Emma McClarkin MEP: Premier League promotion and relegation must stay

Suggestions that Premier League football should operate a franchise system – bringing an end to promotion and relegation from the top flight – have provoked an angry response from East Midlands Conservative MEP Emma McClarkin.

Emma, who is Conservative spokesman on sport and culture in the European Parliament, said:

“All sport is about hope and aspiration. If you take away that goal, the tournament would lose its competitive edge and dishearten millions of fans.”
Her statement came after the League Managers Association said the American and Asian owners of some Premier league sides wanted to introduce a franchise system.

She added: “The big shots might think this is great idea for their own clubs – but it would actually be very bad for football.

“They should never forget that the thing that draws so many millions of people to watch sport is uncertainty of outcome. That is the charm of it, that the little clubs can still get into the top division, and beat the big teams on their day.”