Ridsdale in EFL warning as funding row drags on

ENGLISH football is “finished” if the EFL does not remain “competitive and sustainable”, Preston chairman Peter Ridsdale has warned as he criticised the Premier League for having not yet made a funding offer.

Premier League sources were hopeful top-flight teams would make the EFL an offer at the end of a clubs meeting on Monday, but the focus instead is on agreeing new financial rules in the Premier League first.

EFL board member Ridsdale – the former Leeds United and Barnsley chairman – said the lack of an offer was “very frustrating” and told BBC Radio 5 Live: “We’ve made it clear to the Premier League that if they put their proposals into a formal offer, we would recommend acceptance. We’re sitting here today and we have not had that offer, despite the fact we were told it was coming last September.”

EFL chairman Rick Parry told MPs in January that the deal discussed, but still not formally offered, was for 14.75 per cent of pooled net media revenues, projected to be worth an extra £900m to the EFL over six years.

Ridsdale added: “All we want is to make sure we have a sustainable and competitive EFL and obviously you see the cliff-edge between the Premier League and the Championship, with the parachute clubs coming down getting something like £50m in the first year and £40m-odd in the second year, having got relegated.

“The top three teams are Leicester, Leeds and Ipswich, then Southampton are fourth. Three of those four came down last year and have got parachute payments. If we don’t keep it competitive and sustainable, then English football is finished.”

The EFL board meet today.