Finance guru: Sunderland have ‘big aspirations’ amid FA talks breakthrough
Sunderland have “big aspirations” and will therefore not necessarily be in favour of an independent regulator for football with the power to ensure more cash filters down from the Premier League.
That is the view of finance expert Doctor Dan Plumley, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the latest developments in the EFL’s camapign to introduce independent regulation.
The proposed body with the power to shakeup the financial distribuion between the top flight and EFL was one of the reccomendations in Tracey Crouch MP’s Fan-Led Review of Football Governance in November last year.
The fate of the regulator has been up in the air since Boris Johnson left Downing Street, with the Liz Truss administration less keen on subjecting clubs to more red tape.
But The Times reported last Friday (14 October) that the FA is ready to compromise and create either an in-house regulator or one that runs parallell to the governing body, meaning it would not need the backing of the Government.
Plumley suggested how Sunderland, who are currently 9th in the Championship, will react to the news.
“I think Sunderland is a really interesting case,” the Sheffield Hallam University expert told Football Insider’s Adam Williams.
“If you look at the size of the club, the fanbase and the possibility for investment, they are very attractive.
“With some of the historical narrative, we know they were one of the clubs who were against the salary cap in League One and League Two during the early days of the pandemic.
“I think Sunderland will be one of those who will be really on the fence when it comes to independent regulation.
“While you’re in the Football League, clubs will see the benefit because they would arguably get more protection and more money flowing down.
“But Sunderland have big aspirations. So I think they will be on the fence because no regulation would benefit them pretty well if they could do whatever they wanted.“
In other news, Kieran Maguire suggests Sunderland ready to cash in after MPs wined and dined.