Manchester United star and co-owner of Salford, Gary Neville, has charged the Premier League with neglecting the rest of English football.
He has launched a vicious attack, calling the EFL’s inability to reach an agreement on new funds a “absolute disgrace.”
Monday’s shareholders’ meeting in London ended without an offer being made as top flight clubs feel the priority is to thrash out a new financial system to replace the current profitability and sustainability rules (PSR). Premier League clubs met on Monday with the view to voting on a proposed new six-year deal that would see money filter down to the EFL, with reports forecasting that it could be worth up to £925million. However, that discussion was put on hold, with priority given to reforming their own financial regulations amid ongoing questions regarding profitability and sustainability rules (PSR).
“What interests me more is the vote they were not given, which was to back the Football League, which they keep shoving aside and it’s a complete shame,” Neville stated to Sky Sports.
The sustainability of the entire league and the well-being of the game are at stake. Currently, the Premier League is being careless in their dismissive behavior, simply putting it off and hoping that a regulator would take care of it eventually. In the meantime, they are doing nothing.
“It just shows to me that they are not taking proper care of the entire game, which is not good governance.” Every time I watch them having a Premier League meeting and appear to take care of themselves but not the rest of football, it enrages me.
When the PA news agency contacted the Premier League for a response to Neville’s comments, the league, which had previously stated its position in a statement, remained silent.
The government has stated time and time again that it wants the football authorities to reach a new financial settlement amongst themselves, but it has also issued a warning that ‘backstop’ powers that will be granted to the new independent regulator may force them to do so. The EFL has not yet responded.
What has the Premier League said about the meeting?
On Monday night, a Premier League spokesperson said: “At a Premier League shareholders’ meeting today clubs agreed to prioritise the swift development and implementation of a new league-wide financial system. This will provide certainty for clubs in relation to their future financial plans and will ensure the Premier League is able to retain its existing world-leading investment to all levels of the game.
Premier League clubs also reaffirmed their intention to obtaining a financially sustainable arrangement with the EFL in conjunction with this, provided that clubs publicly ratify the new financial system. Along with reaffirming their long-standing and continuous dedication to the game, the league and clubs also announced that £1.6 billion will be given to football at all levels during the current three-year cycle. The major financial contributions from the Premier League go toward supporting women’s and girls’ football, the grassroots of the sport, and all EFL and National League clubs.
Read more on https://sportupdates.co.uk/
Leave a Reply