Premier League and the EFL, The Telegraph's Luke Edwards sounded a jarring word of caution about how damaging this could be to Britain's football fabric.
The Telegraph broke the story yesterday that a plan that would enormously change the football landscape was being proposed by Liverpool with the backing of Manchester United, which would involve reducing to Premier League to 18 teams, sharing TV money and the abolition of the League Cup and Community Shield.
Project Big Picture: cartel?
Edwards, however, believes that the optics might be largely good, but that this is an outright land grab by the Premier League's established clubs, and augurs poorly for the future.
"It is not all bad, but it is a rescue package that masks a pretty blatant power grab from the top six," said Edwards.
"The most significant thing is not the money that they are offering to give to the EFL, it is the change of the 'one-club, one-vote' rule that has effectively kept the Premier League in check since its creation.
"What we are now going to have is the big six clubs - with three token clubs in Southampton, Everton and West Ham - will have the votes on all future regulations. All future plans will be effectively decided by a cartel."
'Dictator'
Strong words, and Edwards used a historical analogy in explaining further.
"A dictator, before he takes power, says that he wants absolute power but that he will not harm the people - but we all know what happens next once they get a grip on power.
"I think that what you will see from the big six is that they will govern for themselves. There has been absolutely nothing in the track record of those six clubs that says they are interested in anything but themselves."
So what might this look like in practice?
"There are all sorts of little caveats. They could negotiate their own TV deals like Barcelona and Real Madrid. They could vote to cut the Premier League again by another two clubs in five years' time, to coincide with the creation of a European super league. The clubs could then create room in their domestic calendar while not completely shredding their links with domestic competition.
"For me, the changes to the voting system are the insidious threat here. You have to question the opportunism. This project pre-dates COVID, it started in 2017. Rick Parry, the now-chairman of the EFL, was working on this on behalf of Liverpool and Manchester United, two years before he became chairman of the EFL.
"The timing of it stinks. It makes me very sceptical and worried. I think that if you allow the big six clubs to control the Premier League, they will govern it for themselves and you will see all sorts of changes."
Temptations
As to whether clubs within the EFL might accept an offer than proves to be a Pyrrhic victory, Edwards believes that it will not likely happen but understand the temptations.
"You can see why clubs like Accrington Stanley [would be tempted]. I am a Leyton Orient fan, and in my lifetime they have only been in League One, League Two, and the National League. For those clubs, they will be thinking 'If we get a bit of extra money, great' because they are never going to realistically be in the Premier League.
"You could see how it could go through, but I don't understand why they have to change the voting system for this package to be available to those clubs. There is no reason to change the voting system unless there is something else at play and something in it for the top six.
"I thought that it was insulting to hear Rick Parry say yesterday: 'Why should Huddersfield have as much say on what goes on in the Premier League as Manchester United.' They don't, because they are not in the Premier League. But they were in the Premier League, and they earned that place at the table.
"When Huddersfield vote, they are voting for clubs like themselves who might have one or two seasons in the Premier League. They give those clubs a voice. If the big six control it, then the only regulations that will change will be in their hands."
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