"Car Crash" Football Regulator Talks With Culture Secretary Failed To Sweeten Clubs

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer has failed to win over several clubs in the English Football League (EFL) after a series of tense meetings which were described as “shambles” and a “car crash”.

PoliticsHome understands the long awaited Football Governance Bill could have its first reading as soon as Monday, but the timing is not yet confirmed.

Pressure has been mounting for the Premier League and EFL to agree a financial deal between themselves. Government has said if top flight clubs cannot agree on how they will give money to lower league teams a new independent regulator will step in. 

Meanwhile Frazer has held meetings and hosted receptions with key stakeholders from the football sector to finalise a new deal for football clubs and fans. 

Last Thursday the Culture Secretary held a call with EFL teams to discuss plans for a Football Governance Bill which will legislate for an independent regulator.

One source with knowledge of the discussion said the meeting was a “car crash” and a "shambles". They said there were representatives from teams as high as the Championship who were concerned the current deal which was being proposed from Government would not go far enough. 

Prior to this meeting the Culture Secretary spoke at a dinner in January hosted in Parliament for around 150 people including members of EFL clubs. One source who was at the event claimed Frazer’s speech was “pretty poor” and “lacked substance”. Frazer spoke on a panel with representatives from footballing bodies including UEFA.

“It lacked substance. [Frazer] just used different words to say the regulator was for the fans, but used different words to repeat the same message,” they told PoliticsHome.

A Culture, Media and Sport department spokesperson said the