Doubt surrounds the fate of the latest rescue package tabled by the Premier League to help lower-league clubs survive the Covid-19 crisis.

Reports suggest a £50m bail-out offer for Leagues One and Two will be turned down by the EFL.

It throws football's attempted rescue plans further into chaos after the shelving of the controversial Project Big Picture yesterday.

The fall-out from the latter, meanwhile, took a further twist today as The Telegraph claimed FA chairman Greg Clarke had proposed a 'Premier League 2' and the introduction of B Teams into the pyramid in a leaked document.

The various disputes at the top of football come at a time of serious peril for lower-league clubs.

EFL clubs, including Carlisle United, have been attending a meeting today to hear details of the Premier League's £50m offer - an amount comprised of grants and interest-free loans.

That money was tabled for clubs in Leagues One and Two, with further talks ongoing regarding help for the Championship.

United did not comment ahead of the meeting, attended on their behalf by chief executive Nigel Clibbens with Blues co-owner John Nixon also involved as League Two representative on the EFL board.

The Premier League said their offer of £50m in grants and loans came in addition to £27.2m in "solidarity payments" already advanced to the bottom two tiers.

A statement from the top-flight said: "League One and League Two clubs rely more heavily on matchday revenue and have fewer resources at their disposal than Championship or Premier League clubs and are therefore more at risk, especially at a time when fans are excluded from attending matches."

The EFL said: "The League will be not be commenting further until it has discussed the elements of the proposal with its membership."

It followed yesterday's decision by top-flight clubs not to pursue the Project Big Picture plan tabled by the owners of Liverpool and Manchester United and backed by EFL chairman Rick Parry.

Their proposals had offered a £250m bailout and a 25 per cent cut of TV revenue to EFL clubs but attracted criticism for an attempt to increase the power of the "big six" clubs in the top flight.

Top-flight clubs have since agreed to work instead on a "strategic plan" regarding the future structuring and financing of the English game.

United's supporters' trust, CUOSC, meanwhile, have underlined their backing for a fan-led review of the game after Project Big Picture hitting the buffers.

In a statement, the fans' organisation, who own 25.4 per cent of United's holding company, said: "With the Premier League rejecting Project Big Picture, CUOSC hope all minds can now be focused on preserving the integrity of the entire football pyramid – an institution that has been around for well over a century.

"Football is in crisis with many lower league clubs needing financial support to survive. CUOSC agrees football needs to be reformed with the wealth of the game distributed more fairly.

"That’s why we will continue to support the Football Supporters Association (FSA) who are seeking better governance with independent overseeing of finance. The government’s proposed fan-led review should include clubs, fans, leagues and everyone else involved."