Portsmouth chief Mark Catlin lifts lid on trumpeted financial boost delivered by Football League

But the Blues’ chief executive has praised the Football League’s swift intervention as they seek a solution towards preventing clubs folding during the coronavirus crisis.

On Wednesday evening, the Football League revealed a £50m relief package for its member clubs – in addition to a potential loan of up to £182,800.

All matches have now been postponed until April 30 as the situation continues to evolve during the pandemic.

However, the unveiled cash injection represents the advancement of money Football League clubs were entitled to receive over the course of the current campaign, rather than generosity.

Catlin said: ‘Let’s just be clear, this isn’t new money.

‘While it’s a great package to get clubs over short-term cash flow problems, it is just bringing forward money which clubs are already due, aligned with a loan facility.

‘So it’s not a free handout, there is nothing in there which is free.

‘Usually this money is drip fed to clubs over the next 3-5 months – and the EFL are to be commended for freeing it up early.

‘I have read some people calling it a windfall, it’s not. It’s money we are already due at some point, aligned with loans, but it’s not free money.

‘In defence of the EFL, they haven’t got a magic wand which suddenly produces loads of extra money which no-one knew existed. Historically, as an organisation, the EFL take out enough to function, but then the rest is all passed back down through to the clubs.

‘While it is absolutely great and brilliant for the EFL to act so quickly, this isn’t new money or free money.

‘It has either got to be repaid or it’s an advancement of money which is already due to clubs over the next few months.’

The FA have now announced regulations centring on the football season finishing on June 1 have been scrapped.

Instead the campaign limit is to be extended indefinitely, allowing for the prospect of a summer fixture list.

In addition, no football will take place before April 30, depriving clubs of crucial match-day revenue required to remain operational.

Catlin added: ‘What the EFL have done is a real positive, they have acted very quickly to address the concerns of clubs in regards of cash flow.

‘As we have seen from various chairmen and CEOs in the last few days, just the cancellation of a game or two before the end of this season is causing them real issues in regards of paying players and staff.

‘At least it buys a bit of time.’