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Sky deadline approaches, clubs want compomise

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Leeds, Derby and Aston Villa have been named by the Times as three of the rebel clubs who are hoping to persuade the EFL to change their plans from a five-year new contract with Sky to a one-year extension to the current contract.

15 Championship clubs, reportedly headed by Leeds owner Andre Radrizzani, threatened to form a breakaway league after rejecting the new five-year Sky deal and a three-year compromise.

The EFL has until 4pm today to finalise their deal with Sky over the new five-year deal worth £590million.

Sky has threatened legal action if the EFL do not sign today.

Seven of the 15 clubs formed a working party to try to find alternatives to Sky but that hasn’t happened and they’re now seeking a one-year extension to the current deal to give them time to come up with better alternatives.

OPINION

This story has been brewing for some time now and today is the day when we’ll find out if the EFL is willing to take its game of brinksmanship to the edge. If they go ahead and sign a new three-year deal then the rebel clubs will be forced to accept it – and it’s not a good deal for clubs like Leeds – or follow through on plans to form a Premier League 2 breakaway league. That comes with it’s own Pandora’s Box of potential legal issues, including whether or not promotion to the Premier League would be included. Leeds fans will be hoping that Marcelo Bielsa can lead them to promotion this season and effectively bypass what could become a real mess. We’ll find out by 4pm but the one-year extension that’s been mooted might work the best for everyone, except for Sky. What would they do if the deadline passes? We’ll find out by tomorrow.  

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