Darragh MacAnthony has proposed a radical solution to the EFL in order to help clubs get through a looming financial crisis.

MacAnthony, owner of Bristol Rovers' League One rivals Peterborough United, says the new TV deal that is set to take place in the EFL next season could be used as a loan to clubs.

In a YouTube video, MacAnthony, one of the most vocal owners in the EFL, argued that clubs can take money out of the fifth year of the TV deal and then pay it back over the next three seasons.

Peterborough chairman Darragh MacAnthony
Peterborough chairman Darragh MacAnthony

The London Road chief argued that, without this happening, every single club in League One and Two will face financial issues due to the coronavirus causing a suspension to the season.

He said: "We're going to hit a brick wall and we're going to have cashflow issues we'll have to try and resolve as partners, and we have our own personal issues to deal with because of the economic issues, too.

"It's not just us, it's going to be every one of the 72 clubs.

"The majority of League One and League Two clubs, without cashflow, will by June be on the verge of administration and, in some cases, bankruptcy without intervention from the EFL.

"My idea to help straight away and take action - and this needs to happen now - is that the EFL need to get in front of the Premier League and Sky.

"We signed a new five-year deal with Sky that starts next season - that deal's worth £600m - and there's Premier League solidarity money on top of that, which is hundreds of millions more.

"What I'm suggesting right now is every club in League One and League Two, we need £600,000 made available to these clubs right now.

"The way they can do that is to factor the money from the five-year Sky deal, take it from year five.

"We'll pay Sky five per cent to do that, so they're actually making money on the deal."

He added: "That £600,000 will be available now for clubs for the next three or four months and will help us get through this season and get over the line.

"That's approximately £27m between League One and League Two clubs, which is a small amount out of £600m and is from year five.

"It's workable and doable and the people in charge of the EFL should be able to negotiate that."

MacAnthony feels clubs would subsequently be able to cut back for following seasons in order to pay the money back, allowing them to still receive their money in the fifth year of the TV deal.

He said: "Basically League One and League Two would repay that money through the next three seasons at £200,000 a pop.

"We'd get year five's money and then repay it over three years to make it up, so then in year five we'd get our normal money again.

"Instead of clubs gambling on our future and spending a load of money up front, spread the repayment over three years.

"It means once we finish the season, we'd budget for £200,000 less TV and solidarity money next year - that's fine, with people out of contract and everything else, we budget adequately and responsibly and do it."

The Peterborough owner also proposed a loan system that would trickle down across the football pyramid, but implementing an amnesty on loan player's wages next season.

He said: "To further help the EFL for next season and adjust to these new circumstances, we ask the Premier League to have a one-season freeze on loaning under-21 players to the EFL wages-wise.

"You make three loan players available per EFL club from the Premier League for one season.

"In return, we pay no wages, which will save us on our budgets, but we can knock that onto non-league sides and offer them four loan players from our clubs.

"It would help them reduce their wage bill for next year to deal with the current situation as it is now.

"We talk about being a football family at times when it suits us, now is the time more than ever to show we are a football family - there are clubs that are going to go out of business."