Outgoing Football League chief executive Shaun Harvey says football must “look at how it treats the owners of some of its clubs”, insisting some would not exist without them.
Bolton, Bury and Macclesfield and Notts County have all been handed winding-up petitions over the last year, while fans of Charlton have protested against their owner.
But speaking on BBC Radio Five Live ahead of the Championship play-off final between Derby and Aston Villa, Harvey says that costs are going up.
“Championship losses are getting bigger,” said Harvey, who is standing down after six years at the helm.
“We have a business model that relies, just about, on owner funding.
“Those owners are either benevolent, looking after their local clubs who they have supported for many years, or are investing to try to achieve the big prize.
“The league (EFL), as it stands, will distribute more money to its clubs than ever before at about £230m.
“That will be across all 72 clubs - that’s money that we generate and also money that we get through a deal with the Premier League, which does not include parachute payments.
“Yet in the Premier League the top 19 clubs all earned £100m and there was only one club that didn’t - and I think they got £97m - so you’ll forgive me for saying they all got £100m.
"So, 20 clubs, a minimum of £100m - 72 clubs sharing £230m. And, by the way, that’s not done evenly either.
“So, we are reliant on owners and football needs to look at how it treats the owners at some of its clubs.
“Fans not happy about the investment that is going into their club. Trust me, without them (the owners), they wouldn’t have a club.”
