SIR Alex Ferguson has claimed it would be ‘‘suicide’’ to scrap relegation from the Premier League.

Several of the biggest Premier League clubs want to do away with relegation and promotion in the top flight, according to League Managers’ Association chief executive Richard Bevan.

Bevan claimed the American and Asian owners of Premier League sides are keen on a franchising model.

Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Aston Villa and Sunderland are all in American hands, Manchester City are run from Abu Dhabi, while other clubs including Chelsea and Blackburn also have foreign investors.

Bevan fears that if more teams change ownership, there could be a vote to abolish relegation, a move which would require the backing of two thirds of Premier League clubs as well as FA approval.

However, Ferguson is leading the opposition.

‘‘I don’t see where the end product comes in,’’ said the Scot. ‘‘There are at least eight teams in the Championship at the moment with great history.

What do you say to those eight teams, they can never play in the Premier League?

‘‘You may as well lock the doors. It would be absolute suicide for the rest of the teams in the country.’’ As Ferguson pointed out, if the axe fell now, two-time European Cup winners Nottingham Forest would be out, along with Leeds and both Sheffield clubs.

‘‘All these great teams are the nucleus of the Premier League many years ago,’’ he said. “The only place you can make money and realise your ambition is the Premier League. You can’t take that away from clubs.’’ Earlier Bevan said: ‘‘There are a number of overseasowned clubs already talking about bringing about the avoidance of promotion and relegation in the Premier League.’’