Independent testing of clubs’ ability to operate through a season could avoid skewing the league tables when points are deducted after a club enters administration, or protect the League from making parachute payments to help insolvent clubs.

‘An independent overview is required and the league should consider this,’ said Grant Thornton’s Joe McLean.

However, the test could prove too onerous for many clubs. An arbitration panel, which ruled on Leeds United’s appeal against its 15-point deduction, said as many as 40 clubs were in or near to insolvency.

‘There are 72 League clubs and half of them might be bust,’ McLean added.
Several Football League clubs entered insolvency during the 2007/2008 season. Luton Town faces a further points penalty for deciding against entering into a CVA after administration - a breach of League rules.

Another concern is how clubs use debt financing to buy players. UEFA president Michel Platini outlined last week how success was ‘often built on an unsustainable level of debt’.

The intention would be to have books that balance before a club is allowed into European competition.