As featured on NewsNow: Football news

New Football League rules put Leeds on the spot

Leeds will be obliged to publish the names of their owners after the Football League clubs agreed a number of new rules to secure increased financial payments from the Premier League. The requirement "to publish the identity of any individuals owning 10% or more in any club" was one of the new regulations as well as tougher financial requirements for Championship clubs.

Leeds are run by chairman Ken Bates but have not publicly said who actually owns the club. The shares are held by an offshore company based in the West Indies.

Clubs will also have to show they have no overdue tax bills, transfer fees or wages to pay.

The Premier League's funding package for the Football League will be worth £124million a season for three years and will see relegated clubs from the top flight earn £48million over four years in parachute payments compared to the current £16million a year over two years.

Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore said: "The financial strength of the Premier League has always benefited the entire English game, but we are taking the unprecedented step of formalising arrangements so that the solidarity payments and the alignment of rules - in some fairly critical areas - are linked.

"The Premier League clubs felt strongly that a stronger Championship would be greatly beneficial to both competitions. It is a fact of life that we welcome three of their number each season and helping make sure those clubs coming up are prepared - both on and off the pitch - for life in the Premier League was something we felt these measures would achieve.

"The extra revenue - £2.2million per Championship club, £335,000 per League One club and £225,000 per League Two club - coming in every season for the next three will make an enormous difference to the individual incomes of those clubs, but more importantly will make planning for the future that much easier."

Football League chairman Greg Clarke said: "I am pleased that our clubs have today supported new and revised regulations that further strengthen the professionalism and good governance of the Football League."

Video of the day:

About the author

×

Subscribe and go ad-free

For only $10 a year

  1. Go Ad-Free
  2. Faster site experience
  3. Support great writing
  4. Subscribe now
Launch Offer: 2 months free
×

Subscribe and go ad-free

For only $10 a year

Subscribe now
Launch Offer: 2 months free