Alex Fynn: The 'Spiritual Godfather of the Premier League'* outlines his European vision
Alex Fynn
The Sunday Times described Alex Fynn as the ‘Spiritual Godfather of the Premier League’. He is uncomfortable with the label but, in many ways, it is an apt description. The marketer and author also had an influence on the inception of the Champions League and he is critical how both conceptions have developed.
Now, Fynn is outlining his proposal for a fully-fledged European League. The idea has been talked about a lot in recent months and, if you believe the revelations in Der Speigel last year, the Continent’s elite clubs are trying to hammer out a format right now. It is fraught with difficulties but, more importantly, is it dangerous to the future of the game?
TOPICS
How far away is the Premier League from the vision he put forward in his part of the original blueprint
Why he is unhappy to be called the Spiritual Godfather of the Premier League
His original structure
Basing the Premier League on ‘events’ not run-of-the-mill games
The importance of smaller divisions creating interest
Why there had to be free-to-air games
Why the recommendations that made the money were taken and the ones that grew the game were ignored
The relatively modest size of the first Sky deal
The ways Sky have changed the game
The three key drivers for satellite TV
The value of the television spectacular
Have we reached a saturation point?
Why Alex feels big clubs deserve more of the TV revenue
The crucial differences between the German and Premier League
Limiting squad numbers and guaranteeing English members
The struggle to appoint a CEO for the Premier League
Is there a Premier League bubble?
His original thoughts on a European Super League
Why “they were wrong then and they are wrong now”
The problems with group stages
Why it is time for a European League
How a new European League might work and the issues surrounding it
The stumbling block of reducing the size of the Premier League
Finding enough room in the schedule
‘FFP has failed and it is never going to work’
The possibility of fans turning against football
LINKS
Alex Fynn on Twitter
Alex’s talk on his European League proposal in London on February 28
Article: The birth of the Champions League
