Sources: Government intervention plans revealed as plot hated by ‘Big Six’ confirmed
Claims that the independent regulator for English football could have around 200 personnel are wide of the mark, sources have told Football Insider.
The body is likely instead to have a more streamlined staff overseen by a chairperson, a small executive team, and a wider administrative workforce.
It was reported shortly after the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport outlined the regulator’s remit in a policy proposal last Thursday (23 February) that clubs have been told it could be manned by 150-200 employees.
But a well-connected source has told this site that the government are keen to avoid accusations of overspending on the new agency, which they hope will come into force in 2024.
It is, however, understood that no final decision on the exact number of staff has been reached at this point.
DCMS declined to comment when approached by Football Insider.
The independent regulator has been labelled by experts and fans as the biggest shake-up to English football governance in a generation.
But while it has been broadly welcomed by supporters, Premier League clubs are universally averse to third-party intervention in their operations.
The two Manchester clubs, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham are among those who privately oppose the attempt to safeguard the interests of fans and the financial future of the wider game.
But as revealed by Football Insider, the so-called ‘Big Six’ will not send officials to publicly denounce the plans as there is a view that to do so would be counterproductive in light of their dalliance with the Super League in April 2021.
West Ham’s David Sullivan, Crystal Palace’s Steve Parish and Leeds United’s Angus Kinnear, however, have voiced their objections in the media.
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