THE Premier League has made a new £200million bailout offer to the Championship.
But the EFL’s top clubs remain SPLIT on whether to accept the money.
The Premier League have offered a new £200m coronavirus relief package to EFL but clubs are split on accepting cashCredit: AFP
Premier League chiefs have tabled the outline of their new offer, which emerged after huge pressure from MPs.
It was enough for clubs in League One and Two to get the nod to sign up to their own £50m offer, which had been rejected last month because the Championship was not included.
Yet while the new offer was welcomed in principle, there was pushback from some Championship clubs who were concerned about the details.
Some were upset the money is in the form of loans, drawn from future ‘solidarity payments’, rather than as a simple sum.
And there was also a rift over how any money would be divided up.
Some clubs want an equal split of funds but others argue their greater lost income through having no gate receipts since March means they deserve more cash.
There was also disagreement over the terms of the offer. It was unclear if any clubs could ask for help, or only those who need the cash to ensure their survival as a result of coronavirus — and what conditions will be imposed on those who take the money.
One club chief said: “There was no common ground, other than a recognition that money is now on the table.
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“Some clubs believe they have run themselves properly and yet those who have not are the ones who will benefit, including when it comes to avoiding paying tax or transfer embargoes.
“It’s also a fact that if we take the money now, solidarity payments will go down for the next two or three years.
“The danger is that we accept the package on these terms, do nothing about the structural problems in the EFL and then end up back where we are now when the money runs out.”
A further meeting next week will be held to try to come to an agreement.
But the size of the planned bailout could anger some Premier League clubs who were reluctant to pay mega-rich Championship owners.
The change of approach from the top-flight allows the more pressing financial problems of the lower two divisions to near a conclusion, though.
Championship clubs signalled their willingness for League One and Two teams — who held separate divisional meetings — to take up the Premier League’s £50m offer.
The 48 lower-division sides subsequently accepted the proposal, now expected to be formally confirmed by the Premier League early next week.
An EFL statement said: “A collective agreement in principle was made to move forward and finalise negotiations.
“Championship clubs made clear they wanted to ensure their colleagues in League One and League Two receive the proposed £50m support package as soon as practically possible.
“The EFL believes this represents a significant step forward and is hopeful a final agreement on the short term rescue package across all three divisions can be reached imminently.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
