The Premier League is now under intense pressure to increase its contribution to the EFL and lower leagues by hundreds of millions of pounds per year.

The Government has made clear it is running out of patience with the top flight and will use a new regulator of the national game to force the world's richest league to hand over more cash, if it does not put its hand in its own pocket, first.

The top flight reaffirmed its opposition yesterday to a statutory-backed regulator and emphasised the 'unprecedented' financial support it provides to the wider football community.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson with fans of Bury FC at their Gigg Lane ground, where the PM was promoting the government's commitment to an independent regulator for football

But Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston has drawn up the battle lines that will frame discussions from here on. And Prime Minister Boris Johnson lent his support during a photocall at Bury FC.

Huddleston says he will give the regulator, which the government committed to yesterday, the power to impose a new financial settlement if the Premier League does not quickly do a 'satisfactory' deal with the EFL and other football authorities.

The minister has also refused to rule out a controversial 10 per cent levy on top flight transfers and made clear he does not see the Football Association as a likely home for the new regulator, something both the FA and the Premier League would prefer.

Huddleston said: 'There is an expectation that the Premier League understand there is a sense of urgency to deal with this issue. The message to the Premier League is quite clear: they need to act sooner rather than later because, otherwise, it will be forced on them through the regulator.

'There's absolute recognition that the financial flows, the financial distribution at the moment is not satisfactory. We expect that it's going to be a football-led solution and if it isn't then it will fall to the regulator to get involved.'

The minister stopped short of naming a figure, but the EFL quickly welcomed his comments and the prospect of a regulator imposing a solution.

EFL chairman Rick Parry said the league had been discussing the matter with the Premier for two years, 'calling for a 75/25 split of revenues with the Premier League, without achieving any tangible progress'.

Currently, the top flight shares £350M a year with the EFL, plus additional cash for the rest of the pyramid, community and infrastructure schemes. The Premier League says it will spend £1.6 billion in total over the next three years.

However, the EFL is looking for £750M a year from the Premier League, an increase of £400M annually, linked to commitments on better financial management.

In addition, any settlement would have to address the thorny issue of parachute payments to clubs relegated from the Premier League. They account for half of the top flight's spending on the lower leagues and distort the competition in the Championship, encouraging overspending as teams struggle to keep up with relegated clubs.

Research at Sheffield Hallam University has revealed relegated clubs in receipt of parachute payments are now three times more likely to be promoted, as those which do not benefit.

As reported by Sportsmail yesterday, the government has widely adopted recommendations made in the fan-led review of football, conducted by Tracey Crouch last year.

Ministers have even refused to rule out one of the most controversial elements – a transfer levy – which now hangs over the Premier League should it fail to play ball on a new financial distribution.

'It's potentially in the mix depending upon what the Premier League and others come up with,' Huddleston told journalists.

'We want to keep the pressure on for the Premier League to come up with their own solution first.'

The proposed levy would be paid by Premier League clubs on any transfer within the Premier League or any international transfer. Crouch estimated it could raise up to £160M per year for redistribution.

In setting out its support for an independent regulator for football, the government left open the question of how it would be constituted. This will be subject to further discussion when a White Paper is published in the summer.

One option is to have a new standalone organisation, while another could see the regulator included within an existing body, either way it will be paid for by the football industry.

However, Huddleston has poured cold water on the idea that the host could be the FA. He told reporters there was 'huge scepticism' from MPs about the idea of the FA becoming the independent regulator.

'The FA has already got some demons it is dealing with and is tackling its own governance structural challenges,' added Huddleston.

'I think it would be difficult to imagine the circumstances where it would, at least currently, fit the criteria needed to become the independent regulator.'

As Sportsmail reported, the FA board is due to meet today to discuss the implications of the government's position.

The Premier League said it 'accepts the case for reform and for a strengthened regulatory system across football' and would continue to work with the government during the next phase of consultation.