Premier League clubs have been accused of «parking the bus» over a new funding deal for the English Football League (EFL).
There were hopes that an offer, projected to be worth an extra £900million over six years for the 72 clubs, would be made on Monday. However, Premier League clubs did not vote on an offer and are instead focused on finding a replacement for the controversial profitability and sustainability rules (PSR).
This delay had already drawn criticism from ex-Manchester United captain Gary Neville and now Dame Caroline Dinenage, the chair of the Culture, Media and Sport (CMS) committee has given her own verdict.
«The longer this deadlock goes on, the more the stated commitment from Premier League clubs to striking a deal with the rest of the pyramid looks like nothing more than an empty promise,» Dinenage told the PA news agency. She added: «With the richest teams in the country continuing to park the bus to block a financial settlement, the Premier League's number should now be up and the Government must urgently introduce its much-trailed legislation to bring an independent regulator into play. Every day that goes by without an agreement threatens the financial sustainability of clubs in communities up and down the country.»
The Government has given a stern warning that the new regulator will have the power to impose a deal on the Premier League and the EFL if they can't agree on one themselves. The Premier League is considering squad cost control measures, but these won't be voted on until the league's annual general meeting at the earliest.
The EFL is planning to discuss this issue at a board meeting on Thursday. Until a new deal is agreed upon, the EFL won't budge on Carabao Cup semi-final second legs or FA
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