Top football clubs in the West Midlands are set to meet the game’s new ‘financial fair play’ (FFP) regulations with players’ wages likely to be squeezed as tough new guidelines come into force, according to new research from business advisory and accountancy firm BDO.

The report, ‘A New Dawn for Fair Play?’ questioned 66 finance directors from all English professional divisions. It revealed that 85 per cent of clubs expect to comply with FFP rules in 2013/14 without any significant changes to their business models.

However FFP compliance is still the third most pressing concern for Premier League and Championship clubs, with 83 per cent planning to spend less or the same on payroll costs this season.

New UEFA FFP rules state that clubs cannot repeatedly spend more than their generated revenues and must eventually break even.

The survey revealed that only 30 per cent of finance directors described their club finances as ‘very healthy’ – although there were marked differences between the divisions, with Premier League finance directors the most positive and their counterparts in League One the most concerned.

Ian Gould, business restructuring partner and football expert at BDO in the Midlands, said: “The divisions below the Premier League are crying out for a sustainable business model.

"Football clubs play a vital role in the Midlands and in local communities, so there is a clear need for greater financial stability and a higher proportion of clubs living within their means.

“This may see some clubs go back to basics, with overly ambitious promises of silverware traded for closer ties and greater financial stability.”