Imagine if, as a result of the failed Super League project, a trade-off was promised to the breakaway group.
Here’s the deal. From 2024, the Premier League would be divided into category clubs. The big six — Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham — would be Category A. And Category A clubs, no matter where they finished, could not be relegated.
Also in Category A and immune would be those getting an average gate of 40,000 or more, like West Ham, Newcastle and Aston Villa. This makes nine clubs who, no matter how poorly they performed, could not be demoted, and 11 who could.