The Premier League and English Football League (EFL) have agreed a £250m rescue package to help ease the financial challenge faced by EFL clubs as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
A fund of £50m in the form of a grant and monitored grant payments has been agreed for League One and Two Clubs while the Premier League will provide a further financial commitment to assist the EFL in securing a £200m loan facility that Championship Clubs will be able to utilise interest free.
Premier League clubs have given their final approval to the agreement at today’s Shareholders’ Meeting and this followed earlier approval of the deal by the EFL Board, acting on behalf of its membership.
The £50m rescue package for Leagues One and Two is split into two parts.
£30m to be paid to all 48 Clubs as a grant and a further £20million available on application as a ‘monitored grant’.
- Each Club will receive a minimum payment of £375,000 in League One
- Each Club will receive a minimum payment of £250,000 in League Two
The remaining £15m to be distributed using a lost gate revenue share calculation, which will be approved by both the EFL and the Premier League.
A further £20million monitored grant will be provided and clubs can apply based on need. A joint Premier League and EFL panel will determine club eligibility.
Clubs receiving a monitored grant will be subject to restrictions with respect to transfer spend and player wages.
Richard Masters, Premier League Chief Executive, said: "The Premier League is a huge supporter of the football pyramid and is well aware of the important role clubs play in their communities. Our commitment is that no EFL club need go out of business due to COVID-19.
"All football clubs continue to suffer significant financial losses as a result of the pandemic, but Premier League Shareholders today unanimously agreed to provide additional funding and support for EFL clubs in real financial distress.”
"We are very pleased to have reached this agreement and we stand together with the EFL in our commitment to protect all clubs in these unprecedented times."
EFL Chair, Rick Parry, said: “Our over-arching aim throughout this process has been to ensure that all EFL Clubs survive the financial impact of the pandemic. I am pleased that we have now reached a resolution on behalf of our Clubs and as we have maintained throughout this will provide much needed support and clarity following months of uncertainty.
“I would like to thank Richard Masters and Gary Hoffman for their efforts on behalf of the Premier League, and of course their shareholders, for making this welcome, tangible commitment to the professional game at a time when it has needed it most.”
For more details please view the EFL's statement here.
