Make promotion to the Premier League discretionary for EFL clubs

Background

The new football regulator should be given the powers to introduce an option for clubs that earn the right to promotion to the Premier League to forego that right without financial penalty.

Additional details

Football fans of clubs that cannot compete financially with wealthy overseas owners of Premier League clubs are disadvantaged under the current automatic promotion based on merit only. Clubs over stretch themselves financially to try to be competitive at the risk of the long term well being of the club. If they don't do this they risk losing the goodwill of their fan base again jeopardising the long term support and therefore financial health of their club.