Sunderland’s League One rivals considering legal action against cap

Portsmouth chief executive Mark Catlin says the prospect of legal action against the EFL cannot be ruled out after League One’s controversial salary cap vote.

Third-tierclubsvotedtointroduce a £2.5million limit on salaries, agent fees and other player-related expenditure earlier this month – despite opposition from a number of clubs, including Sunderland and Pompey.

And answering questions from Portsmouth supporters on the club’s official website, Catlin admitted that legal action is not off the table just yet. "It’s tough,” he said. "We are part of the EFL and whileIdon’tagreewiththecurrent situation, it was voted on and we have to accept and respect democratic decisions, with one caveat – that they are legal.

“Governing bodies can, of course, vote and agree on various rules and regulations, but in regards of equality, competitiveness and restriction of trade, no decisions can legally override statute or company law.

"The PFA believe that the newrulesintheircurrentstate to be ‘unlawful’, while the professionaladviceIhavereceived strongly supports this view.

“Our strategy at the moment is to work towards some adjustments that protect our playersasemployeesandallow clubs to spend what they can operationally afford.

"Both of these are, in our opinion,no-brainersandkeep us legal.

“I understand that the PFA are not too far away from our viewsonthisintermsofreaching a compromise, rather than embarking on costly legal action,andareshortlyduetogoto arbitration with the EFL.

“We hope that an agreement can be reached between the PFA and EFL, but if it can’t, then we will have to take a view onwhetherthenewrulesforce us to break the law.

“If we are convinced this is the case, then naturally we have an obligation to both the businessandouremployeesto notallowourselvestobeputinto that position.

"Wewillcontinuetodiscuss with all relevant parties, while also considering our options moving forward.”

Meanwhile, Doncaster Rovers have scrapped their under-23 side for the 2020/21 campaign.

Chief executive Gavin Baldwin said: “Some of that is a financial decision because it means they will not be travelling to games, so we’ll save money on that and kit. But the money spent on the players should be exactly the same.”