Whole Game Solution - Supporter Consultation Exercise

Context

In June 2017 the EFL will ask its 72 members to vote on the Football Association’s blueprint for radical change to the structure of league football as we know it. This is being referred to as the ‘Whole Game Solution’.

The boards of the Pompey Supporters’ Trust and Portsmouth FC are currently formally opposed to these changes.

In summary, the main changes proposed are:-

●     Changing the professional league structure to five divisions of 20 teams, as opposed to the current four divisions made up of 92 teams currently (ie 20 PL and three EFL divisions of 24 clubs). This would mean all EFL teams playing eight fewer league fixtures each season.
●     Two rounds of the FA Cup moving to a mid-week evening, rather than a weekend and the removal of replays

●     Introduction of a winter break

The PST is canvassing supporter views (primarily of Pompey fans, but fans of other clubs are welcome to complete the survey) on the proposed changes ahead of an EFL meeting scheduled for September 22. The club has asked for results of this survey to be given to them ahead of the meeting. The PST would be grateful if you would take a couple of minutes to answer the following questions:

Question Title

* 1. In principle would you be in favour of or against changing the professional league structure from the current 92 teams to 100 teams playing in five divisions of 20?

In favour of changing the structure

Against changing the structure

Undecided

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* 2. Should the bottom two divisions of the EFL be regionalised, into a North/South division?

Yes, they should be regionalised

No, they should stay a national competition

Undecided

Question Title

* 3. If the proposed changes were adopted it would require additional teams entering the league pyramid. If that were to be the case, would you rather these teams come from:

The National League (aka Conference)

‘B’ Teams (ie PL Under 23/21 teams)

Invited teams from Scottish and/or Welsh Leagues

A combination of the above

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* 4. Would you be in favour of a winter break, or against it (ie you'd rather play through the winter as we do currently)?

In favour of winter break

Against a winter break

Undecided

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* 5. Would you be happy to see two rounds of the FA Cup moved to mid-week fixtures?

Yes, they should be moved to midweek

No, they should stay a weekend fixture

Undecided

Question Title

* 6. Would you be in favour of keeping FA Cup replays or would you prefer games were decided on the day?

In favour of replays

Prefer games to be decided on the day

Undecided

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* 7. Should the FA Cup Final be after the last game of the regular league season?

Yes, it should be after the last league game

No, it does not need to be after the last league game

Undecided

Question Title

* 8. What should happen with the EFL (CheckaTrade) Trophy?

Keep the current format (ie with PL/Champ U-23 team included)

Revert back to L1 & L2 teams only

Scrap the whole competition

Don't know

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* 9. Are you a member of the Pompey Supporters' Trust?

Yes

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* 10. Who do you primarily support?

Portsmouth FC

Another EFL club

A Premier League club

A non-league club

None of the above / no club

Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey. If you have any queries or questions about the issues raised in this survey, or would like to find out more about the Pompey Supporters' Trust please contact them here: trustmatters@pompeytrust.com