RUFC - Premier League agree Football League deal

Football League clubs have today, at an Extraordinary General Meeting, voted to introduce rule changes relating to financial regulation, transparency of ownership and ground criteria.

Premier League Chief, Richard Scudamore told the BBC that the extra revenue would make a huge difference to clubs in the Football League and that it would make planning for the future much easier.

The deal distributes some of the income generated by the Premier League to the smaller clubs meaning that clubs in League Two will be getting £225,000.

Mr Scudamore was keen to point out it was not just a pay-off to the League clubs for taking on board some of the Premier League's rules on financial regulations and ground regulation, saying that where it was felt the Football League`s rules were stronger than the Premier League`s they had been adopted into the Premier League`s own rules. One of the examples Mr Scudamore gave was that the Owners and Directors Test now precludes anyone who has been banned by another sports' governing body or professional body.

Mr Scudamore also said, 'Having common rules in areas such as player contracts, third party ownership of players, and public disclosure of club ownership is something we have worked towards for a number of years and we are pleased that the Football League have voted them in.`

Football League Chairman, Greg Clarke, told the Football League`s Official Site, 'I am pleased that our clubs have supported new and revised regulations that will further strengthen the professionalism and good governance of the Football League.`

This will mean that Championship club Leeds United, who are run by Ken Bates, will have to publish the name of their owners.

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.