The Scotsman

Premier League chief Masters has ‘no beef ’ with EFL clubs as top-flight teams reject controvers­ial Project Big Picture

- By JAMIE GARDNER

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters insists there is" no beef" with the EFL'S clubs after Project Big Picture plans endorsed by its chairman Rick Parry were rejected by top-flight teams.

The relationsh­ip b et ween the competitio­ns was strained to say the least when the PBP proposals became public knowledge at the weekend.

They were developed by Liverpool and Manchester United and, while they included an immediate £250 million bailout for the EFL and a 25 per cent share for the league ever y year in any future Pre - mier League media revenues, they also sought to concentrat­e Premier League power in the hands of the so - called 'big six'.

Premier League clubs did not endorse PBP when they met yesterday, and they will instead continue work on a "strategic plan" involving all 20 teams.

They also agreed to offer an additional £50 min grants and loans to clubs in League One and Two on top of £27.2m already advanced in solidarity payments.

The Premier League's offer will now be formally submitted to the EFL for approval, and while Masters said there was" frustratio­n" that Parry had publicly endorsed the PBP plans, the relationsh­ip b et ween the leagues would endure.

"Clearly there's some frustratio­n a proposal that hadn't had any input from the Premier League, from our clubs, has been pushed so hard in public," he said.

"But we don't have a beef with the EFL, certainly not with its clubs.

"We want to have a good relationsh­ip with them.

"We're their biggest partner.

We have a historic relationsh­ip with them. So we want it to be constructi­ve."

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden had earlier warned Parry not to be distracted by PBP, which he described as "this latest wheeze", and urged the leagues to continue talks over an EFL rescue package. He also described it as 'Project Power Grab'.

He has welcomed the Pre - mier League's offer to Leagues One and Two as "a good start". The Premier League said discussion­s would continue over possible loans to clubs in the Championsh­ip.

 ??  ?? 0 Richard Masters: Wants good relationsh­ip with EFL.
0 Richard Masters: Wants good relationsh­ip with EFL.

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