It's time to go public

The new regulations will recognise that agents, who are also policed by world governing body FIFA, can work as both advisers for players and brokers for clubs in transfer deals.

This may attract criticism because it would appear to endorse the conflict of interest that outsiders claim is rife.

But Scudamore argues it is business realism to recognise this happens rather than drive it underground by outlawing it. From next season, if agents are paid twice for two separate roles then two individual transactions will need to be declared.

A recent investigation revealed that an estimated £46m was paid to agents during the 2001-02 season for commissions on transfers and players' wage deals.

This has led for calls for more transparency and external governance of the game in yesterday's report by the

Independent Football Commission and by an all-party parliamentary football group today. 'I have gone on record in the last five years saying if and when someone presents us with evidence of fraudulent activity, we would undoubtedly act very promptly,' said Scudamore. 'But with all the noises going around the system, that evidence has not been presented to this office or the Football Association.

'Having aligned the regulations, I think it is then up to the authorities to make sure that sanctions should be applied if they are not adhered to.'

Having been chief executive of the Premier League for the past four and a half years, the Bristol City supporting Scudamore is adamant the game does not need to be policed by an independent body. He believes the self-regulatory Independent Football Commission is sufficient.

He said: 'We don't operate in a vacuum. There is a lot of statutory regulation by the time you look at company law and the Stock Exchange. We don't see what any sort of independent or statutory regulator is going to bring to the game because it is not the sort of industry that would lend itself to it.'

Scudamore has fought a huge battle in the last year with the European Commission which originally objected to the way the Premier League sold their TV rights, saying it was anti-competitive.

After protracted negotiations when both parties moved closer together on the issue, a deal is near completion. Scudamore refused to speculate on suggestions that income from future TV rights deals could drop because the Commission may prevent Sky keeping their huge market share. But he points out that overseas rights for the latest deal have yet to be sold. When they are taken into account, the overall figure for the 2004-7 deal could get close to the £1.1billion generated by the recordbreaking previous deal.

But he said the dispute, which could have led to huge financial problems for the clubs if the most recent deal had collapsed, helped bring more solidarity among the 20 Premiership chairmen - a feat rarely achieved in the history of the Premier League.

Throughout the fiendishly complex row the chairmen put their faith in Scudamore and are likely to do so again in another battle this year with FIFA and their powerful president Sepp Blatter.

Scudamore spoke bullishly about suggestions from Blatter that the number of clubs in national leagues should be reduced in order to cut crowded fixture lists.

The issue of player burn-out dominated the 2002 World Cup and the proposal is expected to be put on the agenda at FIFA's congress in May.

The Premier League, who recently agreed to a 13-day winter break, are clearly going to fight attempts to reduce the number of clubs.

Scudamore said: 'This is a matter for national associations. It is not something that can be mandated down from on high from FIFA and we would resist any attempts by Blatter. I have a lot of regard for much of what he has achieved. But the reality on this one is that it is wishful thinking on his part.

'It will never happen because Mr Blatter wants it to happen. If ever the Premier League decides to do it, that is one thing. But it won't happen because of decrees from on high.'

The survival of one particular club in the Premier League, though - Leeds United - is still in doubt because of their financial crisis.

The Premier League recently agreed to deduct nine points from clubs that go into administration from June in a bid to ensure that chairmen do not go on dangerous spending sprees.

But Scudamore stressed that the Leeds issue would be dealt with separately from the new rules governing clubs going into administration.

He said: 'They are not in administration and there is no indication that that is going to happen. Leeds are an entirely separate issue.

'The nine-point rule is supposed to put people off making decisions today that have an impact in 18 months or two years. You have got to detach Leeds.'