Rules governing the ownership of Premier League football clubs are set to be tightened after officials unveiled plans to extend the Fit and Proper Persons Test to prospective club directors.

The new measures have been put forward following comments made by culture secretary Andy Burnham, who expressed concern with the amount of money involved in the top level of English football. Included in the new proposals is the requirement for any prospective club directors to submit a declaration that would have to be approved by the Premier League before any appointment is made.

A rule whereby certain criminal convictions will prohibit a person from becoming a director is to be extended, so that anyone convicted of offences that incur a prison sentence of more than one year would be ruled out, as well as those convicted of a range of lesser offences. The Premier League is also considering imposing restrictions on foreign loan deals to encourage youth development, as well as restricting the movement of under-18s between clubs.