A number of Championship clubs have released a joint statement in which they express their "grave concerns" that the EFL signed off on Sky's bid for the TV rights for the Football League, reports Adam Pope.
The EFL agreed on five-year deal this morning before the clubs had a chance to meet at Villa Park as was planned, and it has not gone down well with the clubs.
"Championship clubs are gravely concerned that the EFL Board has announced it has approved a new long-term domestic broadcasting rights deal," the statement read.
"19 clubs from the league wrote to the EFL asking them not to sign the proposed deal & to engage in meaningful discussions. This was ignored.
"Our issues are not with Sky, who we respect and value, but with the way in which the proposed agreement has been negotiated and explained to Clubs.
"There is a calm determination within Championship clubs to ensure the matter is not left here," Pope revealed through a series of tweets.
The deal is worth a reported £595million and will run until May 2024. The deal means that Sky will show 138 league matches from across the three divisions each season as well as League Cup matches.
But the clubs feel the rights have been hugely undervalued and want more money.
The Verdict
This looks like it could get very ugly, very quickly.
Once again the Football League have completely failed to cover themselves in glory by ignoring the queries of these clubs and continued to arrange the deal themselves with little to no correspondence.
You feel that they need to talk to the clubs as soon as possible.
Thoughts? Let us know in the comments below.
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