PREM GO-SLOW INFURIATES EFL

A RANCOROUS week ended in deadlock and disappointment after the Premier League yet again failed to offer the EFL a new deal on financial redistribution.

- Chris Dunlavy

A draft proposal of around £900m over six years was expected to emerge from a meeting of top-flight clubs on Monday.

Instead, a statement announced the creation of a new set of financial rules to replace existing profit & sustainability regulations, and said that any funding deal for the EFL would be contingent on this new system being approved by clubs. This is likely to take several months.

The delay prompted a furious response from across the sporting and political spectrum, with the EFL criticising the Premier’s League “repeated failure” to put forward a funding offer that it said would have “significant benefits for the entire football pyramid”.

Peter Ridsdale, right, a director at Preston and one of three elected representatives from the Championship on the EFL Board, added: “We’ve made it clear to the Premier League that if they put their proposals into a formal offer, we would recommend acceptance. We’re sitting here today and we have not had that offer, despite the fact we were told it was coming last September.