The Premier League has been criticised for its inaction to agree a financial deal with the Football League which would reduce inequality in the game.
A Premier League meeting failed to reach agreement despite clubs being told that if they could not reach a deal then one would be imposed on them by an independent regulator.
The deal is seen as crucial to the long-term financial stability of the game as it would end the controversial and unfair parachute payment system and thus make leagues such as the Championship fairer.
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…
Dame Caroline Dinenage, chair of the Culture, Media and Sport committee didn’t mince her words when she told the BBC: “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.
“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.”
Peter Risdale, the executive director of Preston North End added: “There is no offer. It’s very frustrating for the whole of English football.
“There is no disagreement with the EFL clubs – it is with the Premier League clubs as to how much of the money is going to come down and where it is coming from.
“All we want is to make sure we have a sustainable and competitive EFL and obviously you see the cliff-edge between the Premier League and the Championship, with the parachute clubs coming down getting something like £50m in the first year and £40m-odd in the second year, having got relegated.”
Perhaps tough action is needed by the EFL to provoke an end to this highly damaging stalemate. A suspension of loan player trading with EPL clubs would hit hard at their Development Academies that depend so heavily on loaning out players to EFL clubs. Meanwhile it would encourage EFL clubs to promote talent from within, with the likes of Lomax, Walters, and Shorrock benefiting at the Vale. Bridging the gap between the EPL and EFL has never been greater, and for the long term competitive good it must be challenged.