Prem apathy a shot in arm for regulator

MINISTERS insist there is no delay in pushing through the legislation to create an independent football regulator.

And the Football Governance Bill cannot come soon enough amid apparent apathy from Premier League clubs towards finding a financial deal with the EFL.

Incredibly, only HALF of top-flight teams attended a dinner organised in London by Burnley owner Alan Pace (above) last week for talks with Championship clubs.

Those in attendance were Chelsea, Brighton, Bournemouth, Manchester City, Luton, Burnley, Newcastle, Brentford, Wolves and Crystal Palace.

The meeting focused on support and a strategy for relegated clubs which is why there were 17 Championship teams in attendance but it also looked at the upcoming Bill as well as financial controls across the EFL.

It must be stressed this was a dinner organised by a club for the clubs to try to break bread but the evening finished without much hope of progress.

That puts the ball firmly back in the Government’s court and sources claim the Bill is still on course to go through Parliament just as soon as time allows.

A general election looks likely in the autumn which means there can be no excuses.

There have been whispers that the Governance Bill could be “watered down” while a future Labour Government would insist on it being beefed up.

Lucy Frazer, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, attended another Prem function last week where the mood was described as “positive” although any compromise without introduction of an independent regulator seems as far away as ever.