Latest news with #TrevorBirch
Irish Independent
4 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
York co-owner calls for immediate reform of English fifth tier promotion structure after finishing 23 points above Oldham
The Minstermen missed out on a return to the Football League as they lost in the play-off semi-finals to Oldham, having finished second in the league table behind champions Barnet, 28 points clear of the final play-off position. In February, the National League launched the '3UP campaign' with the aim of securing three promotion places to League Two for the 2025/26 season. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. But Uggla has called for 'an immediate review, temporary relief measures, or an accelerated implementation of the '3UP' model' with the intention of York earning instant promotion to League Two. In an open letter to the National League and the EFL chief executive Trevor Birch, she said: 'I am writing to express my deep concern and disappointment at the current promotion system between the National League and League Two, following a season where York City FC, despite finishing 28 points clear of seventh place and winning 12 more matches, were denied promotion. 'Such a glaring imbalance not only undermines sporting merit but erodes the very foundations of fair competition. 'To dominate a league campaign so comprehensively (Barnet the only exception), only to be forced into a play-off lottery, is structurally unjust. 'It penalises excellence and rewards inferiority in a way no professional league system should condone. 'While I am aware of the historical basis for the two-up structure, it is no longer fit for purpose. 'The gap between the top National League clubs and the lower EFL clubs has narrowed, and in many cases reversed, making the case for three-up promotion beyond compelling. 'The '3UP' campaign rightly reflects the sentiment of every National League club and countless supporters. 'But waiting until 2025–26 only deepens the injustice for clubs like York City, who have already paid the price for a system built on outdated assumptions. 'I urge both governing bodies to urgently consider transitional reform, whether via immediate review, temporary relief measures, or an accelerated implementation of the '3UP' model. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content 'At the very least, this season's outcome should provoke an honest re-evaluation of what fairness in football truly means. 'For clubs, fans, and the integrity of the English football pyramid, it is time to reward merit and restore credibility to the system.' Oldham returned to the Football League after they beat Southend 3-2 after extra time in the play-off final at Wembley on Sunday. Uggla added: 'I would also like to point out that writing this letter should not undermine the achievements of Oldham Atletic from their victory at Wembley yesterday, and to Southend United for making the final. Their accomplishments should not go unnoticed. 'Too many great clubs, including Oldham and Southend, have fallen into this league with little chance of redemption due to the lack of promotion places. 'The current system is simply not sustainable anymore.' The EFL declined to comment. The change would require a change of league regulations via a vote of EFL clubs, and would require a majority among all clubs and a majority among Championship clubs. It is understood the matter was discussed by the EFL board earlier this year but no clubs vote is currently planned. Clubs have previously indicated they would consider changes to the current position on promotion and relegation from the National League to EFL as part of a complete package of measures and reforms across the pyramid from bottom to top.
The Independent
4 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
York co-owner calls for immediate reform of National League promotion structure
York co-owner Julie-Anne Uggla has called for an immediate reform of the promotion and relegation system between the EFL and the National League which would see her club promoted to League Two. The Minstermen missed out on a return to the Football League as they lost in the play-off semi-finals to Oldham, having finished second in the league table behind champions Barnet, 28 points clear of the final play-off position. In February, the National League launched the '3UP campaign' with the aim of securing three promotion places to League Two for the 2025/26 season. But Uggla has called for 'an immediate review, temporary relief measures, or an accelerated implementation of the '3UP' model' with the intention of York earning instant promotion to League Two. In an open letter to the National League and the EFL chief executive Trevor Birch, she said: 'I am writing to express my deep concern and disappointment at the current promotion system between the National League and League Two, following a season where York City FC, despite finishing 28 points clear of seventh place and winning 12 more matches, were denied promotion. 'Such a glaring imbalance not only undermines sporting merit but erodes the very foundations of fair competition. 'To dominate a league campaign so comprehensively (Barnet the only exception), only to be forced into a play-off lottery, is structurally unjust. 'It penalises excellence and rewards inferiority in a way no professional league system should condone. 'While I am aware of the historical basis for the two-up structure, it is no longer fit for purpose. 'The gap between the top National League clubs and the lower EFL clubs has narrowed, and in many cases reversed, making the case for three-up promotion beyond compelling. 'The '3UP' campaign rightly reflects the sentiment of every National League club and countless supporters. 'But waiting until 2025–26 only deepens the injustice for clubs like York City, who have already paid the price for a system built on outdated assumptions. 'I urge both governing bodies to urgently consider transitional reform, whether via immediate review, temporary relief measures, or an accelerated implementation of the '3UP' model. 'At the very least, this season's outcome should provoke an honest re-evaluation of what fairness in football truly means. 'For clubs, fans, and the integrity of the English football pyramid, it is time to reward merit and restore credibility to the system.' Oldham returned to the Football League after they beat Southend 3-2 after extra time in the play-off final at Wembley on Sunday. Uggla added: 'I would also like to point out that writing this letter should not undermine the achievements of Oldham Atletic from their victory at Wembley yesterday, and to Southend United for making the final. Their accomplishments should not go unnoticed. 'Too many great clubs, including Oldham and Southend, have fallen into this league with little chance of redemption due to the lack of promotion places. 'The current system is simply not sustainable anymore.'
