Do Championship Clubs Want a Winter Break?

[Habbinalan]

The latest version of the "Whole Game Solution" seems to be morphing into a take over of the top tier of non-league by the EFL and an efffort to solve the "problem!!" of too many league matches.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football...gue-three-with-expansion-to-106-league-clubs/

A major driver seems to be to get the Championship down to 20 teams to enable a winter break. Something like no promotion to the Championship and 4 relegations instead of 3, in one season might do it.

Do Championship teams want (and can they afford) a winter break?

I'm not sure what L2 gains from a 22 team league rather than 24 - but it sounds like they've heard we can't afford to lose 4 home league matches.

If we/they keep at it, we'll eventually get to EFL taking over a 24 team National League as L3, possibly with everyone reverting to 3 up 3 down promotions. ??

I'm still not sure where the driver will come from for a 90% vote of EFL clubs - other than a lot more cash for those that will lose out from the changes.

Mods feel free to merge if there is a suitable thread but I couldn't find one and wanted to get the question out there.

 

[Walkley_Owl]

I'm torn, I love Boxing Day and New Years games so any break would have be after that, like the first two weeks of January.

I wouldn't mind losing a couple of midweek games a season too, making Sheffield Wednesday at Cardiff in midweek in October a redundant thought, it does nothing for fans or attendance.

 

[Habbinalan]

I'm torn, I love Boxing Day and New Years games so any break would have be after that, like the first two weeks of January.

I wouldn't mind losing a couple of midweek games a season too, making Sheffield Wednesday at Cardiff in midweek in October a redundant thought, it does nothing for fans or attendance.

Our response to the consultation also proposed a max 2 hours travel for mid-week fixtures - which might be a bit restricting for the likes of Norwich & Newcastle or, in L2, Carlisle and Plymouth.

 

[Dazza]

I wouldnt have a problem with a winter break. I would have it after the fa cup third round weekend.

 

[Magic]

Yes. We're shite at Christmas.

 

[Madejski]

No thanks.

 

[AnkleBiter]

Isn't this whole winter break talk to benefit the national team? In which case I don't know why you'd change this league. I wouldn't want it. I wouldn't want this to become a 20 team league either, really would become Premier League II then. Clubs like ourselves (perhaps include the likes of Bristol City or even Wednesday in this too) which are now thriving would really struggle to stay up in their first season after promotion.

 

[Ciderhead]

If there is a winter break it's got to be after the new year. The Christmas and New Year's fixtures are a cornerstone of our footballing calendar, no way should they be got rid of. If it's going to happen I'd like it to be for 2-3 weeks or whatever after New Year and then kick things off again with the FA Cup 3rd Round, add a bit of excitement to that as well

 

[Super_horns]

The managers and clubs would soon start complaining about fixtures congestion if games after the break were called off but guess that is the risk you'd take.

 

[Habbinalan]

Well this makes things a little clearer. I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole now. I'd rather generate income at my club than be even more on a string with the self centred Premier League.

"FA Cup replays could be scrapped and the fourth and fifth rounds moved to midweek nights to accommodate a winter break in England, says Football League chief executive Shaun Harvey.

Harvey said the move would allow more weekend games and generate income for increased solidarity payments from the Premier League to the Football League.

It will also, he says, fill a £20m gap caused by leagues from the Championship down being cut by up to four clubs."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37478695

 

[hodge]

The championship is the best league in terms of excitement and unpredictability, I'd rather the league stayed as it did. I don't see how changing the structure of feeder leagues to the top division has an effect on the national side.

 

[big mean bunny]

Xmas is virtually one of the few times of the year where I either get to go to goes or spent a lot of time watching games in the pub with mates, having too much to drink, before throwing up and passing out on the floor somewhere, if I did this at any of time of the year I'd get a mouthful from several different people, but at xmas people seem to dismiss it as silly laddish behaviour.

You can't take that away from me!

 

[Liam_SWFC]

We have enough of a break through summer, couldn't take a winter one too.

 

[Walkley_Owl]

Xmas is virtually one of the few times of the year where I either get to go to goes or spent a lot of time watching games in the pub with mates, having too much to drink, before throwing up and passing out on the floor somewhere, if I did this at any of time of the year I'd get a mouthful from several different people, but at xmas people seem to dismiss it as silly laddish behaviour.

You can't take that away from me!

Thank you Chesney Hawkes

 

[Walkley_Owl]

We have enough of a break through summer, couldn't take a winter one too.

A winter break would suit me, I could fuck off to Lazarote or Malta for some much needed R&R

 

[big mean bunny]

Just for clarity you don't get the break Walkley, fans need to remain in this country so we can continue infighting.

 

[JaseTheVillain]

No.