28 September 2023 , 19:05
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English Football League clubs are edging closer to a £900m deal with the Premier League.
The Premier League’s draft six-year proposal was put to the 72 EFL clubs on Thursday and it will come down to reaching agreement on the finer details and cost controls. Premier League clubs have been under pressure to reach an agreement with the EFL before the Government’s Independent Football Regulator is brought in.
The next step towards legislation will come with the King’s Speech in November. That has now intensified talks between the EFL and the Premier League to try and reach a compromise without having one imposed upon them by the new regulator.
An EFL statement said: “As several important issues are still to be resolved, it was made clear at the meeting that nothing has been agreed with either the Premier League or its Clubs. As such EFL Clubs were not required to vote or take a decision on any matter, but instead held a proactive debate on the current status of the discussions.
“To maintain momentum, the League will now enter into targeted consultation with all EFL Clubs in smaller groups, to consider additional context and detail of the proposal. Club views will be collated to inform the discussions with the Premier League which have been ongoing throughout 2023, as we seek a speedy and satisfactory conclusion to improve the financial health of EFL Clubs.”
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EFL chairman Rick Parry had called for a 25 per cent share of the Premier League’s pooled broadcast revenue. This new proposal represents around 21 per cent and is therefore edging closer but it is also believed to represent around double the current solidarity package.
The EFL’s case has undoubtedly been strengthened by the three newly-promoted clubs - Sheffield United, Burnley and Luton - occupying the relegation zone places without a win between them which only heightens the gap between the top flight.
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The EFL are nearing the end of negotiations with the Premier LeagueEFL chiefs have been keen to scrap parachute payments with Parry previously calling them an “evil that needs to be eradicated” because it skews the competitive nature of the Championship. There are currently five clubs on parachute payments in the Championship.
It is likely they will remain in a different guise with detailed discussions in smaller groups now taking place next week between EFL clubs to thrash out the finer details and how the financial package should be shared out. The Premier League have been given a mandate to reach an agreement but it cannot put forward a formal offer without the green light from the 20 top flight clubs.
Premier League clubs still have reservations about giving so much wealth to the EFL when they do not know if the regulator will impose more changes and they also do not yet know the size of their next TV deal. There has also been bitterness among the majority of clubs wanting the Big Six who signed up for the European Super League - which hastened the need for a regulator - to pay a bigger share.