Scudamore supports foreign owners

Chief executive Richard Scudamore is convinced a growing number of foreign owners are bringing a "new professionalism" to the Premier League.

With Hong Kong billionaire Carson Yeung now owning almost a 30% stake in Birmingham, nine of England's 20 top-flight clubs are effectively controlled by overseas investors - and many critics, including Wigan chairman Dave Whelan, believe the situation is bad for the game, with some questioning the motives of those involved.

However, Scudamore insists: "I am sure there are people who wish every player was English and every owner was a local businessman made good who supported the club as a boy. Clearly that is not where we are at and we cannot go back there. It is not about who the owners are. It is about how they perform and how they behave."

He added: "Our experience suggests the new owners bring a level of professionalism to the situation. They bring new things to the game and I don't see any evidence they have ripped up the old traditions or they are riding roughshod over the rulebook."