Premier League managers think of abandoning relegation

Manchester United's Sir Alex Ferguson led a host of managers on Tuesday in ridiculing suggestions that the format of the Premier League be changed to ensure no sides would be relegated.League Managers Association chief executive Richard Bevan claimed on Monday that some American and Asian owners of Premier League teams were in favour of the idea.But the idea was immediately shot down by a number of managers and players, including United defender Rio Ferdinand, who said via Twitter that "it would kill English football"."What's all this madness I'm hearing about there being no promotion or relegation from the PL," he said. "Wash your mouth out whoever suggested that."Any changes would have to ratified by the Football Association and United manager Ferguson said: "I don't see where the end product comes in."There are at least eight teams in the Championship at the moment with great history. What do you say to those eight teams, they can never play in the Premier League?"You may as well lock the doors. It would be absolute suicide for the rest of the teams in the country, particularly the Championship."Blackburn Rovers co-owner Venkatesh Rao said his club were not interested in any changes and Wigan chairman Dave Whelan went even further, saying the decision would have catastrophic consequences."If it was to happen I would resign Wigan from the Premier League and go back and play in the Football League," he said. "It's the most stupid suggestion I've ever heard in my life."Two thirds of the league's clubs would have to vote in favour of the move and the FA would also have to ratify it."It's a worrying thought that if we get 14 or 15 foreign owners, they come up with some mad idea and it gets voted through," Whelan said."It's got to be competitive, every club has got to have that ambition to get to the Premier League, that's why our league is so good. It's an appalling suggestion. It would ruin and kill English football."