Just finished reading The Club,about the business of the Premier League
Supposedly this Greg Sankey's #1 book. Parallels between the EPL and college sports are amazing.
Details the history of the EPL from its founding in 1992,carving itself out from the English Football Association (Prince of Wales is the honorary chairman). Like the NCAA, it governs all level of competition. The 5 wealthiest clubs got sick of abiding by rules set up to benefit small, near 0 budget clubs, much like the Power Conferences vs Division 3 in the NCAA.
NCAA Player movement has evolved to match the EPL. Everyone is a free agent at the end of their contract. Transfer windows exist, but blatant 365 say a year tampering is common business, and the only way for the richest clubs to compete fit championships.
The wealthiest clubs have sugar daddy owners/boosters who cared much less on financial ROI, than lifting trophies. They can piss away as much money as possible, as long as their team wins
I'll add more as I get a chance.
Posted: 02/20/2026 at 08:33 AM ET
Thread Replies (16)
Just finished reading The Club,about the business of the Premier League
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-- PadrosWindup
Feb 20, 2026 at 08:33 AM ET
PadrosWindup
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02/20/26 08:33 AM ET
A must read for anyone that wants to understand conference realignment.**
-- Baltimore_Hokie
Feb 23, 2026 at 11:36 AM ET
Baltimore_Hokie
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02/23/26 11:36 AM ET
Just think what we could get rid of if we went an EPL/EFL model
-- Maroon Baboon
Feb 20, 2026 at 05:45 PM ET
Maroon Baboon
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02/20/26 05:45 PM ET
Reducing to 20 teams leaves out VT
-- PadrosWindup
Feb 20, 2026 at 09:02 PM ET
PadrosWindup
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02/20/26 09:02 PM ET
Where are you getting the 20 number for the P2? Saban says 32, same as NFL.
-- Stech
Feb 21, 2026 at 08:06 AM ET
Stech
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02/21/26 08:06 AM ET
I went with 20 since that is the EPL number. Maroon Baboons scheduling
-- PadrosWindup
Feb 21, 2026 at 11:30 AM ET
PadrosWindup
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02/21/26 11:30 AM ET
I think if there is a P1, it should be 48, but Saban saying it repeatedly
-- Stech
Feb 21, 2026 at 02:22 PM ET
Stech
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02/21/26 02:22 PM ET
To show you the folly of making a permanent 32 (or 48),
-- Maroon Baboon
Feb 21, 2026 at 02:55 PM ET
Maroon Baboon
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02/21/26 02:55 PM ET
I don’t want the P1, but if they do relegation and promotion it would help,
-- Stech
Feb 22, 2026 at 08:36 AM ET
Stech
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02/22/26 08:36 AM ET
What two conferences might look like in a "P1" relegation-promotion model.
-- Maroon Baboon
Feb 23, 2026 at 12:34 PM ET
Maroon Baboon
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02/23/26 12:34 PM ET
If there is ever a mythical P1, it
-- Big12 guy
Feb 23, 2026 at 02:23 PM ET
Big12 guy
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02/23/26 02:23 PM ET
Trust me, I would be more than willing to run it back.
-- Maroon Baboon
Feb 23, 2026 at 02:45 PM ET
Maroon Baboon
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02/23/26 02:45 PM ET
Uneven scheduling isn't a complaint. It's a fact.
-- Maroon Baboon
Feb 21, 2026 at 12:57 PM ET
Maroon Baboon
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02/21/26 12:57 PM ET
I would lobby for a 24 team playoff with
-- Big12 guy
Feb 21, 2026 at 09:35 AM ET
Big12 guy
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02/21/26 09:35 AM ET
Two major omissions in your post.
-- Maroon Baboon
Feb 20, 2026 at 11:19 PM ET
Maroon Baboon
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02/20/26 11:19 PM ET
Relegation is an anachronism. No new leagues will sign on to it.
-- PadrosWindup
Feb 21, 2026 at 10:37 AM ET
PadrosWindup
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02/21/26 10:37 AM ET
“Supposedly this Greg Sankey's #1 book.” Why people should read your post
-- Stech
Feb 20, 2026 at 11:15 AM ET
Stech
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02/20/26 11:15 AM ET