Birmingham City owner Tom Wagner positioned himself against the rest of the EFL with his bombastic plea for the ‘top 10 clubs in English football be protected at all costs’ – and claim that Birmingham could be one of them.

The English football pyramid has seemed on the brink of financial crisis as clubs try to navigate the huge gulf between the Premier League and the Championship. There have been major debates about the distribution of revenue, including the parachute payment system, and profit and sustainability rules.

The EFL and clubs including Coventry City - back by wealthy local owners – have lobbied for change to try to bridge the gap. There is hope that a new independent football regulator can help ensure that a competition that has been generating stories and attracting mill

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