Jury out on Premier League overseas plan

LONDON, England -- The Premier League's plans to play some fixtures overseas has received a generally favorable reception from managers and owners, but Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said he was angry that he had not been properly consulted.

Asked for his reaction, Ferguson refused to give an opinion. "What disappoints me is that our chief executive David Gill phoned me and said 'keep this quiet, we are going to discuss it' and then it's all over the papers this morning.

"They can't keep their mouth shut down there," blasted Ferguson.

But a Premier League spokesman responded almost immediately to the Scot's remarks.

"This is the start of the consultation process, not the end.

"It was given to the clubs yesterday so that they can initiate that process.

"This is a proposal which everybody knows needs a lot of work and a lot of consideration before it takes its final shape," he said.

Under plans unveiled by Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore on Thursday, from the 2010-11 season in one weekend in January there would be an extra 'international round' with 10 matches played abroad in cities such as Hong Kong, New York, Los Angeles, Singapore, Sydney, Johannesburg, Dubai and Beijing.

Sunderland manager Roy Keane is an early supporter. "I have to say, I think it is great. Change is good sometimes. Obviously, it depends who you are playing in that extra game -- if we were playing one of the top four, I might argue then," said the Irishman, while Reading boss Steve Coppell was also positive.

"It's good, it's innovative. We are the prime league in the world at the moment and I heard on the TV this morning that English Premier League football is seen in 200 countries across the world. So we have to do something to keep it in everybody's eye-line," he said.

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy gave his support to the overseas fixtures as did Birmingham co-owner David Gold.

"I think it will be great for the Premier League. It's one game and gives the opportunity, particularly to smaller clubs, to take your brand and take it global and I find that very exciting," he said.

But reaction from fans was less positive -- with Football Supporters' Federation chairman Malcolm Clarke outraged. "This displays a complete disregard not for the proud traditions of the English game as well as a crass lack of consideration for football supporters in general," he said.

He found support from Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp who quipped: "It would be like the Harlem Globetrotters, while his Middlesbrough counterpart Gareth Southgate initially thought it was a joke. "Is it April 1? I find it highly unlikely it would happen. I wouldn't think it would be a realistic proposition," he said.

A meeting of the 20 clubs has agreed in principle to the plan and the final decision whether to proceed with the plan will be made in January next year. E-mail to a friend