By Jonathan Easton

The 20 English Premier League clubs are set to push back against the introduction of an independent regulator.

The proposal of a regulator was introduced by MP Tracey Crouch, with the league’s CEO Richard Masters stating that he “supports the principle of an independent regulator” in a BBC interview.

The same cannot be said for the clubs themselves however. According to The Telegraph, the clubs’ top figures have been discussing the proposal in a WhatsApp group and are unified in their opposition to the idea.

Most of the opposition is said to come from mid-table clubs who are not regularly involved in European competitions such as West Ham, Crystal Palace and Aston Villa – whose CEO attacked the proposal in a radio interview last week.

As such, the clubs have scheduled a meeting this week to come up with a formal collective position on Crouch’s review which recommends 47 points. The report notes that the clubs believe that the idea is unworkable and that regulation will negatively impact the ability to attract investment in the future.

The Premier League itself has written to Crouch telling her that it backed a regulator to sit within the FA rather than as an independent body. Masters has said that he believes that “we can be effective regulators.”