‘PREMIER B TEAMS MAY RESCUE EFL’

DAN ASHWORTH has forecast football could be heading towards B teams, feeder clubs and ground-sharing.

Brighton’s technical director fears the financial implications of the coronavirus could have devastating effects all the way down the football pyramid.

Football League clubs angrily rebelled against proposals to put Premier League B teams into the lower divisions when they were put forward six years ago to help the development of home-grown players.

But Ashworth (above), then the FA’S director of elite development, believes radical changes could be “back on the table” to help bail out lower division clubs with EFL outfits struggling to survive during the prolonged lockdown.

Ashworth said: “Everyone starts by looking at their own house.

“Our budgets, what our outgoings and incomings are.

“A few years ago, we explored strategic loan clubs, B teams, partner clubs – those sorts of things.

“Maybe things like that come back on the table because if there is a shortage of money everybody has to cut their cloth accordingly.

“Maybe there’s some way we can form partnerships so that we can share resources and help one another.

“Ground-sharing has been looked at and artificial surfaces that can be used for numerous things from concerts to training and women’s and men’s games in the same venue.”

Ashworth enjoyed a hugely successful spell at the FA, overseeing St George’s Park and the dramatic improvement of the England national team.

And he believes football is heading for a reboot while also facing problems over the June 30 contract deadline.

He said: “Maybe there is a correction in the market with what we pay for wages, transfer fees and agents’ fees.

“There’s two parts to June 30, in that players out on loan in the majority of cases finish then. You’ve got players then who are potentially running out of contract or the option part.

“If the player doesn’t want to extend, you can’t make them.

“But I think the majority of players would carry on because I don’t think they could sign for anyone else.”