The Times- December 02, 2021 Premier League clubs will draw up plans to fight proposals to give more money to the Championship via a transfer tax, with chairmen arguing it could mean propping up the likes of relegation favourites Newcastle United — now owned by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund.

A meeting of the top-flight clubs is expected to state their opposition to an independent regulator and a transfer levy, the main recommendations from Tracey Crouch MP’s fan-led review of football.

The transfer levy proposal would mean about £160 million raised from a suggested levy of 10 per cent of all Premier League transfers, with the cash going to the lower leagues and grassroots.

It has been particularly controversial with many Premier League clubs reluctant to pass on money to those in the division below, believing there has been too much irresponsible spending in the recent past, as highlighted by Derby County going into administration.

One club chief told The Times: “We are not against giving more money to the grassroots but there are strong feelings around just giving more to the Championship teams, many of whom have hardly been shining examples. There are lots of rich owners there already — and imagine handing over more money to Newcastle if they are relegated.”

The EFL chairman, Rick Parry, has previously called for the financial gap between the top flight and the Championship to be narrowed, arguing that it encourages teams to gamble on promotion to the Premier League.

The meeting is likely to be an uncomfortable one for the Premier League’s chief executive, Richard Masters, with many clubs angry that he responded to the Crouch report last week stating that the league was “open” to the idea of an independent regulator.

Although his position is not believed to be under threat, the clubs are expected to push for action to challenge the regulator proposal as well.

Some club chairmen and chief executives — including Crystal Palace’s Steve Parish, Leeds United’s Angus Kinnear, Baroness Karren Brady, of West Ham United, and Aston Villa’s Christian Purslow — have already publicly opposed the move.

The clubs are now expected to press for a strategy to oppose the government changing the law to enforce an independent regulator.

Masters said last week that the transfer tax plan was “too radical”, but added that “we are open to an independent regulator and we want to discuss the detail of that with government”.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/31d205ca-538b-11ec-a5fe-8f0d6a1c517d?shareToken=d75690cc75c641fd74ea995371a4a880

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