THE future of financial fair play rules in the Sky Bet Championship remains in doubt after four proposed changes were all defeated in a vote, with several clubs now considering legal challenges against the existing rules.

Three of the proposals would have allowed increases in the level of losses and owner investment permitted, while the fourth was intended to change the system in which financial figures are viewed retrospectively. Clubs are currently permitted to lose £6m next season but of that £3m must be covered by owner investment. There were three proposals to increase that allowance to either £10m, £11.4m or £12.8m.

The first sanctions against clubs will be announced in December based on accounts for the 2013/14 season, although other alternatives will now be examined. "We will now continue the dialogue with clubs to see if there is any appetite for alternative forms of change," read a statement from the Football League.