BATTLE LINES ARE DRAWN FOR BREXIT QUOTA TALKS

THE Premier League have appointed their Brexit working party for crunch talks to shape the future of English football, with former FA technical director Dan Ashworth set to go into battle against his former bosses.

Sportsmail can reveal that Ashworth, now Brighton technical director, is part of a six-strong group who will try to agree a quota system for overseas players with the FA. Ashworth, who spent nearly six years at the FA, will face up to his successor, Les Reed. Southampton managing director Toby Steele — who worked with Reed at the south coast club before being sacked — is also on the panel. The group also includes Liverpool sporting director Michael Edwards, Chelsea general counsel James Bonington, Tottenham director of football operations Rebecca Caplehorn and Leicester director of football Jon Rudkin. Last month, Sportsmail revealed that top-flight clubs were scrambling to be allowed into what are expected to be crucial discussions over post-Brexit quotas. Premier League sources say they are confident the panel provides widespread representation, despite its limited numbers. Representatives from the FA and EFL are also involved. From January, clubs will be banned from signing overseas players under the age of 18, which will have consequences for what constitutes a homegrown player. As it stands, a homegrown player is one who — irrespective of nationality — has been with an English or Welsh academy for three years prior to their 21st birthday. The FA are keen to use Brexit to reduce the number of foreign players allowed from 17 to 13 in a 25-man squad, while the League believes import rules should be slackened. The Government had hoped for a proposal this month, but that is now unlikely given the impact of the coronavirus crisis.