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A Government minister has said football should ‘first look after itself’ after calls were made by a group - including Charlie Methven – for a state-backed plan to help EFL clubs avoid insolvency in the coronavirus pandemic.

A plan co-authored by Sunderland co-owner Methven and former Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) committee chair Damian Collins had called for the establishment by the Football Association of a Football Finance Authority (FFA), underwritten by the Government, which would provide funds to keep EFL clubs affected by the Covid-19 outbreak afloat.

Collins has argued that there may only be a few weeks "to save professional football as we know it", with League One and Two clubs in particular stretched by the complete loss of match day revenue.

All football was suspended in mid-March and while the Premier League and Championship aim to return later this month, the bottom two tiers face not playing again for months.

Former Sunderland executive director Charlie Methven.

Collins asked the current Secretary of State for DCMS, Oliver Dowden, what support will be available from Government?

Dowden replied: "The most important first step is to get sports going behind closed doors because that helps secure revenue, so we've got the Premier League and then the Championship.

"I would look first to sports to look after themselves and I'm meeting extensively with the EFL and Premiership and FA. But of course we'll continue to work on this."

Government minister responds to Charlie Methven & Co's state-backed plan to help EFL clubs avoid financial woe