THE EFL has urged politicians from all parties to commit to pressing ahead with an independent football regulator.

The Football Governance Bill, which had the creation of a regulator at its core, was halted last month when Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called a General Election for July 4.

The primary purpose of the regulator as it stood was to ensure clubs in the top five tiers of the English professional game were run sustainably and were accountable to their fans.

The regulator was also set to have backstop powers to impose a financial settlement between the Premier League and EFL if they could not agree one themselves.

EFL clubs were updated on the status of the Bill at the league’s two-day annual general meeting, and the league issued a call for all parties to commit to continuing with the Bill in their manifestos, which are due to be published next week.

“We stand ready to work with the new government to ensure the Bill is reintroduced and progressed as quickly as possible in the new Parliament. It was disappointing it was lost because of the election; however, it is critical that this is only a short delay as the underlying systemic issues remain.

“We believe there is a timely opportunity for the incoming government to take positive and decisive action to ensure that football has a financially sustainable future due to the importance professional clubs are to their communities and the people they serve.”

Sources have told the PA news agency that Premier League clubs were also updated on, and discussed, the Bill and the so-called ‘New Deal’ with the EFL at their annual general meeting which concluded on Thursday.

The top flight is understood to remain committed to the idea that a football-led solution to a settlement is the best way forward, but remains ready to engage with the new government.

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has previously expressed his concern at the regulator being afforded backstop powers, saying it “could significantly impact on incentives and make a deal harder to strike.”

In a letter to the then chair of the culture, media and sport committee Dame Caroline Dinenage, Masters wrote: “In the EFL’s evidence to the committee in January 2024, they indicated they would seek to trigger the backstop to request more funding, even if they had already agreed to a new settlement in the meantime.

“Our concern, therefore, is that the existence and design of the backstop powers may lead to perpetual negotiation and uncertainty. We believe that is a bad outcome for all of football.”

Premier League clubs halted discussions on a New Deal with the EFL in March to focus instead on agreeing new financial rules for the top flight.

Top-flight clubs agreed on Thursday to trial a new financial system in shadow form next season, but The Times reported this week that some clubs remain reluctant to commit extra funding to the EFL with the outcome of Manchester City’s legal claim against the Premier League not yet known.

Financial rules in the EFL are set to change too in the future, with Championship clubs committed to agreeing on how profitability and sustainability (P&S) rules could be “enhanced or replaced” before the end of the year.

Clubs in Leagues One and Two, who are subject to the Salary Cost Management Protocol (SCMP) rules, have agreed to “revise and update” them.