The English Football League has changed its rules in a bid to address concerns over the conduct of owners among its 72 clubs.
Three formal proposals have been voted into EFL regulations after the organisation’s annual general meeting, held on Friday as part of their Summer Conference 2018.
The proposals followed the Owners’ Conduct Review, which began in September 2017 following a number of concerns in the area of club ownership.
New regulations address standards and integrity, late payments, and the owners’ and directors’ test.
Announcing the changes, the league said its club charter “will act as a statement of the EFL’s commitment to run EFL clubs to the highest possible standards in a professional manner and with the utmost integrity”.
The rule over owners and directors has been amended to become aligned with Football Association regulations. The EFL is responsible for owners and the FA for intermediaries, or agents.
The EFL said: “An amendment to the owners’ and directors’ test was agreed which prohibits a registered intermediary from engaging in activities that fall within the definition of a ‘director’ under the EFL regulations.
“This amendment brings the EFL into clearer alignment with the rules of the FA.”
The existing rule which sanctions clubs for non-payment of transfer fees or loan fees has now been extended to also cover any amounts due between clubs, plus money due to their own staff, to ensure timely payment.
The EFL has been criticised in recent years for not being more stringent with owners of some clubs.