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Championship clubs express ‘grave concern’ over new five-year EFL broadcasting deal

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Several Championship clubs have expressed "grave" concern after the English Football League board approved a new long-term domestic broadcasting rights deal.

Bosses of Championship clubs met on Tuesday to discuss the five-year broadcasting deal the EFL board has signed with Sky Sports.

Despite the agreement being worth a third more per season than the current deal, several clubs are furious after it was given the green light.

A statement from several unnamed clubs issued to Press Association Sport read: "Championship clubs are gravely concerned that the EFL Board has announced it has approved a new long-term domestic broadcasting rights deal.

"Nineteen clubs from the league wrote to the EFL asking them not to sign the proposed deal and to engage in meaningful discussions. This was ignored."

The statement continued: "The clubs discovered that in the space of 15 months, without our knowledge, material changes had been made to this draft agreement. When the EFL Board presented the new version of the deal - it gave more games and rights for less money and damaged the ability of clubs to control the decision to stream games and its pricing.

"Our issues are not with Sky, who we respect and value, but with the way in which the proposed agreement has been negotiated and explained to Clubs.

"We remain convinced that any solution to the broadcasting of EFL competitions can only be on the basis of protecting attendances and securing the financial position of all our 72 clubs.

"There is a calm determination within Championship clubs to ensure the matter is not left here."

Additional reporting by the Press Association.