Football: Plans to put the game on another planet

The Football League went into space yesterday, as they named each of the five options for restructuring after one of the planets. Under another of the revolutionary proposals, clubs could face penalty shoot- outs.

As well as discussing the possible restructuring of the current format to include a Super League, the 72 club chairmen were contemplating radical rule changes.

They include regionalisation of the league, awarding bonus points for teams leading at the end of each half and points for winning margins. And also on the agenda are penalty shoot-outs between sides after draws.

The league hope that by increasing the number of promotion and relegation places at stake, the number of "meaningless matches" can be minimised and interest increased.

The Football League chairman, David Sheepshanks, said: "I think it is essential that we address change. Of the 72 clubs 58 made an operational loss last year. The average share of TV revenue in the Premiership is pounds 8m, in the league it is pounds 800,000."

"In order to thrive in the future the Football League needs to become more market led and provide competition for its member clubs that best serves the needs of our customers.

The five options for restructuring:

1 Option Earth represents the current structure of three divisions of 24 clubs with 10 promotion places up for grabs.

2 Option Mars proposes a First Division of 20 clubs, two divisions of 26 teams and with five clubs swapping places between division two and three, 11 promotion places available.

3 Option Jupiter would have four divisions of either 18 or 20 clubs. In the first instance, there would be 12 promotion places, in the second there would be 14 and eight clubs would need to be co-opted from the Vauxhall Conference to make up the numbers.

4 Option Saturn proposes six divisions of 12 clubs each with 18 promotion places. This option also includes the possibility of relegation play-offs meaning that in the six divisions, only one out of the 72 clubs would not be involved in either promotion or relegation issues at the end of the season.t

5 Option Pluto would have a 12-club Super League, plus two divisions of 24 clubs and a further division with 12 members, giving 13 promotion places.