ITV News
23-05-2025
- Sport
- ITV News
Why Sunderland's Championship play-off final is kicking off at 3.01pm
Sunderland's Championship play-off final at Wembley this weekend will kick-off at 3.01pm, rather than the usual 3pm, to highlight the fact that 'Every Minute Matters'. This campaign aims to inspire supporters to learn CPR, equipping them with vital skills that could save someone's life. Meanwhile, this weekend's other play-offs in League One and League Two will also kick off a minute late. The campaign is being supported by the Red Sky Foundation, a heart health charity who have provided seven defibrillators around the Stadium of Light. The Sunderland based organisation has also provided defibrillators at Bramall Lane, the home of The Black Cats' opponents in the play-off final, Sheffield United. Sergio Petrucci, CEO of the Red Sky Foundation, said: "This will raise awareness of CPR across the country, not just to football fans, but to the general public as well. The reason why we're doing that is because every minute does count. "When it comes to CPR and somebody's having a medical emergency, the most important thing to do is to call 999, and begin hands-on CPR, start the compressions, and have that blood circulating around the body, most importantly to the brain." EFL Chief Executive Officer, Trevor Birch said: "The Sky Bet Play-Offs are a special moment in the football calendar and tens of thousands of supporters will be at Wembley Stadium across the weekend with millions more tuning in from home. "By kicking off all three Play-Off Finals one minute later, Every Minute Matters continues to harness the power and visibility of football to encourage even more people to learn CPR, which could ultimately help to save even more lives."
Sky News
08-03-2025
- Business
- Sky News
Football chiefs in secret summit to revive landmark financial deal
The bosses of the Premier League and English Football League (EFL) have held secret talks aimed at reviving an industry-wide deal ahead of the launch of the government's new football watchdog. Sky News has learnt that Richard Masters, the Premier League chief executive, his EFL counterpart, Trevor Birch, and executives from clubs including Arsenal, Brentford, West Ham, Lincoln City, Norwich City and Preston North End met this week to discuss a wide-ranging football industry agreement. Sources said this weekend that the meeting represented a fresh attempt by the sport's key players to reach a deal on financial redistribution, its annual calendar, resource-sharing and other key issues before the Independent Football Regulator (IFR) is formally established. One said that a deal would send a powerful signal to ministers that English football was able to self-regulate in the best interests of all of its key stakeholders. Key to any agreement between the Premier League and the EFL would be the so-called New Deal, which has been under discussion for years, but which has stalled in the last 12 months. While no formal proposal was ever tabled by the top flight, one detailed plan involved a total of £925m of additional funding being handed by the Premier League to the EFL over a six-year period. The most recent blueprint included provision for an immediate £44m payment to the lower leagues, followed by a further £44m within months. This £88m, however, would have been pitched as a loan that would be repayable by the EFL over a period of more than six years. The Premier League had decided to make the vote independent of any conditions attached to wider financial reform of English football, alarming a number of top-flight owners. English football's top flight already hands £1.6bn to the rest of English professional football every three years under an 'evergreen' deal. Since the last detailed New Deal negotiations took place between Premier League clubs, the EFL has struck a more lucrative five-year broadcast deal with Sky Sports, which is part of the same ownership structure as Sky News. One source suggested that meant a future offer from the top flight was unlikely to be as large as the last one mooted in 2023. Further talks are understood to be likely following Monday's meeting, which one insider said had been "constructive". Legislation to establish the IFR is progressing through parliament. Sky News revealed earlier this month that Christian Purslow, the former Aston Villa and Liverpool chief executive, and Kick It Out chair Sanjay Bhandari, were two of the three candidates on the shortlist to chair the IFR. The identity of the other is unclear. Clubs from both the Premier League and EFL have argued that the watchdog will impose unnecessary and unsustainable costs on them, and that its creation comes at a time when Sir Keir Starmer's government is trying to shrink the regulatory burden on the private sector in order to stimulate economic growth. Football executives have also complained that national insurance hikes announced in Rachel Reeves's Budget last October will also have a severely detrimental impact on the sport's finances. Clubs argue that they have also been stymied by post-Brexit immigration rules which have imposed restrictions on player trading and development.
