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Image: Premier League: Overseas plan

The Premier League's proposal for an 'international round' of matches has divided opinion.

Opinion divided on Premier League proposal

The Premier League's proposal for an 'international round' of matches has divided opinion throughout the game. Here, skysports.com looks at the opinions of the managers, players, chairmen and owners on the ground-breaking proposal.

For

Arsene Wenger (Arsenal): "My instinctive reaction is not to be against innovation. To give access to these people for me is along the right lines. How to do it? I don't know." Roy Keane (Sunderland): "It doesn't matter where we are playing, we will always have a fair amount of fans home and away. Change is good sometimes." Steve Coppell (Reading): "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. I know there are problems with it - the idea of having seeding is crazy - but to take our domestic game to the world is a good idea." Gary Megson (Bolton): "I think it's great. I don't think it will be a huge problem and the benefits will far out-weigh the cons." Phil Neville (Everton defender): "I can understand what the traditionalists may say, but the Premier League is worldwide." Daniel Levy (Tottenham chairman): "We mustn't disguise the fact that all clubs have overseas fans, the Premier League is broadcast to 200 countries on a weekly basis and therefore it's not just the domestic fans we need to think about." David Gold (Birmingham co-owner): "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." Bill Kenwright (Everton chairman): "We are the leading league in the world and have to look at ideas to ensure that English football keeps developing."

Against

Harry Redknapp (Portsmouth): "In the end we'll be playing on in England and the rest will be around the world. It will be like Harlem Globetrotters." Gareth Southgate (Middlesbrough): "Is it April Fool's Day? I find it highly unlikely it would happen. I can't see it being a realistic proposition." Robbie Savage (Derby midfielder): "From a player's point of view, it's daunting. It will certainly take its toll physically if we are flying halfway around the world and back before starting domestically again."

On the fence

Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United): "These issues should be discussed internally by clubs before they come to this position we are today but until I speak to David Gill again I have nothing more to say about it." Rafa Benitez (Liverpool): "I think it would work, but no team should gain advantage or disadvantage if the points were to go towards the final table." Roy Hodgson (Fulham): "I would have to have a clearer picture of what is behind this marketing idea - I would have to find out more about it. One extra game of football a year, as long as the calendar can be sorted out, that doesn't seem to be a deal-breaker." Steve Bruce (Wigan): "It wouldn't surprise me because we have got the best product. It is the best league in the world. We have to cherish it. It is a wonderful product. It wouldn't surprise me if one of the big clubs goes and plays somewhere else." Niall Quinn (Sunderland chairman): "We would not be comfortable if we felt one club would be getting more than others. It has to be right for our football club." John Williams (Blackburn chairman): "There are some logistical concerns and I'll sit down with Mark Hughes to see what he thinks. There are the fans as well."

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