Plan B not an option for Bradford City’s Stuart McCall and many EFL clubs

Many figures among the governing body’s 72 clubs have reacted with fury to comments made by Manchester City chief executive Ferran Soriano, who has said it is time to bring in B sides after labelling the EFL as an unsustainable business even before Covid-19.

EFL clubs voted against structural reform that would have facilitated top-flight B teams in 2016, but they have been introduced to the EFL Trophy.

McCall says the key is helping clubs continue to become more sustainable in troubled times – with squad salary limits of £2.5m and £1.5m operating in League One and Two in 2020-21 – and not restructuring the pyramid which will suit only the interests of some in the top-flight.

He said: “I saw the headline (about B teams) and read the first couple of paragraphs and was not keen on listening to that and closed my ears to it.

“We have got to make our clubs sustainable. Football is a business as opposed to just being entertainment. I would never ask one of my chairman and owners to spend money we have not got. I would never do that, its irresponsible.

“At certain times (at Bradford), we must have the 10th or 4th largest budgets. At Motherwell, we weren’t in the top six.

“It is what it is and at the club you are at, you must work to those parameters. As long as everyone understands that.

“When you get 9,500 season tickets, it’s a massive bonus and for a club of our size in this division, we have got great support. But as long as everyone lives in their means, it keeps clubs going.”

Meanwhile, McCall is confident that the addition of a new striker will represent the ‘final piece of the jigsaw’ ahead of next Friday’s domestic deadline.

City are closing in on the signing of a forward, whose loan move could be completed on Monday – although the player is unlikely to be involved in the derby with Harrogate Town.

McCall, without Zeli Ismail (hamstring) for two to three weeks, added: “We are happy with what we have and have been working with and look to add one more. I am confident we will do that in the coming days.

“All in all, the only last piece of the jigsaw would be to add a striker and possibly, although we are not urgently looking, maybe a younger number three goalkeeper.”

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Thank you, James Mitchinson. Editor.