A new proposal from the campaign group Fair Game is aiming to break the long-running financial deadlock in English football with what it calls a “ground-breaking†restructuring of revenue distribution across the game.
The report—titled “The Four Pot Solution: Redrawing Football’s Financesâ€â€”targets the way money flows from the top of the pyramid, led by the Premier League, down through the English Football League and into the lower divisions.
A New Distribution Model
At the heart of the proposal is a four-tiered financial structure designed to replace the current system:
- Reward funding for clubs meeting sustainability criteria
- Ring-fenced funding for long-term investments
- Universal core funding for essential operations
- An escrow pot to ensure financial security and stability
The goal is to incentivize responsible financial management while reducing reliance on owner funding.
Cutting the Premier League’s Share
One of the most significant proposals is reducing the Premier League’s share of domestic TV revenue from 83% to 75%.
Currently, top-flight clubs receive around £3.2 billion annually from broadcast deals. Under the new model, this would drop to approximately £2.4 billion—redirecting hundreds of millions down the football pyramid.
Fair Game argues this would create a more balanced ecosystem and strengthen financial stability across all levels of the game.
Support for Lower Leagues
Under the proposal, clubs outside the top divisions—including those in the fifth and sixth tiers—would receive a share of broadcast revenue for the first time.
This is intended to support sustainability and ensure that smaller clubs are not left financially isolated in an increasingly unequal system.
Reforming Parachute Payments
Another major change involves reducing parachute payments given to relegated clubs from the Premier League.
Fair Game proposes limiting these payments to two years and lowering their value to 25% of the equal share payment, compared to the current system where clubs receive up to three years of financial support.
This change is designed to increase competitiveness in leagues like the Championship while preventing financial distortion.
A Controversial but Timely Proposal
While ambitious, the plan is unlikely to gain immediate support from major stakeholders. The ongoing discussions between the Premier League and the EFL—closely watched by the Independent Football Regulator—have already stretched on for years without resolution.
Still, with rising wage bills and financial instability affecting clubs across the pyramid, Fair Game’s proposal adds renewed urgency to the debate.
The Bigger Picture
The report highlights a growing concern: English football’s financial model may be unsustainable without reform.
Even as revenues increase, many clubs continue to operate at a loss due to soaring wages and operational costs. Fair Game’s vision attempts to shift the system toward long-term stability rather than short-term competitive spending.
Whether accepted or not, the proposal has reignited a critical conversation about the future of financial fairness in English football.