Lower league clubs should not 'beg' Premier League for financial support, says EFL chairman

Rick Parry (right) with former FA chairman Greg Dyke

EFL chairman Rick Parry is against the idea of lower league clubs, like Northampton Town, asking for 'handouts' from the Premier League during their time of financial need caused by the coronavirus outbreak.

Last week, the EFL said it would release a £50m short-term relief package to help teams in the Championship, League One and League Two with cash-flow issues, although some of that money was already due to be received by clubs later in the season.

Several chairmen across the football league do not think that money will be enough to survive should COVID-19 force a long delay to the season and believe the Premier League should get involve.

Parry disagreed, however, when he told BBC Radio 5 live: "I'm not a fan of the begging-bowl culture.

"Rather than just looking for handouts, it's better to go with a self-help mentality, saying 'this is what we've done, this is the problem that we find ourselves in, so how can we all help to produce a better future?'

"I think it's much better, in dialogue with the Premier League, to talk about sustainable futures and how we might be able to have a reset going forward."

Robbie Cowling, chairman of Northampton's League Two rivals Colchester United, does not share Parry's position though and believes the £50m English Football League support package is 'nowhere near enough' to help clubs outside the top flight.

“To really survive and go forward there is going to be help needed from the Premier League or elsewhere,” he told BBC Radio Essex. "Looking forward it will get really tough on all of us as clubs."

“What the EFL has done is really helpful, but their hands are tied too - they are not a bottomless pit.

“What they have done is advance money we would get in next three months - we are getting that today - so that will get us through this payroll.”