West Ham United chair David Sullivan has accused an "interfering government" of forcing an independent football regulator upon the Premier League.

And West Ham's Welsh owner, who celebrated his 75th birthday last month believes the Premier League could cease to be the world's leading domestic competition as a result. On Tuesday the current Conservative government, who have been the recipient of donations from West Ham United FC in the past announced they would be advancing plans to introduce the regulator with the introduction of the Football Governance Bill to Parliament.

But Sullivan - who stands to walk away from West Ham at some point in the near future with hundreds of millions of pounds in profit on his original investment - slammed the initiative, which has been warmly welcomed by suporters and fans groups.

"The government has shown an inability to run anything," Sullivan said. "We are now going to be forced to pay for something we don't want.

"The Premier League is the best league in the world so why change a winning formula? I hope the government don't wreck something that works.

"This means we will be competing with teams from leagues in Europe who give a fraction of the money Premier League clubs give to both the EFL and grass roots football.

"If over the coming seasons the Premier League ceases to be the best league in the world, it will be down to an interfering government."

It has been confirmed the new body, as recommended by MP Tracey Crouch's fan-led review in 2022 will be completely independent of the goverment and the Premier League.

The regulator will have the campacity to intervene in matters such as the current impasse between the Premier League and the Football League with regards to funding.

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