BREAKING NEWS Crystal Palace handed agonising UEFA announcement on whether they will be allowed to play in the Europa League next season after Lyon were relegated
The Eagles were hopeful of learning their European fate on Monday after their maiden European campaign - secured after clinching their first major trophy last month - came under threat due to multi-club ownership rules.
Eagle Football Holdings - who have a 43 per cent stake in the club - are also the owners of Lyon.
More to follow.
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The Independent
20 minutes ago
- The Independent
‘One in four councils could lose money' under Government's funding proposals
Around a quarter of councils in England could lose money under the Government's proposed reforms to how local authorities are funded, analysis has found. A report from the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) said the changes would create big 'winners and losers' as ministers attempt to address perceived unfairness in levels of core funding across the country. Sir Keir Starmer's own council, Camden in north London, will be hit by the reforms when taking inflation into account, the IFS added. The think tank said Camden, along with other inner London boroughs including Westminster, will have less money to spend on services even if they increase council tax by the maximum amount allowed. Whitehall will provide a minimum level of funding, a so-called funding floor, for council leaders during the changes, but the IFS said overall cash for inner London town halls would be 11-12% lower in 2028-29 in real terms. The paper said: 'Around one in four councils would see real-terms falls in overall funding under the Government's proposals, with around 30 on the lowest funding floors seeing real-terms cuts of 11–12%. Conversely, another one in four councils would see real-terms increases of 12% or more.' The changes, which will come into effect from next year, are being consulted on by ministers. The Government plans to create a new methodology to assess local authority needs relatively and factor in population and deprivation. It will also assess need for adult and children's services. Overall spending will fall for 186 councils and rise by the same total sum for 161. One in 10 will see a fall in overall funding, while one in 10 will see an increase of 10% or more. The overall Government spend on local authorities will not change. The changes will be phased in across three years, from 2026/27 to 2028/29. Kate Ogden, co-author of the IFS report and a senior research economist with the think tank, said: 'England has lacked a rational system of local government funding for at least 12 years – and arguably more like 20. It is therefore welcome that the nettle of funding reform is being grasped, and some councils will benefit substantially under the new system. 'But the changes will sting for those councils that are assessed to currently receive too high a share of the overall funding pot, and so which lose out from moves to align funding with assessed spending needs.' The proposals are criticised in the report as 'not particularly redistributive to poor, urban areas of England'. It cites South Tyneside and Sunderland councils being among those to lose out from the reforms as slow population growth is accounted for. The report added: 'It is somewhat surprising that, on average, councils in the most deprived 30% of areas would see very similar changes in overall funding over the next three years to those for councils in the middle 40% of areas.' It noted that rural areas, which feared being badly hit by changes, will benefit from a 'remoteness adjustment' which will compensate areas with higher needs due to being far from large towns. London will gain the least, with a cash-terms increase in funding of 8% in the next three years. Analysis by the London Councils collective has highlighted the risk of the funding 'dramatically underestimating' needs for local services in parts of the capital. It noted the city has the highest rate of poverty in the country when housing costs are factored in. Outside the capital, the East Midlands (22%) and Yorkshire & the Humber (19%) are set to see the biggest increases in funding, with the South East set to see the smallest at 13%. However, the proposals have been criticised by youth charity the National Children's Bureau, which said it was 'significantly concerned' about the way the Government plans to work out needs for children's services. Ms Ogden added: 'The Government should consider giving highly affected councils which currently have low council tax rates greater flexibility to bring their council tax bills up to more typical levels to offset funding losses. 'More generally, reform of council funding allocations is just one part of the financial sustainability puzzle. Efforts to reduce demands on, and the cost of providing, local services through reform and the use of new technology will also be vital.' A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: 'The current, outdated way in which local authorities are funded means the link between funding and need for services has broken down, leaving communities left behind. 'That's why we are taking decisive action to reform the funding system so we can get councils back on their feet and improve public services, with the IFS recognising that our changes will better align funding with councils' needs.'
