USL also has to adhere to the PLS, and, unlike MLS, they have no dependencies needed to implement pro/rel.
Well, that's what happens when you try to defend the indefensible. Really, this isn't difficult. If the USSF wanted a level playing field between closed and pro/rel leagues, how difficult would it be to fix the darn divisional standards to cater for pro/rel?
I think these guys may have a darn division. https://www.theartleague.org/content/events_special_exhibits
But the USSF is maybe the only federation to support multiple leagues at the same levels. What specifically do you want fixed? Try putting it into words.
TBH, their "let a thousand flowers bloom" philosophy is why I think the standards could potentially be revised.
Right, and if a couple of teams in smaller MSAs get promoted what stops them asking for a waiver and a review of the PLS?
These PLS are just another excuse to do nothing and blame the establishment. There's no reason they can't be revised. If USL or some magic fairy rival D1 or D2 proposes some reasonable amendments, and they are rejected to protect MLS position, then you at least have grounds for complaint. Here's the story from 1993 to 2017. https://rantingsoccerdad.com/2017/10/24/timeline-how-did-nasl-dispute-come-to-this/ It was all fun and games until NASL blew itself up. Remember when NASL had it's application for yet another waiver turned down it only had 3 functioning teams.
For the record, I mostly agree with your position. My reluctance to sign off on this point, though, is not because of conspiracies or malevolence, but bureaucracy: the federation meets, what, quarterly? And business moves slowly.
That last provisional D2 sanction nixed a ton of conspiracy theories for me. That league looked dead in the water of its own doing. If the USSF really was trying to ruin NASL as an MLS competition, there was no reason not to do it then. The detractors have tried to make the "give them enough rope" argument but c'mon; for whose benefit? Fact is, in keeping with many of their NASL-related decisions, the took steps to give the league one final chance, going above and beyond in the process and the NASL once again failed to get their act together. Even then, the USSF didn't put the NASL on hiatus. That was their own decision which in part seemed fuelled by Commisso's objection to his team being in D3. In fact, IMO, that's a big driver of the Founders Cup. It's an attempt to deflect attention from where the Cosmos really are at present.
What’s the relevance? Is he advocating scrapping pro/rel? Has anyone in the UK? Is it the consensus opinion that the lower divisions in the UK are not healthy?
This is the consensus the chairman was discussing. He was also talking about how the value of being promoted last year was literally a buffer against the team's survival.
That's always been the consensus. Thankfully there's an over-supply of people who want to own a football club.
I'd wager there's a lot of passing interest in it. It's just not a make-or-break cause with most people. Not that I know of. Most SGs care about the club, and certainly there's some anti-MLS sentiment out there, but that's usually not about this issue.
Pro/rel is what keeps the pyramid healthy. Without it the whole pyramid would collapse and lower division clubs would fold. I always hear about how Arrington Stanley is an example of pro/rel not being a benefit. But without pro/rel there wouldn’t be an AC.
Here's the specific Twitter thread I'm referring to, but his Twitter in general has some interesting takes on the same types of things talked about in this thread: So,Last night we got a much needed win over @drfc_official This was of critical importance to our club from a business sense and here’s why:Most would think it’s the money, the @EFL distribution and @premierleague solidarity.It’s not.— Andyh (@AndyhHolt) April 24, 2019
So how did the Football League survive from 1888 to 1987 when there wasn't a pyramid outside of the top four divisions?
Teams outside the football league were largely amateur or semi-pro. They still had a path to the football league through election but it wasn’t a clear path like promotion. The question you should be asking is , what if England scrapped the pro/rel system and every league was closed.