Football League Unclear Over New Payment Plans

The Football League wants further clarification before it can accept the proposals put forward by the Premier League to change the distribution of money to the 72 League clubs, including parachute payments.

The Football League wants clarification before voting to increase payments to sides relegated from the top flight from £24m over two seasons to £48m over four.

Chairman Greg Clarke stated: ‘The Football League is not in a position to accept it. We wish to clarify certain issues. There is certain unhappiness about a four-year parachute payment which some of the clubs think could distort competition. We’ve got to engineer a consensus.’

The Football League has until June to reach a favourable compromise on the proposals, which also include changes to the ‘solidarity package’ which benefits all 72 League clubs.

Under the proposed extension of parachute payments, clubs would receive £16m in each of the first two seasons after relegation from the Premier League, and £8m in years three and four.

Championship clubs not in receipt of parachute payments have received £830,000 over each of the last three years. Under the current proposals, that figure would rise to £2.2m per season.

However, League One and Two clubs would receive only modest increases, earning £325,000 and £250,000 respectively.