The Independent
20 minutes ago
- The Independent
Universities ‘keen' to offer places to students even if they miss grades
Universities will be keen to offer places on degree courses to school leavers on A-level results day even if they have narrowly missed out on grades, experts have suggested. The head of Ucas has predicted that a record number of 18-year-olds are expected to wake up on Thursday next week to the news that they have been successful in securing their first-choice university. There will be competition between universities to fill places with more UK applicants, creating a 'buyer's market' for students. The majority of institutions have courses available through clearing – which matches applicants to university places yet to be filled – in the week before A-level results day. It comes as universities have been warning of financial pressures due to uncertainty about the recruitment of overseas students as well as years of frozen tuition fees by domestic students. A sample of 129 of the UK's largest higher education providers showed more than 22,600 courses with vacancies for undergraduate students living in England were available on the Ucas clearing site as of Wednesday. Seventeen of the 24 elite Russell Group universities had vacancies on courses for English residents – a total of 3,630 courses between them. A similar analysis last year, in the week before A-level results day, showed 18 of the 24 universities had vacancies on courses for English residents – a total of 3,892 courses between them – on the clearing site. Clearing is available to students who do not meet the conditions of their offer on A-level results day, as well as those who did not receive any offers. Students who have changed their mind about what or where they wish to study, and those who have applied outside the normal application window, can also use clearing. Eight days ahead of exam results day, there was a total of 22,698 courses through clearing across 129 institutions. A similar analysis last year – carried out at the same point before A-level results day and looking at the same range of higher education institutions – showed there were 23,306 courses through clearing. Ucas figures released last month revealed that the number of offers made to prospective undergraduate students from universities and colleges has reached a record high this year. Jo Saxton, head of the university admissions service, said she expected there to be 'slightly fewer' courses with vacancies in clearing this year due to the high number of offers already made to applicants. She said: 'Whilst the system isn't capped, universities do know how many they want to accommodate in their lecture halls and facilities, and I think that a lot of that is going to have been already pinned down through applications and offer-making prior to results.' Overall, 94.5 per cent of all students who applied to higher education before the Ucas January deadline have received at least one offer, recent figures show. Speaking about A-level results day, the Ucas boss said: 'I would anticipate a record number of 18-year-olds will wake up with confirmation, quite possibly even where they are near-misses.' She added universities are increasingly 'falling back in love' with their three-year undergraduate applicants as there is more 'uncertainty' around the international market and which overseas students are going to turn up. Dr Saxton said: 'It's a really, really good year to be a UK-domiciled 18-year-old that wants to go to one of our world-class universities. 'A couple of the directors of admissions and vice-chancellors that I talked to have talked about recognising, actually, that a three-year undergraduate student is stability for your teaching and learning, for your university community, for your financial planning.' Nick Hillman, director of the Higher Education Policy Institute think tank, said this year's cohort of school leavers are 'well placed' to get where they want to study even if they have narrowly missed their university offer grades. He said : 'The financial plight of universities makes them very keen to fill their courses and they will be falling over themselves to sign up good potential students. 'Not everything is rosy, of course, as the cost-of-living crisis has affected the student experience in deleterious ways, but ambitious school leavers are nonetheless well-placed to get where they want to be in this year's admissions round.' Mike Nicholson, director of recruitment, admissions and participation at the University of Cambridge, which does not take part in clearing, said it is 'probable' that universities will be 'looking very carefully' at near-miss students this summer. He said: 'If the student, for instance, needed three As [and] gets AAB as long as the B is not in something that's absolutely crucial for the course, I think there's a very strong possibility the student would find they'd be getting a place. 'If universities have the capacity to take near-miss students I think they'll be very keen to take them this year because those students are already in the system, they've already committed, they've possibly already even applied for accommodation. 'So, it's a much easier process to follow through on than having to go out into clearing and recruit somebody from scratch at that point in the year.' Lee Elliot Major, professor of social mobility at the University of Exeter, said: 'This year is shaping up to be a buyer's market in admissions, with many universities competing to recruit more home students. 'It's driven by basic financial necessity: institutions need to fill degree places as uncertainty grows over international student intakes and budgets tighten across the sector. 'In an increasingly volatile admissions landscape, we must ensure that the focus on financial sustainability doesn't further exacerbate educational inequalities already embedded in the system.' Vivienne Stern, chief executive of Universities UK, said: 'It's certainly competitive between universities. 'From an applicant point of view, in a sense, that's a really good thing as it means you've got lots of choice. 'Clearing has changed, certainly compared to far back in the midst of time when I went to university when it used to be the kind of last-chance saloon, it's not that any more. 'Clearing is a much more widely-used tool for people to apply for the first time. 'It's also an opportunity if people want to change their minds they can use clearing to do that.' A Department for Education (DfE) spokeswoman said: 'While universities are independent from government and responsible for their own admissions decisions, it is essential that quality is maintained and that the students they admit are likely to succeed. 'Students deserve high-quality teaching, fair admissions and a clear path to good jobs, whether through a degree or technical route. 'Apprenticeship starts, participation and achievements are all on the rise, helping more people gain the skills they need.'
