PFA AND EFL IN SQUAD LIMITS DISPUTE

THE EFL is heading for another legal battle with the Professional Footballers’ Association over squad limits in the lower leagues.

Rules drawn up in August stipulate that teams in League One and Two must run with a maximum of 20 players from next season - five less than sides from the Championship.

As part of the same directive, a £1.5m annual salary cap was also imposed on clubs in League Two, rising to £2.5m for those in League One.

The new regulations were voted through by a majority of EFL cubs, with the wage limits effective from the start of the current campaign.

However, a successful legal challenge by the PFA in February forced the EFL to scrap salary caps. Now PFA chief Gordon Taylor intends to use the same argument to force the EFL into a rethink on squad caps - and is demanding clubs vote to raise the limits in the lower tiers to 25.

In an open letter to all EFL clubs, Taylor wrote: “Unfortunately, the EFL is refusing to withdraw the squad size limits. Frustrating as this is, unless another solution can be found, the PFA must now therefore consider commencing a further arbitration claim and/ or bringing other legal claims.

“This would cause a further needless waste of legal costs, money that ultimately the clubs themselves have to pay if the EFL is again unsuccessful.

“The PFA has proposed to the EFL a temporary limit of 25 players across all EFL leagues. We urge clubs to engage with the EFL and if necessary to request a vote on this proposal.”

In reply, an EFL spokesperson said: “At the heart of these discussions is the principle of how the EFL can achieve longterm sustainability and address wage inflation issues through sensible cost control measures and appropriate financial regulation.

“We have discussed the issues raised in the letter with all 72 clubs and will now continue to engage with the PFA as we seek to reach a solution that addresses the concerns of all parties involved.”