Government support for Greek plan

Club talks
Orfanos spoke to the press following a meeting with Hellenic Football Federation (EPO) president Vassilis Gagatsis, Olympiacos CFP vice-president Petros Kokkalis, Panathinaikos FC owner Ioannis Vardinoyannis, and Themistoklis Nikolaidis and Konstantinos Piladakis, presidents of AEK Athens FC and Larissa FC respectively.

Draft requested
The minister informed the club representatives that the state will back their proposal for a Super League if they can produce a final draft of their plan including suggestions regarding the second tier clubs. Currently, clubs playing in the second and third divisions come under the jurisdiction of the Greek professional league (EPAE) which also governs the top flight.

Government willing
He said: "We all agreed that the league must become more competitive. The clubs have a concrete plan and we talked about its main principles. As far as the government is concerned, we will have the law ready for when the finalised plan of the clubs will be ready. We will do what is necessary for Greek football." Kokkalis said the final draft of the blueprint will be ready by the end of January, with EPO president Gagatsis confirming: "The federation can vouch for the clubs' initiative."

Xanthi plan
The plan, revealed last month by northern side Skoda Xanthi FC, includes bonuses for clubs staying in the first division, bonuses for promoted teams, and for good referees. It also sets new quality standards for stadiums and allows clubs to negotiate television rights individually or jointly.

'Open minds'
Eleven of the 16 top-flight clubs reportedly back the Super League proposal. The five refuseniks are Egaleo FC, PAOK FC, Iraklis FC, Kallithea FC and Ionikos FC. Larissa president Piladakis said: "It's a new proposal by people with open minds and new ideas. We call upon those who disagree to come and present their arguments so we can talk about the plan."

Mitropoulos opposition
However, one of the initiative's most outspoken critics, EPAE deputy chairman Victor Mitropoulos, said: "This plan is not feasible, especially for teams that are financially troubled. It makes big teams even stronger and more powerful, and smaller teams much weaker."