The Premier League and English Football League (EFL) executives have conducted confidential discussions to explore the possibility of reinstating a comprehensive industry-wide agreement ahead of the launch of the government’s new football oversight body.
Sky News has reported that Richard Masters, the CEO of the Premier League, and Trevor Birch, the CEO of the EFL, along with representatives from clubs such as Arsenal, Brentford, West Ham, Lincoln City, Norwich City, and Preston North End met recently to talk about various aspects of the football industry.
Sources revealed that this meeting was intended to initiate discussions on financial redistribution, the annual calendar, resource-sharing, and other critical matters before the formation of the Independent Football Regulator (IFR).
A successful agreement would demonstrate to government officials that English football can regulate itself effectively for the benefit of all stakeholders.
The focal point of any agreement between the Premier League and the EFL would be the “New Deal,” a long-stalled negotiation that was proposed to include additional funding of £925m over a six-year span.
Although no official proposal was made by the Premier League, one proposed plan outlined a £44m initial payment to lower leagues, followed by another £44m payment shortly after.
However, the £88m package was intended as a loan that the EFL would need to repay over more than six years.
Recent discussions suggested that Premier League clubs wanted to separate this vote from any broader financial reforms, causing concern among some top-flight club owners.
The Premier League already allocates £1.6bn every three years to the other English professional football leagues as part of an existing agreement.
With the EFL recently securing a more lucrative broadcast deal with Sky Sports, discussions indicate that any future offer from the Premier League may not be as substantial as the 2023 proposal.
Following the recent meeting, which insiders described as “constructive,” further discussions are expected to take place.
The legislation to establish the IFR is currently progressing through parliament.
Earlier reports by Sky News identified Christian Purslow and Sanjay Bhandari as two of the shortlisted candidates for the IFR chair position.
Clubs from both leagues have expressed concerns about the regulatory cost implications and highlighted the challenges posed by national insurance increases and post-Brexit immigration rules.
As of now, neither the Premier League nor the EFL have provided any comments on the matter.