Premier League clubs vow NOT to bail out EFL after filling Championship sides’ coffers with £170m in transfer fees
FURIOUS Premier League sides have vowed NOT to bail out the cash-strapped EFL.
The 20 top-flight clubs snubbed Government pleas to fund a £250million rescue package being demanded by EFL chairman Rick Parry.
Parry warns his 72 sides face going to the wall without Government help.
But SunSport can reveal top-flight giants feel they have ALREADY given Championship clubs in particular plenty of cash.
And at yesterday’s virtual meeting of Prem clubs there was only a brief chat over the bailout plea due to growing anger.
The clubs were told that Championship sides have banked some £200m in transfer fees this summer.
And £170m, two-thirds of the amount Parry wants, has come from Prem clubs.
They do not need any more from us and we have our own businesses to protect.
Premier League club source
A senior club executive also claimed he knew of some 11 situations in which Championship clubs were offered multi-million pound transfer fees.
These offers had either been rejected — or were still being discussed.
One leading club told SunSport: “The numbers tell the truth and the facts.
“We have already given plenty of help to the Championship.
“They do not need any more from us — and we have our own businesses to protect.”
The Prem clubs remain furious at Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden’s comments over the weekend.
Asked if they should be saving the EFL rather than spending on new strikers, he replied: “That’s exactly what we’re saying.”
Prem chiefs also say they were “led down the garden path” by the Government over the issue of getting fans back into grounds.
Ministers scrapped plans for reduced capacities, from October 1 without warning — after clubs spent time and money working out how to do it.
That would have meant some £7.5m in weekly gate income for the 20 clubs.
Unless there is a Government U-turn over this, Prem clubs are unlikely to reach out to the EFL.