Rotherham United chairman Tony Stewart on why time is running out for EFL clubs as Project Big Picture debate rumbles on

The controversial plan, the brainchild of Manchester United and Liverpool, proposes to make immediate emergency funding of £250million available to EFL clubs to help them through the Covid-19 pandemic.

Going forward, clubs would also receive 25 per cent of future Premier League broadcast earnings.

It is a mouth-watering deal for Rotherham and the other 71 clubs in the Football League and unsurprisingly a host of owners have come forward in their support of it.

The project may have a tougher test getting past the 14 non 'Big Six' clubs in the Premier League, but Stewart says time is running out for club's further down the pyramid.

“It's got to be October, don't forget the problem started in March and we are seven months down the line, no season ticket funding, dire sponsorship, yet you have got all the outgoings that football brings,” Stewart said.

“The show is going on, salaries are being paid, the contracts are being honoured. Not just Rotherham, 72 clubs in the EFL are suffering really badly.

“The idea came from the two leading clubs in the country, which is Liverpool and Manchester United. They put that together.

“We embrace that, we can see that it has not just a short-term fix but a long-term fix and I am talking for 72 clubs in the EFL.

“The Premier League will have their debates and decisions. It is more than just today, it is the future of football we are looking at.

“Chairmen will come and go but we want to make sure in every town and city there is a football club that all the fans can be proud of.”

Meanwhile, Dan Barlaser could make his second debut for the Millers against Norwich on Saturday.

Barlaser returned from Newcastle on a permanent deal a fortnight ago and team-mate Ben Wiles is delighted to have him back.

“Dan's a great player. He's got attributes that other lads in the team don't have,” Wiles said. “Dan does bring something different. He's come from the Premier League and he has quality.

“He's class. It's good to have Dan back and I think he'll help us progress more in this league.”