‘How is that going to work?’ – Exclusive: Phillips laughs off 27-team Championship idea
We’re delighted to welcome former West Brom striker Kevin Phillips as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at The Hawthorns…
Kevin Phillips cannot see how promotion and relegation can take place if the Premier League resumes but the Championship does not.
Norwich’s sporting director Stuart Webber has claimed that Premier League clubs should not have to suffer relegation into the Championship if the second-tier does not resume and the league standings are decided by the points-per-game system.
If PPG is used then West Brom and Leeds would be handed promotion to the top-flight but teams like Norwich, Aston Villa and Bournemouth seem likely to have to fight for their survival as the Premier League seems as though it is going to resume behind closed doors.
Ex-Baggies forward Phillips is adamant that both the Premier League and Championship should be concluded on the pitch, saying that relegating teams from the top-tier and not handing promotion would leave an unthinkable 27-team Championship for next season.
Speaking exclusively to West Brom News, Phillips said: “If you relegated three clubs into the Championship and don’t promote teams, how are you going to fulfil all of those fixtures? There’d be 27 teams – how is that going to work? It won’t.
“I want to see relegation and promotion but in my opinion, we’d have to say there’s no relegation if both leagues don’t finish.
“Both leagues have to finish, it’s as simple as that for me for it to be fair for everyone.”
It would be fair for the Premier League and Championship were completed on the pitch but what about League One and League Two?
League Two seems likely to be decided on the PPG system so where do you draw the line with promotion and relegation?
If it comes to PPG being used then sorry, but it is tough luck on those teams like Norwich and Villa who have been among the worst in the Premier League all season and deserve relegation more than anyone else in that league.
In other West Brom news, Jimmy Shan has sent a message to this 21-year-old player after he announced he was leaving the Baggies.