Portsmouth's support for revolutionary blueprint which can save EFL clubs facing oblivion

And we’re not talking over the next few years - but the next few months as the suffocating financial grip of the coronavirus pandemic refuses to relent.

That’s led to a call for unprecedented measures in these unprecedented times - one backed, in theory, by Pompey chief executive Mark Catlin.

Last month saw the publication of a paper urging a government bailout of clubs through a blueprint termed A Way Forward for Football.

Former Digital, Culture Media and Sport chair, Damian Collins, and Sunderland shareholder, Charlie Methven, are behind the plan which includes the formation of the Football Finance Authority which would oversee the funding to keep clubs alive.

Under the initiative minority shares in stricken clubs would be acquired and independent directors appointed, who would report back to the government.

Loans, which can’t be spent on playing budgets, would then be used to stablilse outfits before the shares could be later bought by supporter trusts or local authorities.

Catlin is cautiously supportive of a project which could provide a crucial lifeline to EFL members.

He said: ‘I think it’s good. There does seem enough in there that seems sound.

‘As with any bailout from the taxpayer there, rightly so, should be strings attached.

‘We’ve said for a long while that while football clubs may be owned by individuals, the entity itself is still a community asset. We’ve always said that.

‘I say that we may no longer be community owned but we are a community club.

‘Given that, I think there should be greater scrutiny on football finance.

‘Owners come and go, but football clubs have been and should be around for generations.

‘But we can’t arrive at a situation where a club seeks a bailout only to then use that money to spend on players the following season.

‘It’s there because the club’s in trouble.’

Unsurprisingly, with such a seismic plan there remains may unanswered questions over the way forward if the blueprint is to gain traction.

The fact the plan will not allow spending on playing budgets - the very area clubs have overstretched with contractual commitments - is one of them.

That’s an area Catlin has been on an extended crusade over when it comes to sustainability in the EFL.

He added: ‘There’s some areas there which may need some work.

‘If a club has a budget of £2m, you’re bailing them out and saying none of the money can go on to players, what are you going to do? Have a zero playing budget?

‘That said, one variable every club has got is their player budget.

‘There’s nobody who forces anybody to spend a penny above the money they can afford to put in in terms of player salaries.

‘Under the years at Portsmouth where we’ve acted in a disciplined manner both under fan ownership and individual ownership, we’ve always sought to balance the books.

‘It’s not difficult. We’ve always worked on the scenario what is our projected income? What is our projected expenditure excluding players?

‘Then whatever your balance is you can afford to your player budget. It’s not difficult.

‘Everyone makes it difficult. That’s why we believe any sustainability model moving forward should be structured.’