The Guardian
21 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Premier League 2025-26 preview No 7: Chelsea
Guardian writers' predicted position: 4th (NB: this is not necessarily Michael Butler's prediction but the average of our writers' tips) Last season's position: 4th Securing Champions League qualification on the last day of the Premier League season and an unlikely Club World Cup triumph have transformed the club, their finances and ambitions for 2025-26. Chelsea stayed relatively under the radar for much of the Club World Cup – in part because of their relatively kind route to the later stages – but their commanding 3-0 victory against Paris Saint-Germain in the final means they are again regarded as a potentially dominant European force and perhaps even as contenders for the Premier League title. That is if Chelsea are ready – mentally, physically and tactically – for the new season. By the time Chelsea played the Club World Cup final on 13 July, nearly every other Premier League side had started their pre-season. Since then, while Liverpool, Arsenal and co have been hard at work, the players have had three weeks off and returned on Monday, with two friendly matches, two days apart, scheduled before their Premier League opener against Crystal Palace on 17 August. To say Chelsea are playing catch-up is a severe understatement. That said, this is probably the most exciting period for Chelsea since the Champions League triumph in 2021. With the exception of goalkeeper and possibly centre-back, Enzo Maresca has a claim to having two elite players in every position and he could yet add further depth with Xavi Simons and Alejandro Garnacho heavily linked. Departures will be needed to trim the fat and balance the books – Chelsea were given a €31m (£27m) fine last month by Uefa for breaking financial rules – but few would argue against them having the deepest squad in the league and one of Maresca's biggest challenges will be maintaining harmony and continuity, on and off the pitch. Last season, the Conference League was a useful chance to rest and rotate players. The Champions League will not be so accommodating. As recently as April, Maresca was at odds with the Chelsea fans and appeared to blame a negative environment at Stamford Bridge for a 2-2 home draw with Ipswich that left top-five hopes fading fast. But five wins from the final six league games secured fourth place, saving Chelsea's season and possibly Maresca's job. 'They were saying that we are too young, we are not good enough,' he said. 'Unfortunately for them, they have all been wrong. So in English, how do you say? Eff-off to all of them.' Chelsea's Club World Cup triumph – and the tactical masterclass by Maresca in the final to neutralise PSG's front three and create pockets of space for Cole Palmer – means he will get a very different reception at Stamford Bridge for Chelsea's league opener. Chelsea's much-maligned financial gymnastics of recent years – the eight-year contract amortisation (a loophole closed by Uefa), the sale of their hugely successful women's team (to their own parent company) and their rampant use of multiclub ownership and the loan system – have infuriated rivals and allowed them to assemble one of the deepest, youngest, most talented squads around. In the Todd Boehly era, Chelsea have spent more than £1.5bn and the club face an additional €60m fine from Uefa if they fail to comply with regulations over the next four years. A bigger stadium would help, but what Chelsea do with Stamford Bridge remains unclear; the 40,044-capacity ground is not easily developed given challenges ranging from the freehold to a nearby railway line. A move to Earl's Court has been mooted. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion Estêvão was courted by PSG, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich and is widely regarded as the biggest talent to come out of Brazil since Vinícius Júnior. The 18-year-old's performances at the Club World Cup – including a brilliant strike for Palmeiras against Chelsea in the quarter-final – suggests that the summer arrival is already world class. Players swooned over the teenager at the final whistle in Philadelphia – 'I told Estêvão: 'We are excited for you to join' but he didn't understand a single word I said,' Palmer said after swapping shirts with the £52m signing. Capable off both wings or as a No 10, the slender Estêvão will want to impress the former Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti, now of Brazil, before the World Cup next summer. 'He potentially can be a top defender for this club,' Maresca said of Josh Acheampong after the defender's performances at the Club World Cup prompted whispers that several clubs in England and Europe were tracking the teenager. How the 19-year-old fits into Maresca's plans remains to be seen, but his versatility, 6ft 3in stature and composure enabled him to enjoy a breakthrough year with 13 first-team appearances. Naturally a right-back or a centre-back but capable of playing anywhere across the backline, Acheampong joined Chelsea as an under-eight and signed a new five-year contract in 2024. 'The clubs that were mentioned, they like Josh, but we also like Josh,' Maresca said. 'The best plan for Josh is to be with us.' Roméo Lavia. The 21-year-old's quality is not in question. Chelsea are a better side with Lavia, more fluid and press-resistant, and he was sensational in a 3-1 win against Liverpool in May when he completed 100% of his passes. Maresca even moved Moisés Caicedo to right-back to accommodate Lavia alongside Enzo Fernández at the back end of last season, but concerns remain over the Belgian's fitness. After a first year when he managed 32 minutes in 2023-24, another injury-hit campaign followed, starting 11 league games. Another year on the sidelines could spell trouble, particularly as Chelsea have Caicedo, Fernández, Dário Essugo, the impressive Andrey Santos and perhaps Reece James competing for two spots in defensive midfield in Maresca's preferred 4-2-3-1 formation.
