Date set for crunch salary cap vote amid Sunderland and Portsmouth opposition

Mark Catlin, CEO of rivals Portsmouth, says he believes the vote will take place August 6.

The EFL is looking to bring in a £2.5m per-year wage restriction in the third tier in a bid to make the game more sustainable.

But Portsmouth and Sunderland – whose wage bill at the start of last season stood at £10m – have voiced their concerns over a flat wage cap, however there is support elsewhere.

Catlin, however, believes there are a growing number opposed to the salary cap, he told the Portsmouth News: “I don’t think there is a certainty that the salary cap will go through.

“There seems to be an ever-growing number of clubs which may vote against it, but I think a lot of those may look at it and, given the financial situation, see it as the best of a bad job.

"It doesn’t tick everyone's boxes, but, on the whole, it means clubs’ costs are going to be brought down.

“Unfortunately for us, they are going to be brought down to a level which is far too low for Pompey and too high for other clubs.”

The promoted teams, Coventry City, Rotherham and Wycombe Wanderers will no longer have a say on the League One proposals, instead the three relegated clubs from the Championship – Charlton, Wigan and Hull City – will.

Catlin told The News: "I have been speaking to quite a few of the Championship clubs ahead knowing the relegation spaces, so they are up to speed with the situation and must now come to their own decisions.

“Obviously the three relegated Championship clubs all have their own internal issues at the moment financially, so we’ll have to see how they do this.

“I am pretty certain the vote will take place on August 6, so we will find out soon.”

Sunderland will support the introduction of cost controls but they have already voiced their concerns over any uniform cap on playing budgets.

CEO Jim Rodwell has previously insisted any change must also include a transitional period.