The Premier League's 'big six' has reportedly managed to kill off the proposals of the owners charter which was brought to the table in the aftermath of the Super League debacle.
The Times report that six clubs - Arsenal, Tottenham, Chelsea, Liverpool and the two Manchester clubs - have rejected the project out of fear it would only allow them to qualify for The Champions League on 'sporting merit.'
Proposals by UEFA may soon see clubs permitted to qualify for the Champions League based on previous European performance or their European ranking - meaning clubs such as Newcastle Untied who may one day finish in the top four, being leapfrogged by one of the so-called big six who may have finished as low as seven.
This should anger everyone football fan - just as the Super League proposals did.
Football is a competition, teams should be allowed to compete and fight it out for the top prizes without fear that teams previously at the top of the tree but now past their best can somehow still get access to the prize pot.
The very fact that one of the so-called 'big six' last qualified played in the Champions League five years ago, raises questions on where the sense of entitlement comes from for these clubs.
Only Manchester City and Liverpool have continuously qualified for the competition over the last few years, with Spurs missing out in the previous two, and Chelsea and Man United also at times struggling.
In that time we've seen the likes of Leicester City, West Ham and now Wolves pushing the 'big six' close - and that's the way it should be.
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What message does it send out if clubs and their owners invest time and money into a plan to battle at the top end of the table, successfully in some instances, only to find out a team below them can jump them because they finished in runners-up in the Champions League two season ago?
The likes of Leicester and West Ham - clubs intent on upsetting the monopoly - have been welcome, and in time you hope Newcastle United, Aston Villa and others can join the fight too.
It was clear with the Newcastle takeover that the big six were not happy and few would argue the potential of the deal, should the Magpies survive the drop this season, could really upset the norm.
And wouldn't that be great? Not just from a United perspective but I'd welcome any club with aspirations of European Football breaking that monopoly.
The Premier League needs it to keep alive and fresh. The fans need it to keep it exciting because otherwise what is the point?
The closed-door proposals of the Super League were scandalous but, in truth, fans knew something similar would come back around, and the very fact the owners' charter has been rejected should come as no surprise.
The charter may well be visited again in the summer but the assumption would be of a similar outcome where the big six are scared of competition. Instead it should inspire them and push them to improve and prove they are the best through nothing more than being so.
Having a promise of a seat at the top table without actually earning it could well be the beginning of the end for the Premier League.
