Row over £5m send-off for outgoing EPL boss

Richard Scudamore is understood to be surprised and embarrassed by a plan to give him a £5 million send-off when he stands down as English Premier League executive chairman next month.

The idea emerged on Tuesday, shortly before the league called an emergency general meeting to announce Scudamore’s replacement as chief executive, television executive Susanna Dinnage.

But, instead of talking about the appointment of a talented British woman to one of sport’s biggest jobs, the league has found itself having to defend an idea they had been unaware of until it was reported by the Daily Mail.

Dinnage was chosen after a recruitment process led by the league’s nominations committee, which is chaired by Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck, who also chairs the league’s audit and remuneration committee.

It is understood that Buck believes Scudamore deserves a farewell bonus after 20 years of negotiating the league’s inflationbusting broadcast deals and he has informally suggested that each club contribute £250,000 to the pot. l Fifteen of the 24 Championship clubs have threatened to break away if the English Football League refuses to rip up its proposed domestic broadcast rightsdealwithskysports.