Thomas explains why it was a 'simple' decision to reject 'unacceptable' rescue package from Premier League

Cobblers chairman Kelvin Thomas has explained why it was a 'simple decision' for EFL clubs to reject the Premier League's rescue package.

After pouring cold water on the Project Big Picture proposals, the top flight offered a bailout of £50million to struggling EFL clubs earlier this week, but most of that was in loans and it also did not include Championship clubs.

"I think it was quite a simple decision from Football League clubs and it was pretty much unanimous," said Thomas, speaking on a special show for BBC Radio Northampton.

"We have to go back a bit further and back to Project Restart because when the government gave the Premier League permission to start playing football again at the end of last season, one of the conditions was that the Premier League would bailout the EFL due to the lack of crowds.

"There's been that existing agreement in place and that decision to allow them to play saved the Premier League hundreds of millions, if not billions, in TV revenue so it was a reasonable request of government to ask them to help out EFL clubs.

"For the last three or four months, the EFL and the Premier League have been discussing this bailout and from our understanding, it's been a challenging negotiation and it wasn't until Wednesday when the Premier League actually put something in front of their clubs in terms of the bailout.

"But Rick Parry has been consistent - it's £250million that's required."

Thomas also revealed that the Premier League put some 'conditions' on the offer, adding: "The issues the EFL have with the offer is that obviously it's not enough but the Championship wasn't included and some of the conditions that were put on it were not acceptable.

"The EFL think it is the wrong thing to do to attach long-term conditions to a short-term bailout. Some of the conditions were around the League Cup and control of the calendar and that is a very important issue in football.

"There's also conditions around youth development and stuff to do with Brexit which will impact the Premier League. There's also the fact that Championship clubs were not included."