Out-of-the-loop Premier League clubs plan to pressure EFL chairman Rick Parry

Rick Parry’s position as EFL chairman will be placed under pressure by the 14 clubs who were kept out of the loop of Project Big Picture, according to a board member at one of the 14.

Together with senior figures at Manchester United and Liverpool, Parry as devised a radical shake-up of English football’s structure and commercialisation under the banner of ‘Project Big Picture’.

Revelations leaked to the Daily Telegraph and made public on Sunday look set to consume Wednesday’s shareholders meeting between Premier League clubs, with those outside the top six set to be vocal first and foremost against the role of Parry in discussions.

Sky Sports are reporting that all 14 clubs are in agreement that Parry has overstepped his jurisdiction as EFL chairman into Premier League matters and should resign.

Project Big Picture, at its 17th draft of development, would see the Championship expand to 24 teams to include two clubs dumped out of the Premier League, as well as a number of other structural and commercial changes.

Despite months of scanty policy-making, the UK government issued a fierce statement condemning the lone ranger discussions held by Liverpool owner John Henry and Manchester United chief executive Ed Woodward.

A spokesperson for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport said: “We are surprised and disappointed that at a time of crisis when we have urged the top tiers of professional football to come together and finalise a deal to help lower league clubs, there appear to be backroom deals being cooked up that would create a closed shop at the very top of the game.”