The English Football League's policy of parachute payments to clubs relegated from the Premier League, gives an unfair advantage that encourages breaches of Financial Fair Play and risky financial management throughout the footballing pyramid.

The English Football League has shown itself unable to provide robust policies to mitigate this financial (dis)advantage, mediate between competing club owners and their financial practices, and as a result now threatens the very survival of football clubs under its jurisdiction.

The lack of leadership and foresight on this issue when clubs are faced with huge losses of income from the pandemic, is threatening the future of football and the communities that these clubs serve.

We ask the Sports Minister to

- Hold the EFL accountable for their policies on Parachute Payments and FFP.

- Launch an urgent Inquiry into the governance, independence and accountability of the English Football League.

- Seek recommendations from the Inquiry as to a) the financial fairness of the current footballing pyramid b) the ability and responsibility of the Premier and EFL to protect clubs from liquidation and c) policy recommendations on encouraging the highest possible levels of stewardship of our national game.