Why Steve Gibson's comments about Project Big Picture were concerning for Middlesbrough and other EFL clubs after proposals from Manchester United and Liverpool owners

The proposals put forward by the owners of Manchester United and Liverpool to implement a radical shake-up to English football were widely viewed as an attempt to seize even more power for the so-called Big Six.

Their offer included a £250milllion bailout and 25 per cent of Premier League annual revenue (up from four per cent) for EFL clubs, as well as the end of parachute payments.

In exchange, the Big Six, along with Everton, West Ham and Southampton, would be able to vote for or against any major changes in the English game.

That would include decisions on potential takeovers and wage structures, as well as the make-up of the footballing pyramid and it’s scheduling. Escentially, they would be able to suppress their closest challengers to stay at the top.

For the majority, this was clearly too big of a price to pay and wouldn’t remotely be considered if we weren’t in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.

As expected, the initial proposals were unanimously rejected by Premier League clubs on Wednesday, with a £50million support package now set to be shared between League One and League Two clubs instead.

Further discussions regarding Championship clubs’ financial needs are also set to take place and, at the very least, Project Big Picture appears to have accelerated conversations about how to help those lower down the pyramid.

Yet it may also have unmasked just what a perilous position English football is in.

In comparison to many of their EFL counterparts, Middlesbrough will be viewed as a club which is quite financially stable.

The Teessiders may not be the biggest spenders in the Championship anymore, yet it was only three years ago that chairman Steve Gibson was talking about smashing the league to rejoin the Premier League’s elite.

In recent memory, Boro have held genuine aspirations of playing in England’s top tier, which made Gibson’s comments in support of Project Big Picture somewhat surprising.

Gibson is often lauded as one of the best chairmen in the EFL – a businessman who supports the team he owns and wants what is best for the club.

This week he admitted that he’s ‘uneasy about the movement and concentration of power’ but also claimed a bailout and Premier League revenues filtering down to the EFL was absolutely essential for the sustainability of football.

Gibson will know just how much playing games behind closed doors is hurting his club financially, and you can only imagine the impact it is having lower down the EFL.

Speaking to the Times, Gibson added: "For clubs, getting through to the end of October is possible, getting through to the end of November is unlikely and getting through to December is impossible.”

That is extremely worrying to hear and suggests a solution needs to be found immediately, rather than implementing a drawn out process.

Project Big Picture wasn’t the answer - even in the current climate it was too much of a price to pay.

Still, the proposals have highlighted the necessity for a quick solution and the need to act now.

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Richard Mennear, Football Clubs Editor