West Brom and Aston Villa part of large rebel group angry with EFL's new TV deal with Sky

Chief executives Mark Jenkins and Christian Purslow attended a meeting this week where up to 19 of the 24 clubs expressed opposition to a five-year deal due to come into effect next season that only marginally increases TV money clubs receive.

A potential breakaway from the EFL – like the Premier League – has been mooted by some of the rebel clubs, although Villa insist they would not be willing to go that far.

However, both clubs have thrown their weight behind the growing mood of discontent in the second tier.

Clubs believe the EFL have undersold the rights to Sky in a deal worth £119m a year that will see television money increase from £2.3m a year for Championship clubs to £2.95m a year.

Appearance fees for the year will rise from a pot of £10.8m to £17.7m.

As it stands, clubs receive £100,000 each time they are televised at home, and £10,000 for every televised away game.

Premier League clubs, by contrast, received between £50m and £105m in domestic TV money last year, depending on where they finished and how many times they were on television.

Championship clubs are also furious with this season’s controversial red button offer which they claim has ravaged midweek attendances because it allows fans to watch evening kick-offs on television.

There is due to be another meeting on the matter next week.

Eleven of Albion’s first 22 league games have been picked for live coverage, and they are currently one game into a six-match run where every fixture is available to watch either on TV or the red button.

Ten of Villa’s first 23 league games have been picked for live television coverage.

Baggies head coach Darren Moore has sympathy for fans who have to deal with the changes.

“After the international break we play Ipswich on Friday, Swansea on Wednesday, Brentford on Monday, Villa on Friday and Sheffield United the following Friday,” said Moore.

“In this league, you can play any day of the week from midday until 8pm. It’s one of those situations and hurdles you manage. You’ve got to.

“I do think about the fans’ situation. Playing on a Wednesday night people have got work the next day. You play on a Monday, people have got work the next day.

“Play on a Friday, you come to the end of a week when people have put a hard shift in.

“As well as being for the team and the players, I would imagine it being a headache for the fans financially.

“It’s hard for the team, but for the supporters as well.

“That’s why home or away I thank them for their commitment because it’s a big, big commitment to dig in and support in the way they do."

Albion have been backed by large away support on Saturdays this season, but Moore understands why there might be a dip for long trips in midweek.

"While it’s always great to see packed home grounds and large away support, I have the ability to step back from the situation and look at the distance, the travel, the time they’re going to get back home," he said.

“You’ve got to take that into consideration. If people want to take their kids, it’s getting them out of school. It’s all wrong for those aspects.

“So I do understand and get where they’re at because it is a huge ask.”

A league spokesman confirmed a group of Championship clubs had raised questions about the new deal.

“The EFL sells its domestic broadcasting rights on behalf of its 72 members across the three EFL divisions,” said a league spokesman.

“Recently, a number of Championship clubs have raised some questions in regard to the value being generated by the sale of those rights.

“These views have been shared with the EFL Board who are currently considering the matter.”