27 Oct 2008Gartside raises two-tier suggestion

Football Leagues/ Association and Governance

Bolton chairman Phil Gartside has announced that he wants to see the implementation of a two-division Premier League in order to increase competition among English clubs.

Gartside, who is a prominent member of the Football Association (FA) board, is proposing two divisions of 18 teams, called Premier League One and Premier League Two.

He has suggested that the move would also provide a number of additional benefits, mainly in relation to much-trodden problems experienced in recent years.

He said: "You could have 36 Premier League clubs split into 18 and 18 and that would also solve the problems of the winter break and supporting the England team.

"We have already got to the situation where the three clubs that go down from the Premier League are usually the three that come up, although a couple of others might sneak in."

He also expressed concerns over the influx of foreign owners into the Premier League, saying that restrictions may need to be imposed to prevent the imbalance of wealth.

Gartside has been chairman of Bolton for nine years and on the board of directors for 20 years.

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