Scudamore has also insisted the lucrative English top flight is "sustainable" for the foreseeable future and warned against what he perceives as "alarmist" concerns being aired recently.

Earlier this week Football Association chairman Lord Triesman warned of the £3billion debt timebomb that could explode in English clubs' faces as economies around the world continue to struggle.

But Scudamore told Sky Sports News: "You have to start with the notion debt is neither good nor bad. Debt is inevitable.

"I'm not saying we don't have concerns - concerns with a small 'c' - but I think it's also dangerous to get alarmist, particularly in the current economic conditions that are affecting the world generally."

Scudamore admitted supporters' demands for success can lead to clubs over-reaching financially and added: "People need to be realistic.

"We are entering interesting economic times but remember, football is very sustainable.

"Club names are very sustainable, they don't disappear, generally. The revenues are very sustainable, season tickets sales are fairly stable, and are holding up.

"TV revenue is very solid, so we have two or three years of good revenue already in the bag. So I think football is sustainable.

"I'm not saying we're complacent, I'm not saying we won't at some point feel some of the wind of the consumer credit crunch but generally we're not in bad shape."

ends