ENGLISH Football League clubs will now face sanctions if they fail to report unpaid player salaries, as well as for the actual failure to pay.

Changes to the EFL regulations were approved at an extraordinary general meeting on Thursday, reflecting the clubs’ and league’s view of how serious a breach of regulations non-payment of player wages is.

Non-payment is seen as a clear indicator of a club which is financially unsustainable, as well as allowing a club to seek to gain an unfair advantage over clubs who prepare and stick to achievable budgets.

Clubs who invest significantly to meet financial obligations are also at a disadvantage to those who do not.

Clubs who fail to self-report unpaid wages will effectively face a disciplinary double-whammy under the newly-approved plans.

An EFL statement said: “With immediate effect clubs must now notify the league within two working days of the due date if they have failed to meet their financial obligations to a player or players.

“Any club in default of payments to players will, as is the case currently, be subject to an immediate registration embargo.”

Clubs defaulting on payments can either accept an ‘agreed decision’ sanction, or have the matter determined by an independent disciplinary commission.

The EFL has also agreed to open its summer transfer window in line with the international transfer window.

The domestic summer window will no longer open the day after a club’s season ends, but instead 12 weeks prior to the closure of the transfer window.