NEV: LET’S SEIZE BACK OUR GAME FROM BIG 6

‘Our historic moment to reset the recklessness...’

GARY NEVILLE believes English football has a “real opportunity” to seize back control from the Premier League’s Big Six.

The fan-led review by former sports minister Tracey Crouch (above) has received widespread backing.

It recommended changes including appointing an independent regulator, a Premier League transfer levy, golden shares and fan accountability.

Sky pundit and Manchester United legend Neville, now part-owner of League Two Salford City, firmly believes it can create a reset in the wake of the European Super League fiasco.

The Saving the Beautiful Game Group action front spokesman Neville called out the owners of United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool and Tottenham – and said an independent regulator is vital to stop the top-flight’s leading clubs calling the shots.

Former England defender Neville said: “Joel Glazer, Roman Abramovich, Stan Kroenke, Sheikh Mansour, JW Henry and Daniel Levy should not be in charge of English football.

“Does anybody in this country think that those six people should have the biggest influence on the running of English football? “Absolutely not.

“They are massive players in the game. They’re at the heart of the quality that we see every single week.

“But the Premier

League can’t even control the Premier

League clubs at this moment in time.” The 10 percent transfer levy – bringing in around £150million a year from deals – has already upset Premier League clubs.

It may be difficult to enforce but would be a lifeline for League One and Two clubs, and vital at grassroots level.

But Prem clubs are unhappy that they are expected to bail out badly-run EFL clubs while they already make substantial solidarity payments.

Neville added: “I would expect the regulator to come down really hard if EFL clubs are not able to financially control, monitor and track to ensure sustainable football.

“I’m not expecting the money to just wash down from the Premier League into an abyss again.

“This is a real opportunity, a historic moment to reset the recklessness that has existed in the game, chasing that Premier League ‘golden ticket’ that brings desperation, so that now clubs leaving the Premier League are not just in a sporting objective disappointed, but almost financially devastated.”

However, Aston Villa chief executive Christian Purslow (below) warned that some of the financial demands on Premier League clubs will be too costly as they are already committed to giving £1.6billion to the rest of the game plus a £300m package to EFL clubs.

Purslow told the BBC: “The Premier League has always really been the source of funding for the rest of football and the danger here is, of course, killing the golden goose if we overregulate a highly successful financial and commercial

operation.”