'Overwhelming majority' of EFL clubs willing to pursue Project Big Picture - after Sunderland and rivals hold crucial meetings

But the league have called for a decision to be made ‘as quickly as practically possible’ given the financial pressures facing the game.

Clubs met today to discuss the plans, which emerged over the weekend.

Project Big Picture proposes an immediate £250million rescue package for EFL clubs starved of matchday income by the coronavirus pandemic and the promise of a 25 per cent cut of future Premier League media revenues.

But it is other elements of the plan – of which Liverpool and Manchester United were key driving forces – that have divided opinion.

Additional reforms would involve shrinking the Premier League to 18 places, with the nine longest-serving top-flight clubs given preferential votes.

There would only be two automatic promotion places from the Championship with the third, fourth and fifth-placed teams entering a play-off with the side that finishes 16th in the Premier League.

It is also being proposed that the 60-year old League Cup, and the Community Shield, are scrapped – with parachute payments set to fall to a similar fate.

And while a number of leading supporter organisations have been skeptical of the plans, the EFL state that they have received ‘strong support’ from clubs.

Further discussions are set to take place, but the league have called for a decision to be reached promptly.

A statement released by the EFL on Tuesday evening said: “EFL Clubs have today met by division to consider the recently announced ‘Project Big Picture’ proposals.

“The meetings, led by EFL Chair Rick Parry, provided all Clubs with an overview of discussions to date in respect to the development of the proposals, before providing all Clubs with an opportunity to discuss the issues in full.

“The proposals, which look to address the long-term economic imbalance across the football pyramid while also addressing the short-term financial need created as a result of COVID-19, received strong support, with an overwhelming majority of Clubs indicating a willingness to discuss the proposals further on the basis that the primary benefits for the future of the English pyramid are clear.

“It was agreed that the proposals must be addressed and discussed in detail across all stakeholders for the benefit of the English game, and while there are no specific timescales for what happens next, there is a clear need for a progress in this matter as quickly as practically possible.”

Sunderland have not publicly revealed their stance on the plans, but minority shareholder Charlie Methven has given an interview to Bloomberg in response to the proposal – and was far from dismissive.

"This is the first serious attempt that we have seen to answer the major strategic issues facing the football pyramid,” he said.

Government ministers, however, aren’t convinced over the plans.

Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Oliver Dowden said: "I’m quite skeptical about this.

“I’m afraid if we keep having these backroom deals and all these other things going on, we will have to look again at the underlying governance of football.”

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