Latest Nottingham Forest news from NottinghamshireLive as former Trent End star slams club for failing to back pyramid payments, with Aston Villa and Liverpool also experiencing his wrath.
Stan Collymore has chastised former clubs Nottingham Forest, Liverpool, and Aston Villa for opposing a new EFL finance agreement.
Monday’s top-flight shareholders’ meeting in London, attended by representatives from commentator Collymore’s former Premier League clubs, ended without an offer being made.
A six-year deal with the Premier League granting the EFL 14.75 percent of net media revenue – estimated to be worth around £900 million – has been floated, but top flight clubs have decided that the priority is to work out a new financial system to replace the current profitability and sustainability rules.
The decision provoked Collymore, who scored 41 goals for Forest in 65 appearances before joining Liverpool in 1995, to criticize his previous club and others for whom he had played admirably during a remarkable career.
Taking to X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, he wrote: “Thank you to those fans of all clubs who agree with the last several tweets.
“I’ve never been more horrified than to witness my club’s founders choose avarice and self-preservation over a 100-year-old unique football pyramid.
“It’s not good enough, Villa.” Forest, your efforts are insufficient. It’s not good enough, Liverpool. And if it means I am blacklisted at all three, so be it.
“The pyramid’s fluidity and cohesion are the sole reasons they are where they are. And everyone reading this knows it’s true.”
Collymore, who was born in Staffordshire, then made a reference to the Football League’s founder, saying, “William McGregor would be turning in his grave.”
According to the Mail, an increasing number of Premier League teams are considering withdrawing their support for the new £900 million settlement and pursuing legal action if they are obliged to pay.
with a “exclusive” report, it added: “Top-flight sides met in the hope of holding a vote on an offer to be made to the EFL over a financial settlement ahead of the arrival of the game’s ombudsman.” However, such a ballot did not take place because more than half of the league stated beforehand that it was not worth it.”
Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, Liverpool, West Ham, Aston Villa, Wolves, Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace, and Bournemouth were among the clubs identified by the Mail.
Collymore began his career with Wolves before achieving success with Forest following a time in non-league with Stafford Rangers. His move to Liverpool cost £8.5 million, an English transfer record at the time.
The government has frequently stated that it wants the football authorities to reach a new financial settlement among themselves, but has warned that it may impose one on them through ‘backstop’ powers expected to be granted to the new independent regulator.
A Premier League representative stated: “At today’s Premier League shareholders’ meeting, clubs agreed to prioritise the rapid development and implementation of a new league-wide financial system.
“This will give stability for clubs’ future financial plans while also ensuring the Premier League’s ability to maintain its current world-leading investment in all levels of the game.
“Alongside this, Premier League clubs also reconfirmed their commitment to securing a sustainably-funded financial agreement with the EFL, subject to the new financial system being formally approved by clubs.”
