Liverpool Play off Proposed

uberwolf

This would be great for both teams IMO. But of course if liverpool are allowed back in they'd be seeded, not having to qaulify - but a good story nonetheless


We'll play Liverpool for our place in the Champions League

May 12 2005

By Nick Coligan, Liverpool Echo


A TINY village football club may hold the key to Liverpool FC's participation in next season's Champions League.

Welsh champions Total Network Solutions FC say they will consider taking on the Reds in a winner-takes-all summer clash.

The prize awaiting the winner of this classic David and Goliath contest? TNS's hard-won place in the first qualifying round of the premier European club tournament.

The match would only take place in the event of Liverpool winning this year's Champions League final, but being unable to defend their title because no place is automatically available for the winners.

TNS play in front of an average of 258 fans in the village of Llansantffraid - population 1,000 - near Oswestry in Shropshire, and have sealed their place after running away with the Welsh title.

But they face the prospect of a costly trip to eastern Europe for tough ties against the champion from a country such as Moldova, Estonia or Azerbaijan.

A one-off match against Liverpool, in front of tens of thousands of fans in a neutral venue like the Millennium stadium and an even bigger TV audience, would mean the biggest payday in TNS's modest history.

Mike Harris, managing director of TNS, said his club would consider the play-off if it did not devalue the competition or the Welsh league.

He said: "If it was done properly, I think I would be in favour of it. It would have to be in the form of one 90-minute match, decided by penalties if it was a draw.

"We would get the benefit of the gate, and should we be unfortunate enough not to get through, we would want a percentage of Liverpool's income from the competition.

"We would want it covered by a national television station, and from a personal point of view, it would be nice to stage it at the Millennium stadium."

The FA has decided to nominate fourth-placed Everton over Liverpool for next season's Champions League, even if the Reds beat AC Milan in the final later this month.

A club spokesman said: "We aren't making any comment on this issue until after the final."

William Gaillard, director of communications at Uefa said: "It would be very attractive to the smaller club financially, but that isn't the way European football is played. We wouldn't want to set a precedent and it's not part of our rules."

Liverpool FC

Honours - 18 league titles, six FA Cups, seven League Cups.

Record attendance - 61,905 against Wolves, FA Cup 1951-52

Record transfer fee - £14m for Djibril Cisse

European Cup record - four times winners

TNS FC

Honours - one Welsh league title, one Welsh Cup, one League of Wales Cup

Record attendance - 1,996 at the Recreation Ground against Chelsea, pre-season friendly.

Record transfer fee - N/A

Champions League record - lost 6-2 on aggregate to FC Levadia Maardu of Estonia, first round, 2000

TheMonster

Me checks Calendar for 1st April.

So basically the Welsh club are sellign their place, instead of getting a draw against some little team and a small crowd - they are going for a guaranted payday vs Liverpool.

No way this could be allowed.

p.pete

Not a chance Uefa would go for this one - nice suggestion to take a percentage of what Liverpool would make from the competitiong though - 1% of this years would be better then winning the lottery for them

zAbbo

p.pete wrote:

Not a chance Uefa would go for this one - nice suggestion to take a percentage of what Liverpool would make from the competitiong though - 1% of this years would be better then winning the lottery for them

English Lotto is normally around 10million ?

Guy:Incognito

I think it's a good idea, especially from TNS's pov. They will do well financially which can only be a good thing. Better than them getting knocked out by eastliectenstein FC.

"they'll be dancing in the streets of Total Network Solutions"

Guy:Incognito

on a different note, I dont think it warrants its own thread, how come the welsh cup final was between Swansea and Wrexham? neither of whom play in the welsh league. That would be like the Old firm joining the pl but still playing in the CIS cup or Derry City playing in the Irish league cup.

p.pete

bazH wrote:

English Lotto is normally around 10million ?

Indeed it is but I didn't specify which lottery, did I? Also there is the entertainment value of watching Liverpool in each subsequent match knowing that another little windfall could be coming your way - you can't put a price on something like that

KdjaCL

The place up for grabs would be a 3rd qualifying round tie, so cant see Pool going for that 6 games in july and august before the group stages.


kdjac

Take it

crazy talk never going to happen

p.pete

I'd have my doubts actually that the gate would be quite as high as they would be hoping for also...