David Dein, one of the architects of the Premier League, is still campaigning for the top flight to be reduced to 18 clubs. The former Arsenal vice-chairman helped launch the revamped English league in 1992, which initially contained 22 teams before dropping to 20 in 1995 following a season with four relegations and two promotions.
Speaking on the High Performance podcast, the 82-year-old said he wants to see another four-club relegation season to reduce the league to 18 clubs, arguing it would ease fixture congestion and benefit the England national team. “France and Germany have gone down to 18 clubs in their Premier League. I’d like to see that in England as well,” Dein said.
Dein noted that an 18-team Premier League would mean greater financial rewards for the remaining clubs, as they would share television money among fewer teams. However, he acknowledged the change is unlikely to pass a vote among current Premier League clubs. “If it went to a vote today, it wouldn’t go through because turkeys don’t vote for Christmas. So it has to come from another authority,” he said.
Meanwhile, Championship clubs have recently voted to expand their play-offs to six teams from next season. Under the new format, teams finishing third and fourth will progress straight to the two-legged semi-finals, while those placed fifth to eighth compete in one-off eliminators, with winners advancing to face the top-two seeded sides.
