Questions still in need of answers...

SO, THE EFL clubs we’ve spoken to have given their backing to the decision to rule out Premier League B teams from any possible restructuring scheme.

Clubs from non-English leagues or those outside the English football pyramid will also not be part of any revamp. Okay, that’s clear.

It’s also clear that if the proposals were to eventually get the go ahead, the EFL would seek to recruit the eight extra clubs it would need to make up their four divisions of 20 teams from the National League.

So far, so good. But there are still hurdles to be cleared if the EFL are going to win over a host of sceptical clubs by next summer when the intention is to vote on the plans – and don’t forget that 90 per cent of them will need to vote in favour for the revamp to go through.

One of the biggest is how the 72 clubs are going to be compensated for losing four home league games per season. If you’re losing approaching 20 per cent of your home games, then you’ve got every right to be concerned.

In addition, you’ve got the question of regionalisation. Should this be brought in in the lower divisions of the EFL? By canvassing the opinions of clubs this week, you can see there are differing views.

You can understand clubs wanting to be seen to be part of a national competition, but does it still make sense for clubs to be travelling from one end of the country to the other if it isn’t really necessary? Would attendances improve if you were playing more matches closer to home?

Who will benefit from these changes? One chairman said to us this week that the Premier League is behind this, with their desire to free up the calendar to enable a winter break to be brought in.

The mishandling of the revamped Football League Trophy has perhaps made clubs wary of change, too.

The EFL still have plenty of time to change people’s mind, but there are lots more questions to answer.