Wigan Athletic chairman Dave Whelan says the Premier League must get a tighter grip of club finances.

Whelan's recommendation in his letter last week is certain to fuel the debate about debt among English clubs. The Premier League has strongly resisted proposals from Michel Platini, the Uefa president, to curb spending and debt, but the discussion is now coming from the member clubs.

Whelan told The Times: "I sent a letter to the Premier League, saying, 'Can we have an agreement that we can only borrow 25 per cent of our individual club's turnover?' There should be a limit on borrowings - not as a set amount, but as a percentage of turnover. They have to do something about it.

"What has gone on at Portsmouth is a crying shame for football and for their loyal band of supporters. It just comes down to desperation to stay in the Premier League.

"Some of the salaries I've read about - whether the figures are accurate or not - make you cringe. It's not easy for clubs, but the ones that take the risks sometimes come a cropper."