The English Premier League’s decision to charge newly promoted clubs £8m each next season and in 2021-22 has left promotion hopefuls in the Championship scratching their heads.

The decision according to the Premier League is to help soften the blow of broadcast revenues lost because of the Covid-19 crisis.

The Premier League has been forced to offer a £330m rebate to broadcasters because of the temporary suspension of the current season due to the Covid-19 crisis.

To offset this, the Premier League says newly promoted clubs will be expected to shoulder the costs over the next two seasons.

Promoted clubs won’t exactly pay £8m but will have that sum deducted from their revenues for being in the topflight.

As things stand, the decision will affect Super Eagles defender Semi Ajayi’s club West Bromwich Albion who along with Leeds United occupy the two automatic promotion spots.

Several Championship clubs have criticised the move, arguing that the topflight should be providing more financial help to clubs in the Football League rather than reducing their income.

Promotion from the Championship is currently thought to be worth around £180m to the three clubs that come up each year.

Premier League clubs are expected to suffer a total loss of £700m as a result of the pandemic when losses to matchday revenue and commercial income are added to the rebate to broadcast partners.