A FLURRY of big-money transfer negotiations are expected to take place when the first general assembly of the newly-formed European Club Association takes place on Monday.
Representatives from more than 100 clubs, including at least one from all 53 UEFA member nations, will convene at UEFA headquarters in Nyon to formulate a strategy for tackling the game's most pressing issues.
Although the meeting is primarily administrative, it has generated considerable interest because of the timing.
Not only does it come a week after the formation of the European Social Dialogue Committee - designed to improve understanding between professional football and the European Union on employment issues - but it also takes place right in the middle of the pre-season transfer rumour mill.
Although not on the agenda, a flurry of private bilateral discussions are expected with the cream of European clubs under one roof, not least Cristiano Ronaldo's future and whether the Manchester United star will or will not be moving to Real Madrid.
United, represented at the ECA assembly by chief executive David Gill, recently reported their Spanish rivals to FIFA for allegedly unsettling their prize asset with four years of his contract still to run.
As well as United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and Newcastle are the other English members of the ECA, which has replaced the disbanded G14 cartel.
Key to the two-day meeting will be the appointment of a 15-man board that is expected to include representatives of two English clubs, almost certainly Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon and Liverpool counterpart Rick Parry.
Former German striker Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, chairman of Bayern Munich, is standing unopposed for the chairmanship of the influential new body, founded six months ago in order to give smaller clubs more of a voice in the running of the game.
Although all legal cases previously supported by G14 have now been dropped in exchange for compensation payments to clubs whose players are called up for international duty, Rummenigge recently identified vital areas of concern, including the possibility of rescheduling the African Nations Cup and ensuring quotas for foreign players are not imposed by FIFA.
To emphasise unity among the clubs, an eight-a-side football tournament has been scheduled following today's formal business, with Parry playing in goal and Gill up front.
Although the meeting is primarily administrative, it has generated considerable interest because of the timing.
Not only does it come a week after the formation of the European Social Dialogue Committee - designed to improve understanding between professional football and the European Union on employment issues - but it also takes place right in the middle of the pre-season transfer rumour mill.
Although not on the agenda, a flurry of private bilateral discussions are expected with the cream of European clubs under one roof, not least Cristiano Ronaldo's future and whether the Manchester United star will or will not be moving to Real Madrid.
United, represented at the ECA assembly by chief executive David Gill, recently reported their Spanish rivals to FIFA for allegedly unsettling their prize asset with four years of his contract still to run.
As well as United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and Newcastle are the other English members of the ECA, which has replaced the disbanded G14 cartel.
Key to the two-day meeting will be the appointment of a 15-man board that is expected to include representatives of two English clubs, almost certainly Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon and Liverpool counterpart Rick Parry.
Former German striker Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, chairman of Bayern Munich, is standing unopposed for the chairmanship of the influential new body, founded six months ago in order to give smaller clubs more of a voice in the running of the game.
Although all legal cases previously supported by G14 have now been dropped in exchange for compensation payments to clubs whose players are called up for international duty, Rummenigge recently identified vital areas of concern, including the possibility of rescheduling the African Nations Cup and ensuring quotas for foreign players are not imposed by FIFA.
To emphasise unity among the clubs, an eight-a-side football tournament has been scheduled following today's formal business, with Parry playing in goal and Gill up front.
Copyright (c) Press Association
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