‘Project Big Picture’ condemned by government as EFL chief Rick Parry launches defence of secret talks

Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for free Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The government has criticised the English Football League and the Premier League’s elite clubs following the emergence of ‘Project Big Picture’, despite chief executive Rick Parry calling for “a complete rethink” over the make-up of English football. “Project Big Picture takes a huge step by sharing 25 per cent of Premier League media net revenues with the EFL in order to correct this imbalance going forward. The elimination of Parachute Payments will create fairer competition and discourage irrational behaviour.” Parry pointed out to the fact that Championship clubs spent 107 per cent of their income on wages in 2019/20, which contributed to operating losses of £382m across the league, and added that Leagues One and Two are “financially stretched despite enormous revenues that English football generates”. The EFL is currently waiting on a £250m rescue package that follows the loss of match-day revenue following the coronavirus pandemic, a figure which has been included under ‘Project Big Picture’ as an advance payment rather than a loan, which Parry says “could never have been repaid under the existing terms and revenue of the English pyramid”.