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A £50m rescue package offered by the Premier League to clubs in the bottom tiers of the EFL has been rejected

The Premier League rescue package offered to Gillingham and others in the bottom two divisions of the Football League isn’t enough, says the EFL.

A package worth £50m, made up of grants and interest-free loans “falls some way short” of what the EFL and their member clubs need to survive.

Clubs in the EFL want more from the Premier League after losing revenue while playing without fans Picture: Barry Goodwin
Clubs in the EFL want more from the Premier League after losing revenue while playing without fans Picture: Barry Goodwin

That proposed package was on top of £27.2m solidarity payments already advanced to League 1 and 2 clubs this year, making a total of £77.2m.

The 20 Premier League clubs had agreed a rescue package to help the likes of Gillingham, having come under pressure to help out those in the lower-leagues who are struggling without gate receipts, both from the end of last season and the current campaign. The government made it clear they felt the PL should be the ones offering a bailout rather than coming from public funds.

Following a meeting of the 72 clubs below the Premier League on Thursday, the offer was rejected and a statement from the EFL released.

It said: “The need for continued unity across the membership base was fundamental to discussions across all three divisions, and therefore there was a strong consensus that any rescue package must meet the requirements of all 72 clubs before it can be considered in full.

Empty stands at Priestfield due to the Covid restrictions Picture: Barry Goodwin
Empty stands at Priestfield due to the Covid restrictions Picture: Barry Goodwin

“The League has been very clear in its discussions of the financial requirements needed to address lost gate receipts in 2019/20 and 2020/21, and while EFL clubs are appreciative that a formal proposal has now been put forward, the conditional offer of £50million falls some way short of this.

“The EFL is keen to continue discussions with the Premier League to reach an agreeable solution that will address the short-term financial needs of all of our clubs and allow us the ability to consider the longer-term economic issues in parallel that specifically look to achieve a more sustainable EFL for the future.”

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