Ten top clubs set to ditch New Deal
AGROWING number of Premier League clubs are considering ditching football’s New Deal — and taking legal action should a Government regulator try to force them into it.
Top flight sides met on Monday to vote on the so-called New Deal offer to the EFL — effectively a £ 167million- a- year rescue package over five years — ahead of the imminent arrival of a new football ombudsman.
But the ballot did not take place after half of the clubs made it clear it was not worth doing so. Fourteen must vote in favour for anything to be approved.
Mail Sport understands those clubs were Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, Liverpool, West Ham, Aston Villa, Wolves, Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace and Bournemouth.
As part of a forthright meeting, the prospect of canning the deal entirely was raised, while a plan to take on the Government in court, should they try and force clubs into the payments, was also discussed.
Insiders disclosed the clubs feel that being forced to pay a rival business in the same industry — with that money then used by the rival to try to take their place in the Premier League — was ‘unpalatable’ and ‘unworkable’.
Some feel any legal challenge would cost far less than the £836m they could be asked to cough up and would, at the very least, delay any attempt by the regulator to force through an agreement.
The Football Governance Bill, which includes plans for a regulator which would have the power to monitor and enforce financial regulations, is expected to be introduced next month.
It would then take a further several months, potentially beyond a General Election, to become law.
The Premier League’s executive had put forward plans to pay the EFL the £836m, on top of an existing £ 110m in solidarity payments and £40m-a-year youth development funding.
But that has been met with growing resistance, with the very prospect of such a New Deal now under serious threat.
How the latest development is received by the Government remains to be seen. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has already warned of intervention should an agreement remain elusive.
Clubs did vote for a resolution focusing on the Premier League’s future financial system.
There is a widespread view that the problems in the game outside the top-flight come as a result of overspending and clubs not running themselves properly, rather than a lack of funding in the first place.
The Premier League and EFL declined to comment. The delay means that the EFL are likely to continue to refuse to scrap two-leg Carabao Cup semi-finals next season.