EFL clubs reject Premier League’s £50m coronavirus bail-out fund which would have kept Leagues One and Two alive

EFL clubs have turned down the Prem £50m bail out – potentially driving League One and Two clubs to the wall.

In a move seemingly certain to spark further top flight fury, the three lower divisions branded the offer “conditional” as they declined to accept the money.

It is another mounting problem for EFL chief Rick Parry

The Prem had offered £20m immediately for League One and Two with a further £30m to come, on top of the £27.2m in “solidarity” payments already made, with no separate cash for the Championships.

And after a day of twists and turns as the 72 clubs met virtually in their respective divisions, the EFL said: “The need for continued unity across the membership base was fundamental to discussions across all three divisions.

“Therefore there was a strong consensus that any rescue package must meet the requirements of all 72 Clubs before it can be considered in full.

“The League has been very clear in its discussions of the financial requirements needed to address lost gate receipts.

“While EFL Clubs are appreciative that a formal proposal has now been put forward, the conditional offer of £50million falls some way short of this.

The decision caused deep anger and resentment for some Prem clubs, who were talking of “pulling the plug” altogether.

However, senior Premier League sources insisted the money would remain “on the table” and urged lower division clubs to talk to them directly.

The Prem also said it would be willing to listen to approaches from any Championship sides who found themselves in an “existential crisis” as a result of the pandemic.

SunSport understands that Championship clubs had reached a consensus that the smart play was for the money to be accepted “on behalf of the EFL”.

The idea was that the first £20m would be sent direct to the bottom two tiers with the rest placed in a hardship fund which would be available for cash-strapped Championship sides to apply for.

That would have been unacceptable for some Prem clubs although others are believed to have been willing to consider a compromise if they were given joint sign-off on the recipients.

But instead, a number of Prem clubs now feel the money has been “thrown back in our faces”.

And while the EFL said it was “keen to continue discussions with the Premier League to reach an agreeable solution” the mood between the two sides is hardening.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk