David Bernstein has warned football may have to be dragged “kicking and screaming” to change, as he helped launch the Saving Our Beautiful Game manifesto.
The former FA and Manchester City chairman has joined a number of big names, including former England right-back Gary Neville, former Olympic gold medallist Denise Lewis and the Mayor for Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, in calling for independent regulation in football, stating the sport has proved during the pandemic it cannot govern itself.
It comes after Premier League clubs and the FA unanimously rejected the Project Big Picture proposals set forward by Liverpool and Manchester United, but vowed to pursue a “strategic plan” for the future.
Bernstein told the BBC: “It’s all very well suddenly talking about strategic plans a day after something else has fallen through.
“It doesn’t ring really true to me. I don’t believe football across the board is going to be able to come together sufficiently to do this.
“Football may come kicking and screaming into this, it may well have to be forced on football.”
Neville, who is co-owner of League Two Salford City, said: "The principle is that we don't trust that football can govern itself and create the fairest deal for all, whether that's the Premier League, EFL clubs, non-League clubs or the fans."
The Premier League and EFL are still struggling to agree a financial package of support for the lower leagues.
Football League clubs yesterday met by division before rejecting the Premier League's offer of a £50million bailout for leagues One and Two, stating that the proposal "falls some way short of" their financial requirements and that any package must include support for the Championship too.
