Leeds United and Derby County are among the most outspoken clubs against the TV deal.GETTY IMAGES
League Championship clubs called a "crisis meeting" to discuss taking legal action against the English Football League "after the board defied the wishes of the majority of clubs" by signing a new five-year TV contract with Sky Sports to start next season, according to Matt Hughes of the LONDON TIMES. The "infighting is set to continue," however, with "a number of clubs ready to mount a legal challenge" to stop the £595M ($762.4M) deal as well as calling for the resignation of EFL CEO Shaun Harvey. The unhappy clubs’ case "rests on their contention that the EFL lacks the authority to sign such a contract against the wishes of the majority of its leading members," while they also claim that the EFL board withheld information about the deal "until the last minute." The terms of the contract have "changed considerably," with some clubs claiming that they "have not been kept informed." The "stand-still agreement" signed in Sept. '17 has changed to the "long-form deal" signed on Monday, which will result in Sky paying £1M ($1.3M) less per season "despite being given the right to provide an enhanced red-button service and show 20 additional games in the final two years of the contract." While the clubs’ threat to form a breakaway league, which was made in a letter to the EFL signed by 15 of them, "has receded" in the short term, "their anger and determination to challenge the deal has not." It is understood that 21 clubs are opposed to the contract. Leeds United, Derby County and Aston Villa are the "most outspoken" of the rebels, but the majority of the clubs support their contention that their TV rights are undervalued (LONDON TIMES, 11/20).
'CALM DETERMINATION': In London, Fisher & James reported League Championship clubs "are considering a legal challenge or a vote of no-confidence" in the EFL board after expressing "grave concern" at the deal with Sky Sports. Senior officials from Leeds United, Derby County, Middlesbrough, Nottingham Forest, Stoke City and Aston Villa "are understood to have been among those who met in Birmingham on Tuesday to plot their next move." An "unnamed collection of teams" said in a statement, "There is a calm determination within Championship clubs to ensure the matter is not left here." The statement added, "Championship clubs are gravely concerned that the EFL board has announced it has approved a new long-term domestic broadcasting rights deal. Nineteen clubs from the league wrote to the EFL asking them not to sign the proposed deal and to engage in meaningful discussions. This was ignored" (GUARDIAN, 11/20).
